Borderlands Legends, available October 31, 2012, is the new iOS game from 2K Games — the Novato-based company specializing in games that are equal parts enthralling world and addictive mechanics (also responsible for the well-loved BioShock and Civilization series. With the recent success of both Borderlands and Borderlands 2, Legends released to high expectations).
The first two Borderlands games are set on the alien world of Pandora. Players take on the role of one of four ‘Vault Hunters’, mercenaries drawn to Pandora in search of the ultimate prize. They fight through assigned missions and bounty board pickups to get closer to their goal of finally seeing inside the fabled vault. The toon-shaded, comic book style art is well-matched by self referential game design and a near infinite quantity of unique loot.
Unlike its part-role-playing, part-first-person-shooter precursors, Legends is an arena/turret defense mashup. Players are still on Pandora but now control all four heroes from the first Borderlands, fighting against wave after wave of enemies. Each character acts as a specialized turret. Each is one of the traditional four part recipe: one tank, one healer, and two high-damage gun nuts.
The strategy comes in combining all their individual skills. Each character has a specific weapon, and, as a result, a range. Mordecai can shoot the farthest with his sniper rifle, while Brick’s shotgun and fists need to be positioned at short range. All four have a buff (a skill applied to another character) and a special ability. Roland can increase health regeneration, for example. Their special abilities include taunting enemies, team heals, and bonus damage from Mordecai’s hawk-like pet, Bloodwing.