2023-07-09 22:18:05
Handsome Jack’s influence on the Borderlands franchise is undeniable. He’s topped many lists of best video game villains, and with good reason, as other characters in the Borderlands franchise are still recovering from his crimes years after they happened. While he was terrifying, his sense of humor was also unparalleled, as the presence of Boot Stallion can be attributed to a quick joke from the self-obsessed Hyperion Supreme. His story is also tragic, as pointed out by Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Tales from the Borderlands, which ensures he has plenty of depth. However, Borderlands 4’s ‘Handsome Jack’ won’t top the core villain challenge. While it’s true that any villain that comes out of Gearbox will inevitably be compared to Handsome Jack – and likely criticized when they can’t reach those lofty heights – simply coming up with a new concept for an antagonist will be difficult. All too often, Borderlands has relied on using its own weapon companies as adversaries, and doing so again in Borderlands 4 can lead to a repetitive story that players feel like they’ve seen it over and over again. Unfortunately, the alternatives also come with downsides. Related: Borderlands 3 Really Lays the Groundwork for a Battle Royale Spin-Off Borderlands 4 is stuck between a rock and a hard place with its villain Not only is lovable Handsome Jack closely associated with Hyperion, the company and its bulldozers are ubiquitous in Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3 DLC for Handsome Jackpot DLC, but this is also not the only time the Gunsmith will be an opponent. Players encountered rogue groups of Dale’s army in the Borderlands: Pre-Sequel and Commander Lilith DLC for Borderlands 2, and just last year, New Tales from the Borderlands positioned Thedeur as the main threat. To be fair, it’s understandable why Gearbox has returned to this storytelling formula time and time again. Just like what appears in Borderlands 3 with Mallowan, these gunsmiths have their own armies and give players a variety of regular enemies to fight between boss encounters. In a game like Borderlands where attacking is a huge part of the gameplay, this is crucial, so pitting Vault Hunters against a dangerous CEO is a safe bet. However, with Borderlands doing it again and again, going with another rotten company in Borderlands 4 feels very predictable. The next place to look for a villain will be Borderlands’ iconic psychos, but Borderlands 3 ensures that going down this road will also be frequent. The Calypso Twins wields an army made of psychos, with the majority of the main missions pitting players against the Vault Cult. As such, while their token is so recognizable that psychos were always used in the cover art of the main games, they should take a back seat to Borderlands 4. The last option, and the most likely scenario if Gearbox does finally figure out The Watcher’s War, is a faction of Guardians. Fighting Eridians’ creations in Vaults is always a good time, as their shield-focused health bars and unique abilities make them stand out from other foes. However, there is no telling if Guardians will work as a primary antagonist, as they may be better in small doses. Since they are aliens from another world, bonding with them is much more difficult, and while intriguing characters like The Seer are enigmatic, they will always lack the charisma of someone like Handsome Jack or even Calypsos. Unfortunately, unless Gearbox can come up with an entirely new evil faction, it will be Borderlands 4 that will struggle to deliver an opponent that works on all fronts. At the time, Handsome Jack and Hyperion were a new concept, but the evil weapon company shtick was tired of being overused. Psychics have been used a lot lately as well, and the Guardians lack the over-the-top character Borderlands is known for. Hopefully, Gearbox will surprise players with an unforgettable opponent in the next game, where all the obvious options will likely fall out. More than that: Borderlands 4 should bring back a classic that was abandoned
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