Borderland's art style is still paper over the cracks 16 years later

In the past 16 years, Borderland have managed to create a very distinct identity for itself. Although far from the only looter shooter franchise out there, Borderland is one of the few that mixes addictive looting mechanics with over-the-top humor and an absurd lively art style. Borderlands 4 Keeps this uniquely flavored cocktail in the center.

Although its menu ui has been dropped by color and the zany characters and tone of Borderlands 3 been called back, Borderlands 4 is still very one Borderland game. Its Looter Shooter system is more engaging than ever, humor still goes through every aspect of the game's story, and Borderlands 4 Still has a highly stylized art direction. And right now the distinct art style is paper over some significant cracks Borderlands 4Just like 16 years ago.

A brief history of Borderland's distinct art style

Borderland's vault hunter who is side by side.

When the first Borderland was revealed to the public all the way back in 2007, it was met with a generally positive reception. Its several playable characters and focus on randomized prey fascinated players, but the game's art style left something to be desired.

This first version of Borderland Did not have the comic book -like aesthetics that has become a core component in the series' identity. Instead, it contained a much more “realistic” art direction, with character models and environments aimed at being more lively. Just one year before the launch, internal review teams expressed on Gearbox concerns about Borderland'Art style, which claims that they muted browns in the game's environments made it look far too similar titles as Fallout 3.

Although they were 75% completed with the development, Gearbox made the decision to drastically change Borderland'Art style. Gearbox's co -founder and Chief Creative Officer Brian Martel produced a secret prototype of Borderland With its NU-iconic line-up aesthetics and presented it to the rest of the team. Most of the team embraced the new direction, Martel paired a comic book artist with Borderland“Main Persons Designer, and they all got to work the review of the game's assets.

Borderland'Original Art Director was reportedly so disappointed that all her work was discarded that she left the gearbox and the video game industry completely.

Of course, this incredibly risky decision at the last minute would prove to be a brilliant, as Borderland“Vibrating art style quickly became one of its defining qualities and went hand in hand with the game's more exaggerated tone and humor. This art style has also allowed Borderland That paper over a few cracks when it needs.

Largely, Borderland Have never been at the forefront when it comes to graphics for video games. While each post has held up with the technical limits of the time, no Borderland The title can be regarded as the nicest game in its generation, but it has not had to be. Borderland'Heavy stylized art direction has let each entry focus on delivering the smooth, high -doctrine action for which the series has become best known, without having to sacrifice any processing power on delivering photorealistic graphics.

Borderland's 4's art style is doing some heavy lifting right now

It's no secret to Borderlands 4 Suffering from some fairly serious technical problems right now, especially on PC. These technical problems force many players to use lower graphic settings than they are accustomed to just so that the game can be run on a semi-stable Framate.

Thank goodness, Borderlands 4Art style helps to make paper over the cracks a bit. Borderlands 4Environmental structures may look blurred, but the shaded edges of the landscape objects allow the player's brain to fill in the gaps in what should be there. Drawing distances and pop-in problems are also common in Borderlands 4The launch building, but the use of lively colors and shading helps make these problems seem less serious.

Tannis on a Fish Eater Egg Showcase Borderlands 4

Of course this is far from ideal and hopefully Borderlands 4 will continue to receive stability Patches that help fix the game's performance problems. But it shows the power of a strong art style, and it proves that the gearbox made the right decision for all these years ago.