Gearbox Software takes you… WHERE EVERY OTHER FPS DEVELOPER TAKES YOU AS WELL!!!!
+ MORE BORDERLANDS!!!!
+ New guns, enemies, and story worth paying for
+ Proves there are other areas of Pandora other than the desert
+ Hysterical take on horror genre
Cons:
- $10 Cost
- Easy difficulty with higher level character
- Short completion time
Zombies have become synonymous with "FPS Add-Ons/DLC" since the success of zombie and survival horror games continue to rise. I mean, how better to capture the attention of an audience than by injecting a preposterous circumstance into an otherwise "realistic" game? Well, the Gearbox team has decided to further inject a preposterous circumstance into their already outlandish game. The results are both pleasing and mildly disturbing, to be honest.
The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned takes somewhat familiar characters (with an added fake mustache or hat) and put them on a "Sleepy-Hollow-Meets-Raccoon-City-meets-Transylvania" edge of Pandora. The charm of Jakobs Cove lies in the Halloween decorations and also in the variety of undead enemies you will face. Everything from the Headless Horseman (sans horse) to Wereskags to zombies will try to consume your luscious flesh and delectable brains. Each of these enemies will be woven into a series of side quests required for full completion of the pack, but you will still encounter them throughout the required quests as well.
Jakobs Cove gives the gamer a whole new experience and a fresh perspective into the parts of Pandora you haven't spent time wandering around throughout the Borderlands experience. The dark nature of the cove is a stark contrast to the arid, sunny locations of the main game. This disparity is a welcome addition to the environment, showing the imagination of the developers as well as their ability to execute their ideas as intended from the concept art. From the Dracula-esque mansion on the hill to the pumpkin patch full of Jack-o-lanterns, you will soon realize this cove is full of previous horror film references, with a touch of Borderlands satire comedy mixed in.
There are new weapons and loot to be had, but mostly from the Jakobs Corporation. If you managed to max out your level without getting the DLC prior to your second playthrough, or just don't prefer the Jakobs manufacturer, the loot will prove to be rather useless. However, the loot and weapons are not what the game was designed to deliver.
The strength of the DLC pack is the added story, riddled with humor and satire of the entire horror movie genre. Gearbox's take on Dracula, Werewolves, Headless Horseman, zombies, Frankenstein, and vampire bats will leave you giggling like a school girl being teased by a crush throughout the game. The environment adds to the overall tone of the story and game, creating a "don't go in there!!!!" series of moments that have appeared in atrocious horror movies for years. These moments usually trigger a cut-scene that will further reveal a boss or story-oriented quest that requires a vicious fight. In the end, the overall execution of the story and satirical use on the horror genre proves to be accomplished "spot-on."
However, the pack is not without faults. First, the cost of the DLC is $10 – which resides on the middle to upper end of most of the DLC packs available on the PSN. This also means you have to be in a supported region, or you cannot get access to the game. Consumers will have to decide for themselves if the price point or region will keep them from approaching Jakobs Cove and figuring out the story of Dr. Ned.
Price and access aside, the difficulty and duration of the release remains to be the main complaint of the DLC. If you got the platinum trophy (or just maxed out the level for a character), the game will take you less than 3 hours to complete the story required quests. If you complete all the quests, the length of the game tops out at around 5 or 6 hours. With a level 50+ character that is decently equipped, you will simply mow down all the enemies and even bosses without a problem. This is true even on the 2nd playthrough option, which is designed to make the game significantly more difficult. While not proving to be an overly long or difficult DLC, the atmosphere and story more than make up for the shortcomings of difficulty and length.
If you left the world of Pandora thirsting for more Borderlands, Dr. Ned and Jakobs Cove will satiate your hunger for more Borderlands and bad horror movies. The comedy, ridiculous story twists and occurrences, and side quests are commensurate with what we have expected from Gearbox in their new world of Pandora. Fans of the original game will undoubtedly be fans of this add-on despite the shortcomings mentioned above. Just be sure if you decide to visit Jakobs Cove to come armed with a Boomstick, and ready to fight the undead army in the darkness of Jakobs Cove.