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DING! ADDICTED!

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by born4this on January 22, 2013 at 02:00 PM
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13

 

I haven't reached level 50 yet because I've been waiting to progress with my friends in our weekly co-op game. I'm currently at level 37. However... I'm also at level 5, level 7, level 24, and level 32. Why? Because I'm addicted to Borderlands 2!

This past weekend, I made a shocking discovery: According to Raptr, Borderlands 2 has topped Skyrim as my most played Xbox 360 game (since I joined the site in 2010; I'm still convinced I've played Halo 3 the most.) I was surprised & confused by this. I know I've spent a significant amount of time playing Borderlands 2, but more than Skyrim?! It just didn't seem right. The Elder Scrolls V isn't my favorite game, or even my favorite Xbox 360 game for that matter. But... it's a game with a ridiculous amount of content - a game I played 4-5 hours at a time, sometimes several nights in a row. I didn't think any game would ever come close to consuming the same amount of time, let alone more time. That said, I wasn't puzzled by the "how" (after all, I have been playing multiple characters), but the "why?" Why have I been playing Borderlands 2 THAT MUCH?!

Borderlands 2 hasn't made me "joy puke", but I have thoroughly enjoyed playing it.

 

I spent a lot of time thinking about it the past few days, and here's why I've been playing Borderlands 2 like HECKA:

 

MONEY. When I first got Borderlands 2 (as a gift), I didn't have money to buy other games. It was the only new retail game I had for a few months. I was committed to not getting ahead of the co-op progress I was making with my friends, so I decided, "I'll just do a separate playthrough on my own & stagger it behind my co-op game sessions." I ended up playing all the characters, two of them beyond their achievement requirements.

ENERGY. Between being a dad and frequently working late the past few months, I'm usually tired by the time I sit down to play video games at night. Instead of playing Halo 4 online, playing more XCOM or experiencing a new episode of the Walking Dead game, I often choose to play Borderlands 2 instead. I'm still playing a game, but it doesn't require much focus as I've already experienced the story and I remember what to do in most of the missions. It's fun to grind on this game while I listen to a podcast or a TV show on the iPad. 

THE CHARACTERS. I still think Brick is my favorite Borderlands character, but I really like the characters in Borderlands 2. More specifically, their action skills are appealing enough that I found it difficult to pick which character I wanted to use. Honestly, outside of the Siren, I'm tempted to level all of them to 50, including the Mechromancer! In the first game, I was interested in Mordecai (Bloodwing is AWESOME!), but the game itself wasn't interesting enough for me to play through it again with another character. I tried, but I quickly lost interest. (Keep in mind, I had already played through every mission in the entire game with my friends and got all the achievements, including all four DLC expansions.)

 

THE HUMOR. Borderlands 2 is a funny game. I never get tired of Claptrap's rambling or Handsome Jack's trash talking. This game has some serious moments, but it's not a "serious" game. It's violent, but also very colorful, comical and light-hearted. Most of the FPS games I buy are gloomier and more intense, so it's a nice change of pace.

BEING OVERPOWERED. Being overpowered is so much fun, in my opinion. I love running through old areas in a game after I've beat it and killing enemies with ease. There's something very satisfying about returning to an enemy that seemed so powerful when you first encountered it and now they're just a push-over. 

THE COMMANDO. I know I already mentioned the characters, but I must specifically mention the Commando. Axton is AWESOME! I really like Zero, but dang it... that Sabre Turret is a BEAST. It's so entertaining when my mini-map fills up with reds dots and moments later, they're all gone. There have been many times that I've thrown out my turret and just watched it do all the work. HAHA! 

In the Survival skill tree, Axton can throw out TWO turrets! How sick is that?! Man, once they raise the level cap, the Commando is going to be so overpowered...... I CAN'T WAIT! 

 

I tend to spend most of my gaming time working on achievements. I'm a completionist and achievements are my chosen measure for whether I've completed a game or not. In the past few days, I've spent a lot of time playing Borderlands 2, but none of that time was spent doing anything related to the achievements. I was just working on leveling my Commando (which I'm not using in my co-op game with friends.) It's unusual for me to do this, especially considering that I still have achievements to work on in XCOM and Halo 4, and more episodes of the Walking Dead to play. But I'm addicted to Borderlands 2, and I plan to keep playing it while I'm still enjoying it. 

