Over the last several years, remakes have been used to revitalize iconic titles so that they can appeal to a modern audience of gamers, and many of these remakes prove to be hugely popular. Though there are occasional projects that are deemed unnecessary and controversial, like the newly released The Last of Us Part 1, classics like Resident Evil 2 and Demon’s Souls have benefited greatly from their new versions. With Dead Space and Resident Evil 4 remakes coming, this trend will continue on, and it is one that Gearbox should consider embracing. After all, Borderlands 2 remains hugely popular even though it released exactly one decade ago, so giving players a better version of the beloved game would undoubtedly be a success.
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A Borderlands 2 Remake Would Have a Massive Audience
From a business perspective, a proper remake of Borderlands 2 seems like an incredibly safe venture, as it is hard to imagine such a project failing. After all, many content creators and fans of the franchise have returned to the game following the series’ recent struggles. For those that love strong storytelling, Borderlands 3’s messy narrative failed to live up to the tale of Handsome Jack. For those that care more about content and depth, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands has been a letdown, yet Borderlands 2 offers numerous expansions and small DLC packs to enjoy.
Clearly, there is still interest in Borderlands 2, and there likely will be until Gearbox can release a game that delivers both a lot of content and a great story. With so many gamers still playing and enjoying the classic title, giving them a version of the game built from the ground up in a modern engine would be ideal. Though there were some minor visual upgrades with Borderlands: The Handsome Collection, a bigger overhaul of the 2012 title’s gameplay would be hugely beneficial.
How Borderlands 2 is Showing Its Age
Though there is no denying that Borderlands 2 played great when it first released, technology has progressed in the time since it made its debut. Many fans may have their gripes with Borderlands 3 and Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, but it is impossible to deny that these games feel significantly better to play. The gunplay in particular is night and day, with the newer titles offering smoother aiming and shooting. Given how the series prides itself on its guns, the fact that firing them feels so clunky in Borderlands 2 feels like a deterrent for those wanting to return.
With Borderlands 2 preceding Borderlands 3, it only makes sense that the game would be lacking a lot of quality of life upgrades that are present in the follow-up. Mantling onto ledges makes traversing areas far more enjoyable, as does sliding. Being able to fast travel instantly from the map is a big help, and being able to instantly refill ammo at vending machines is a time saver. Instanced loot was another terrific option that Borderlands 2 is lacking, and not having access to it is a letdown for groups of players.
The list of improvements Borderlands 3 made goes on and on, with the massive amount of storage space in the vault and the mail system being two other strong additions. Mayhem Mode offers more depth and replayability than True and Ultimate Vault Hunter, which pushed players to engage with Slag and limited build freedom on the highest difficulties. There is something to be said about the dated visuals, too. Though Borderlands’ cel shaded art style has helped Borderlands 2 avoid becoming an ugly game, Borderlands 3 polished that look enough to make the difference between the two very noticeable. Lastly, lengthy loadtimes are a downside of Borderlands 2 that could be rectified with a new version.
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Potential Improvements a Borderlands 2 Remake Could Make
If a remake were to happen, all the flaws listed above could be addressed. Gunplay and movement could be similar to Borderlands 3 if not better, while quality of life upgrades like the mail system and quick ammo refills could be implemented. More storage space could be provided to players in a remake, as could a more balanced take on True Vault Hunter mode. Best of all, an instanced loot option could be added to encourage teamwork and prevent players from arguing over loot drops.
While Gearbox could easily deliver a successful remake with only better visuals, gameplay, and quality of life features, it could also go above and beyond to make a Borderlands 2 remake exciting for those that already put hundreds of hours into the game. One way to do this would be to add a new skill tree for every Vault Hunter, letting players have a few different actions skills to choose from alongside some entirely new ways to play as characters like Zer0 and Salvador. With the build variety in Borderlands 3 being far greater than Borderlands 2’s, as players have far more options when setting up their character, bringing more depth to the older Vault Hunters would be an excellent change.
A few fresh weapons could be added for players to hunt for, as well as cosmetics to collect. Perhaps players could be given a room to customize in Sanctuary, hunting after decorations and being able to display weaponry just like in Borderlands 3. Alternate body types would be cool to see, too, with players getting a few extra frames for each Vault Hunter like they did in Borderlands 3’s second Season Pass. Even another DLC pack could be possible, fleshing out a bit more of the seven-year window between Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3.
Though there may be a bit of pushback against a remake since Borderlands 2 is only ten years old, its clunky gunplay and lack of quality of life features justifies the idea. While many players who fell in love with the game ten years ago are still having a blast and have no problem returning, those who found the series through Borderlands 3 or Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands could struggle to see what made Borderlands 2 so special. The battles against Handsome Jack and Borderlands 2’s raid bosses are iconic for a reason, and they deserve a fresh coat of paint so that new and old players alike can keep enjoying them for years to come.
Borderlands 2 is available now on PC, PS3, PS4, PS Vita, Switch, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
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