Battleborn Review
For a game with so many strong personalities, Battleborn somehow lacks a cohesive identity. Every facet from the characters to the progression to the visual presentation feels overloaded with ideas--some good, some bad, some just confusing. Because it throws so much against the wall, the end result is a scattered grabbag of manic gameplay, complex leveling, and cartoony humor. It vacillates wildly between excitement and predictability, innovation and routine, inspiration and incomprehensibility. In short, Battleborn is fun but messy, and while I appreciate its hyper-stimulating approach, parsing the experience underneath can be maddeningly tricky.
The best example of Battleborn's deep-seated identity crisis is its massive 25-character roster. Though technically a first-person shooter, the game's heroes utilize all sorts of preset weapons, abilities, and roles that pull from every influence imaginable. There's a longbow-wielding wood elf, a penguin piloting a mech suit, a cybernetically-enhanced luchador--the list goes on. Impressively, even characters that seem superficially similar inevitably offer something unique that makes their gameplay memorable and enjoyable--be it a particularly powerful super or simply a higher than average movement speed.
This mechanical variety is not only remarkable, it also drives Battleborn's longevity. Where other game's dole out new tools or gear as you progress, Battleborn builds these unlocks into entirely new characters. You'll unlock new heroes steadily and without much conscious effort, so you'll generally have one or two new options by the time you've outgrown your current character. Unfortunately, you might outgrow them more quickly than you'd expect. Testing out a new hero for the first time can feel a bit overwhelming since some abilities' specific requirements and effects aren't super apparent, but as soon as you overcome this initial teething period, each heroes' gameplay loop starts to grow routine.
This is, in part, a symptom of Battleborn's approach to action: its gameplay is fast and frantic, but also light and loose. Forgiving design choices like infinite sprint and ammo, no fall damage, and the ability to reload while sprinting encourage players to move and shoot rather than stop and think. As a result, I found I generally just had to spam the primary attack button, trigger my special abilities whenever possible, and occasionally retreat to let my shields recharge.
This is especially true during the cooperative campaign, which consists of eight loosely connected missions that feel more like Destiny's Strikes than a carefully crafted, narrative-driven story mode. Enemies are, for the most part, brainless and predictable; cutting them down in droves can feel empowering, but it also underscores the repetitive, simplistic nature of the baseline combat. It's also somewhat frustrating that all eight missions repeatedly remix the same three scenarios: defend the asset, escort the robot, and kill the boss.
Thanks to the variety of the characters and frenetic energy of the combat, however, Battleborn can still end up being a blast. Sure, the moment to moment gameplay feels superficial, but when your five-man squad is getting absolutely swarmed and you've already sunk 45 minutes into a mission and you've run out of respawns, the tension and chaos combine to form a powerful engine of fun. Plus, as you get deeper into the campaign, a discernable difficulty arc emerges and helps give the whole affair some much needed momentum. A word of warning, though: if you're playing alone, you won't have much fun. Without other players, combat becomes a slog and certain objectives become nearly impossible. But hey, at least there's split-screen co-op and streamlined matchmaking.
Outside of the eight campaign missions, Battleborn offers three competitive multiplayer modes, and here the gameplay develops a slightly more strategic sheen. Unlike the mindless fodder you fight in the campaign, multiplayer pits heroes against heroes, which forces you to approach combat more thoughtfully. If you're playing a melee character, for example, charging directly at your opponents is suddenly way more dangerous, so you're forced to seek advantageous positions and strike judiciously. Healers and support characters also become more crucial; team composition can occasionally turn a match's outcome into a forgone conclusion, so choose wisely or suffer humiliation.
The modes themselves add an extra layer of strategy as well. Meltdown, for example, requires both teams to guide minions to designated grinders. The more robots reach the grinder, the more points that team scores. This and the somewhat similar Incursion mode borrow MOBA elements to create setups that emphasize objectives over kills. In practice, this equates to action that's less chaotic but far more involving than anything in the campaign, and the combination of distinct characters and MOBA-inspired objectives makes Battleborn's multiplayer feel genuinely fresh.
This component is by no means flawless, however. The added strategic depth helps but doesn't eliminate the simplicity of the core gameplay, but more importantly, there's not quite enough content to make Battleborn feel totally substantial. The three modes offer just two maps apiece, and while that's not unusual for a MOBA, it's awfully light for a shooter--especially one with a relatively short, unadorned campaign. The game's also missing certain amenities like killcams, and for some reason, you can't simply vote on a new map when a match concludes. Your team is automatically dissolved and you're booted to the home screen every time, which is especially troubling given the game's team-based nature.
There's also an issue with Battleborn's in-match leveling system. The game features several forms of experience and progression--including individual character leveling, unlockable gear, and an overall "Command" rank--but the most impactful system is the on-the-fly leveling that occurs within each mission and match (another concept swiped from MOBAs). In essence, every character has a unique 10-tier skill tree. Each tier contains two mutually exclusive upgrades. As players earn XP while playing, they'll gradually work their up the tree until one skill at each tier is unlocked. At the end of the match or mission, the tree resets.
In the campaign, this system works remarkably well. I never felt hindered starting at zero, but I was always glad to have all my fully leveled abilities back by the end. Many of those upgrades only marginally improve the effectiveness of an existing ability, but others tangibly impact the character's playstyle, and all of them lend a sense of escalation to every mission. In the competitive multiplayer, however, this system can unfairly stack the odds against players who actually need the most help. The better you play, the faster you're able to progress through the leveling tree, which of course makes you even more powerful. This generally isn't an issue in close matches, but when a round starts to get away from you, it can snowball into a lopsided thrashing that gets less and less fun for the losing side.