 

158 hours & counting...

 

What about you? Are you addicted to Borderlands 2?

 

Comments
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  • by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 02:54 PM
    Hopelessly addicted, the only character I dislike is Zer0 (who I only got to level 14), I have Salvador at level 50, Maya at level 37, and Gaige (Anarchy Forever!) at level 44. I haven't really done a commando since all of my friends have been playing commando (and instilled in me a great sense of respect for the Sabre turret), but I will start one eventually. My game of the year in 2012 for sure. I haven't even bought any of the DLC yet either. All in all a fantastically addicting experience, with a great sense of humor to boot.
    Also whats with the Maya hate man? She is probably the most versatile and team oriented character. Being able to revive from a distance has saved many lives in multiplayer, and being able to stop those dang Badass Psychos and Goliaths in their tracks is invaluable.
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 03:47 PM
    Yes. Yes I am. I am totally still playing this, and, while I've experimented with other characters, none come close to recreating the magic I feel while playing with my Siren. Nice blog!
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 04:21 PM
    I loved it until the most recent update, when they nerfed the Bee Shield and made the raid bosses that much harder in doing so. I might not have complained but they've also neglected to have a level cap increase. Makes me not want to even bother putting in the game.
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 04:34 PM
    Oh yes I am addicted. BL2 makes any boreing day into a wub wub day. Got Axton and Salvador to 50 working on Zero 24.
  • by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 05:02 PM
    I need to play as some other people beside the Gunzerker. I enjoyed the game, just not enough with one person though. I played the entire game solo so that probably is why. Don't have anyone to ever really play with when I want to, or anyone for that matter. I think I played with Chris for all of 20 mins once. About the only multi I ever did.
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 07:12 PM
    I played a ridiculous amount of Borderlands 2. I don't think any game has made me laugh as much as it did. I lost count of how many hours I put into it, but I did end up getting three characters to level 50.
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 08:20 PM
    Hey, being addicted to either Borderlands game isn't a bad thing. ;-)
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 09:45 PM
    158 hours of Borderlands? BARF! I think the only 360 game I've played that much was Fall Out 3.
  •
    by Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at 10:04 PM
    I've only got a level 20 Gunzerker, level 14 Assassin, and level 10 Commando, so not quite as addicted. I think it's mostly because I haven't had very many opportunities to play co-op.
  • by Saturday, January 26, 2013 at 10:14 AM
    It's funny, because i just realized the other day i've played Borderlands 2 more than skyrim as well. I have every achievement in skryim, and every achievement in Borderlands 2 (except big game hunt dlc) So far i have a level 50 Zero, Level 50 Mechromancer, Level 39 Commando, Level 34 Gunzerker and a Level 23 Siren.
  • by Monday, January 28, 2013 at 04:52 PM
    As to your commando point, I can't wait until they raise the level cap as well. I'm going to have two turrets with rocket pods, an extra turret, a shield, and the ability to stick to objects. It shall be amazing!

    Oh yeah, and I got my Salvador to level 31, Zero to level 10ish, Axton to level 12, Maya to level 5/6, and I can't connect my xbox to the internet yet so I couldn't get Gage. I am extremely addicted to this game, but my time is limited and I want to wait to level up my Salvador so that the DLCs are challenging when I finally get them.
  •
    by Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 01:32 PM
    Aside from Handsome Jack, I'd take the original over the sequel any day of the week. A few of the devs have already said over Twitter that they will be going back to something more akin to the first game, when they start development on Borderlands 3. That's great news.
  •
    by Friday, February 01, 2013 at 08:07 AM
    Borderlands and Borderlands 2 are probably my favorite games of all time, with Borderlands 2 topping Borderlands in almost every way, IMO. I've been jumping games recently but this last week I popped in Borderlands 2 again, and it was all over. All week long I've been going at this game hour and hour after hour. I've completed it with a full replay on the Mechromancer, and now my 2rd Zero is almost done. This thing is so much fun it hurts.