Yet Another Non-Pony Thing: Borderlands the Pre-Sequel: The Claptastic Voyage · 3:49am Mar 30th, 2015
First, you might be wondering where the comic reviews are. Unfortunately, I haven't had a chance to finish them because words cannot describe how much I enjoyed both issues. So if you have not done so already, go buy them. Now. Right now. I will inflict locusts upon you if you do not do so.
...Trust me, I'll find a way.
In the meantime, let's talk about some game series I really like because, well, so be it.
So a while ago, I did a review of Borderlands 2's final campaign DLC, "Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep." It was a wonderful capstone to a solid base game and three mixed-to-good other DLC campaigns, and served as a strong ending for BL2's story. Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel's DLC story is entirely different. It was an overpriced standalone expansion pack (albeit with a length comparable to the original game) to begin with, and what did its season pass offer? Two characters, a slapped-together arena, and one campaign DLC. Not a very impressive package, especially a ten bucks each.
Fortunately, much like in BL2, they saved the best for last. "The Claptastic Voyage" is a genuine blast to play.
The story opens some time after the end of TPS' main campaign. Handsome Jack has summoned his band of Vault Hunters for another job. His former boss has hidden a super-powerful piece of code, one that would make him the undisputed master of Hyperion, and from there, the universe itself. Unfortunately, said code happens to hidden in the most annoying spot of all: the mind of series mascot and one of his Vault Hunters, Claptrap. Our heroes (including Claptrap...somehow) have to digitally project themselves into the nightmarish mess of broken code and crushed dreams that is Claptrap's very being, explore his greatest regrets and most cherished memories, and recover the code.
The premise is very similar to "Dragon Keep," in that it tells a fantastical story that delves into the storyteller's character. The difference is that while "Dragon Keep" was set in a D&D-styled fantasy world (only with guns) and dealt with things more figuratively, "Claptastic Voyage" is literally going through the mind of Claptrap. You take quests from his Id, Ego and Superego, travel across the "Motherless Board" via data streams, and are attacked by viruses, trojans, and pop-up ads and clickbait. The DLC is actually really clever, even excusing the continued existence of meme-based comedy, and there were plenty of hilarious moments.
I also have to give props to the world design. While there are some reused areas, they at least have been touched up to look like they're poorly-rendered memories, and most of the areas are new. Enemy placement is much better, and there are lots of side areas and hidden chests to discover. The last areas also deserve mention, as you delve into Claptrap's subconscious and wander through a number of very well-done design effects and illusions.
The game also adds a new weapon type: glitch weapons. These things are awesome. The premise is that the guns are screwed-up code, so every now and then you'll see them glow a specific color. If you fire while they're glowing, the gun's properties change for a moment. Even better, the glitch weapons have some unique properties, such as a Torgue rocket launcher that fires multiple rockets for the price of one, or a submachine gun that shouts "KILL KILL KILL" in an incredibly high-pitched voice as you fire. You can even grind glitched guns in the Grinder.
And then there's the story. "Dragon Keep" was notable for starting very silly and ending pretty sad (before getting silly again), and "Claptastic Voyage" does much of the same...only I don't think the series has ever gotten this dark before. After spending most of the series (and especially TPS) as the character everyone in-story hated, wandering through his intense self-loathing is not always a pleasant experience. He's a failed little robot who knows everyone hates him - even the people who actually like or don't mind him - is only able to operate by creating a literal denial program, and pretty much the only victory he has is one you help him dream up. And then there's the ending, which is just downright brutal...right before happy music and people telling Claptrap to shut up.
Overall, this was a really solid DLC. The only reason I'm not promoting it like I did "Dragon Keep" is because the base product is...eh. If you get the Handsome Collection, have TPS already, or just love the series, it's worth getting.
...
But seriously, buy the comics.
Interesting. Well, I got the Pre-Sequel for Christmas, maybe I'll grab this DLC when it goes on sale. A plug for Claptrap's horrible existence and reality is grim but interesting.
Meanwhile, I still haven't stopped playing Borderlands 2...
Claptastic voyage was
80% reskins and recycled areas from BL2,
10% bad Claptrap humour
10% actually good stuff, and
0% replayability, interesting loot, or raid bosses.
Sure, the stuff at the very end gets pretty interesting, but that's it. Bosses are: one huge tresher with loads of adds, a big arena with loads of adds and a clone boss, and a huge mecha. Nothing new or creative here. The big bad having the disgusting voice of Deadlift really hurt my ears throughout as weel. I would have probably skipped it over if I didn't have the Season Pass. If BL:TPS taught me something, it's to never trust Gearbox again with a season pass. BL2's season pass was awesome, BL:TPS was disgusting. As a DLC, it's s a nice, solid send-off for the weakest Borderlands game to date, but it doesn't even come close to Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. It didn't make me care about Claptrap even a bit, and the glued-on attempts to make him sympathetic were a big miss. The ending of Dragon Keep was powerful, yet it had the same final words that I'd say about Claptastic Voyage as a whole.
"And then Claptrap opened his mouth and ruined everything."
Speaking of comic review, did you ever review the Equestria Girls holiday special? If you did I think I missed that...
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Don't make a mistake of mistrusting Gearbox though. Pre-sequel wasn't made by Gearbox, it was made by 2K Australia. It's basically the Arkham: Origins of the Borderlands series.
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It wasn't made by Gearbox tho. Just a studio branch in Australia, so we didn't have the A-Team working on TPS.
i don't think any dlc made could top Far Cry Blood Dragon.