While it may not be as important as the progression system or multiplayer modes, it's worth noting that Battleborn's writing is, by and large, excellent. The humor can occasionally produce forced, cringeworthy lines, but far more often, it's goofy, witty, and endearing, with a distinct voice that should be immediately recognizable for Borderlands fans. It won't appeal to everyone's tastes, but anyone can appreciate the deep well of one-liners that flavor both the campaign and, surprisingly, the competitive multiplayer. And while there isn't much of a narrative to speak of, the stylized cinematics that bookend the campaign are pretty spectacular.
Battleborn's strong Saturday morning cartoon vibes might actually be the game's single most defining aspect. Outside of that consistent, permeating voice, the game feels like an elaborate patchwork of ideas that compete for attention without necessarily adding much to the experience. The combat is frantic and tense, but often feels samey and superficial. The in-match leveling works wonderfully in the campaign, but can become problematic in multiplayer. The varied cast of heroes adds longevity, but the game still feels relatively content light. With so many moving parts that never quite gel, I found plenty of things to love but just as much to feel confused by and ambivalent about.
NVC: E3 Woes and Saddling up with Pocket Card Jockey
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Brian struts his stuff in Wave Race. Art by Pandamusk.
Persona super fan Andrew Goldfarb joins the cast of Nintendo Voice Chat this week to talk about Tokyo Mirage Sessions, and why it might be the perfect game to keep you busy until Persona 5 comes out on PS4 later this year. Mr. Goldfarb also weighs in with host Jose Otero and Peer Schneider on the recent news that Nintendo will kick off E3 2016 with a Treehouse Live stream of the next Legend of Zelda. After the break, Jose and Peer go gaga for Pocket Card Jockey and answer your questions on the Question Block.
Game Scoop!: Updates on All Those EA Star Wars Games
Welcome back to Game Scoop!, IGN's weekly video game talk show. This week we're discussing EA's Star Wars lineup and your 2016 Summer game and movie preview. Watch the video above or download the podcast below.
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Scarlett Witch vs Black Widow Civil War Cosplay
Belikov is an Australian cosplayer who's on both sides of Captain America's Civil War, with her Black Widow and Scarlett Witch cosplays.
Belikov told IGN, "Getting to build a costume of one of your favourite characters, then eventually getting to wear said costume is something that is hard to put into words. In the last three years I've learnt some incredible skills."
"I've gone from not knowing how to sew anything, to being able to heavily modify patterns to create what I need."
Click right to check out pictures of both costumes:
The photographers featured are Rebecca Burton Photography, Senergy Photography and Lorenzo So Photography.
Sharon Stone Says She Has a Role in a Marvel Movie
Oscar nominee Sharon Stone (Casino, Total Recall, Sphere) claims she's going to be in a Marvel movie.
Stone -- whose previous comic book movie was as the villain of 2004's reviled flop Catwoman -- appeared on The Late Late Show With James Corden on Thursday during which time she revealed, "I am going to do a Marvel movie."
"I'm just doing a wee part in a Marvel movie, upcoming, and I can't tell, because you know, you have to sign confidentiality agreements. But I'm going to do a wee part in a Marvel movie now. That's it," said Stone (via WBT).
Sharon Stone oppposite Halle Berry in Catwoman.
Infinity War Directors Seem to Confirm Captain Marvel Appearance
The Captain Marvel standalone movie might be pushed back until March 8, 2019, but it sure sounds like audiences will be seeing Carol Danvers sooner rather than later.
During a conversation at the Smithsonian Institute, Avengers: Infinity War directors Joe and Anthony Russo seemed to have confirmed Captain Marvel's appearance in the movies, the first of which hits theaters on May 4, 2018. (The yet-to-be-renamed Infinity War - Part 2 comes out after Captain Marvel on May 3, 2019.)
They mentioned Captain Marvel in connection with the film, and when a fan quickly followed up asking for confirmation that she'll be in it, the Russos backtracked and said they meant Captain Barvel, a "totally different character" (via ComicBook.com).
Black Widow Solo Movie Possible, Says Marvel
The future looks bright for Black Widow in the MCU, as Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige said a solo film starring Scarlett Johansson as the iconic Avenger is a very real possibility.
When asked by Deadline which of Marvel's heroes who've only appeared as supporting characters -- including Falcon, War Machine, Black Widow and Hawkeye -- may get their own standalone film, Feige said Black Widow is "certainly the one creatively and emotionally
are most committing to doing."
Head of Marvel Studios on Why Deadpool Was Such a Success
Deadpool made quite the splash when it hit theaters earlier this year, and Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige has weighed in with his thoughts on why 20th Century Fox's R-rated superhero flick was such a success.
"When you present something as popular as a superhero character, in a different and unique and crazy way as they did in Deadpool, it demands attention and audiences went to it," Feige told Deadline, praising Tim Miller's work, saying he "did a tremendous job."
Civil War: We Dive Deep Into All the SPOILERS!
Download Keepin' it Reel, Episode 325!
Welcome back to Keepin' It Reel, the IGN show where Jim Vejvoda and Terri Schwartz usually bring you the latest genre movie news. This week Jim is out, so Terri is joined by IGN Comics editor Joshua Yehl and Executive TV editor Eric Goldman to discuss Captain America: Civil War in FULL SPOILERISH DETAIL!
Doctor Strange: Oscar-Winning Composer to Score
Composer Michael Giacchino, who won an Academy Award for his work on Pixar's Up, announced he's scoring Marvel's Doctor Strange.
The acclaimed composer revealed the news on Twitter, saying, "Things are about to get, well... really STRANGE."
In addition to Up, Giacchino has composed the score for several major films and television sereis, including Jurassic World, Dawn of the Planet of the Apes, the most recent Star Trek films, Lost, and Fringe.
Doctor Strange hits theaters November 4. For more, check out IGN's image gallery from the Marvel film's first trailer.