TheBorderlandsfranchise has evolved plenty over the years, and when the next mainline game makes its debut, Gearbox will have the opportunity to add more fresh concepts to the franchise. However, apart from the likely debut of new Vault Hunters and a promisedsearch for Lilith, fans do not know what to expect from the game.
Borderlands 4could feature just about anything, and it will likely make some major quality of life improvements to the series’ regular gameplay loop. One small change could see weapon inspections added, as this mechanic would instantly give the game’s guns more personality. While it would be a major undertaking for a feature many may not use often, those that love collecting theBorderlandsseries’ unique weapons would surely appreciate the addition.
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Weapon Inspections Suit The Borderlands Brand
A vast majority of the marketing forBorderlands 3sawGearboxhyping up the “bazillions of guns” included in the looter shooter, and while the number was ultimately a stretch, the weapon count was still staggering.Borderlands 3features over a billion different guns to collect thanks to the game’s different parts, weapon types, and statistics. With guns being a huge part of the series’ DNA, going out of the way to make each feel more special would make sense.
Obviously, designing a weapon inspection for every single weapon type would be impossible, but Gearbox could use its randomly generated weapon systems to add variants of some set animations. Basic animations could be added for theBorderlandsManufacturersand their weapon types, with Gearbox creating a handful of inspections for Jakobs shotguns, rifles, and so on. Some basic animations for all weapon types could be crafted, too, with Gearbox then mixing parts of these together through the randomly generated weapon systems. This way, all guns would have a few inspections, even if they are not particularly flashy.
Borderlands’ iconic Legendariesare where Gearbox could get more creative, as these could have hand-crafted animations. While Common, Uncommon, Rare, and Epic drops could feature random variants of the same inspections, Legendary weapons could boast inspections that add to their overall identity. When inspecting a gun, players could see their Vault Hunter testing out its functionality, reacting to its unique effect by dropping the weapon, tossing it in the air, and so on.
There are countless examples ofBorderlandsweapons that could have entertaining inspections, such as P.A.T. from the Psycho Krieg and the Fantastic Fustercluck DLC. Players could hold up the golden egg the weapon came from, or pet the baby gun. The Infinity pistol could feature a joke that plays off the idea that it never has to be reloaded, the Lucky 7 could incorporate some kind of gambling reference when inspected, and the weapons fromMad Moxxicould make an innuendo-focused comment when looked at more closely. Talking guns could have unique lines when inspected, making them even more fun than they already are, and these possibilities are just the tip of the iceberg.
Weapon inspections would not hugely improve gameplay likecustom Circles of Slaughter, but they would provide Gearbox with more opportunities to crack some jokes. They would make each Legendary gun a bit more special, too, and Gearbox could look toCall of Duty’s weapon blueprints for an example on how make inspections stand out. WithBorderlandsalready featuring some standout reload animations for a few guns, fans have seen how cool small weapon details can be, and weapon inspections would be a way to take that idea further.
