A great change from the usual elements found in most FPS games.
At its core, it's still a game about killing anything that moves with guns, but the action experience takes place within a character building mechanic, that is simple and alterable, meaning that even players unused to role-playing games will have no difficulty using it.
The whole thing begins with choosing one of four characters. Each has a different special ability and skills trees. For example, Roland is able to summon a turret that will shoot enemies and act as cover. His skill tree splits into three basic paths, one that focuses solely on improving his firepower and his turret, another that focuses on supporting teammates with extra ammunition and so on, and another that focuses on healing teammates. Mordecai's skill tree, on the other hand, allows him to focus either on long range combat with snipers, close range combat with pistols and melee attacks, or improving his special ability, where he summons a bird that attacks his enemies. Exploring all the abilities is easy, since the game allows the player to reset the skill tree and reassign points.
Equipment, like guns, shields, grenades and class modifications, continue to complement this character building. All of them have different stats and all are dropped by enemies or otherwise found in the world of Pandora. Collecting loot is a big part of gameplay; one always has to be on the lookout for better weapons, and since the game randomly generates weapons, the possibilities are almost limitless.
The first-person shooter aspect of the gameplay is equally satisfying. The guns are satisfying to shoot and the controls easy to learn. The game suffers a little when it comes to driving vehicles, since turning requires the use of the right analog stick. This is normal when one is in a first-person views, but since driving takes place from a third-person view, the whole driving sequences feel weird.
Enemies are a big part of the gameplay. For a game of Borderland's duration, it seems a wasted opportunity that there aren't more types, yet the variations of the few basic forms keep the combat entertaining enough. You'll come across skags (dog-like creatures) and spiderants (spidery things with a lot of armour), rakks (birds) and the bandits that make most of the population of pandora. Each type of enemy has different attributes that makes fighting each one need different tactics. Skags, for example, have heavy armour at the front, so attacking from the side is a good idea. When agitated, they roar, opening their huge mouths and exposing their insides. A few well-placed shots can end the fight very quickly, gaining you critical hits, which are the equivalent of headshots. The types of skags that appear will also continue to change your tactics. Regular skags will get close and try to chew your face off. Spitters skags use long-range attacks. The most powerful skags can breathe fire, throw balls of electricity or smash the ground, knocking you away. Every enemy type has these variations, so the combat is rarely repetitive and every area is challenging in its own way. Couple with the rewarding loot drops and the satisfaction of beating a challenge, Borderlands gives you plenty of incentive to kill things.
Unfortunately, Borderlands is not without its flaws. The world of Pandora is mostly made up of wastelands and junkyards populated by hostile beasts or unfriendly criminals. It can get lonely without seeing a friendly face anywhere, and the few people you do meet don't have anything to say. Cutscenes are sparse and conversations don't happen. The interaction between you and the characters in the game involves opening up menus and accepting the game. This dulls the overall singe-player experience. It does not make it unfun, but it does start to seem empty after a while.
The story that drives the game is nothing special. The protagonist is after a secret thing which might or might not be a mythical treasure called the Vault. The lack of interaction with the few characters within the game makes it less interesting, and the unsatisfying ending does not help either. There is not sense in rushing through the game trying to find out what happens. The game is best enjoyed by taking one's time to do all the quests available and methodically killing everything that crosses your path.
Borderlands, however, excels when it comes to playing with friends. While it is sometimes difficult to get into an online match, playing with a few companions dispels the lonely feeling about the world of Pandora. It is best to play with friends who are doing the same quests you are, otherwise you'll end up following them without progressing in the story. However, you'll still get to share experience and gold. Sharing equipment is more difficult, since the people who get it to it first keep it, so it's a rush to collect the loot drops. It is also annoying that the vehicles can only seat two people. Driving usually leaves someone running alone across hostile plains trying to catch up with the car.
These, however, are small flaws in the multiplayer experience, which is further improved by the inclusion of arenas and the ability to duel an opponent in order for some ego-flaunting.
Borderlands, overall, is a great game. With its distinctive art style, its roleplaying elements and its fun multiplayer, it is a game that leaves the player thinking that this is what all first-person shooters should be doing.