Apart from a few notable FPS on the market (Doom, System Shock/BioShock, etc) connectivity is what makes a FPS. In my point of view, a FPS is best played with another person. Which is why games such as Counter-Strike, Battlefield are so wildly popular and fun. Playing with your friends or competing with some random person from another part of the country brings out the excitement in a FPS game. However sadly, online multiplayer is capped to two people at one given time. This is however due to the technical limitations of the PS Vita. Of course, you can have fun with just one more person, but with the world that the game is presenting, two people simply won’t cut it.
-
Customization is where this game shines. Character skins, classes, you name it, it’s there in the game. As an avid fan of RPGs, class customization in this game is simply pure bliss for me. The game has four classes, but what I may have in my class (let’s say Commando) you probably won’t have in your Commando class due to the skill trees. You can switch out your skills to suit your needs. Class customization is wonderfully tailored to your needs. Character customization (Aesthetic wise) on the other hand is somewhat lacking. Limited to various different looking skins for your characters.
-
Controls are fantastic considering the limitations of the Vita, but don’t come in expecting the same precision that you would find if you were playing this game on your PlayStation 3. The control setup utilizes the hardware buttons, touch screen, and the rear touch pad. However, should you not feel comfortable with the control scheme, the game offers great customization to your heart’s content.
-
The visuals in this game is simply gorgeous. It looks good on a monitor. It looks good on your television. And it still looks good on your Vita screen. Yes, it even looks fantastic on the new Vita LCD screen. The cel shaded artwork is pure art and it helps bring personality to what would be an otherwise drab and brown looking setting.
-
Performance however, is nothing to be desired when it comes to a FPS. Yes the game is playable, but you will easily notice the framerate drops when engaging with an enemy. The game drops from a somewhat stable 30fps to the mid 20s. It ruins the immersion and fluidity of an otherwise stable game. However, other than the combat, framerate issues are hardly present and you will be able to roam the land with little to no interference.
-
I’ll give credit where it’s due. Like the handheld itself, this port was ambitious. Sony wanted their handheld to standout from the likes of their competitors and they felt that this game would showcase their desire to bring a console quality experience on the go. Borderlands 2 is without a doubt, a good port with a few hiccups here and there. Sony’s dream of bringing that console quality to the go is slowly being realized. But one can only hope that their next venture to that territory would be something a little more original.
-
images shown in this review were either taken from the reviewer’s PS Vita or from SCE Press.