Borderlands 2 Season Pass Xbox Live

Borderlands 2 Season Pass Product Details

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• Borderlands 2 gets new downloadable character

  Think you've milked Borderlands 2 dry? Think again. During a presentation at the SXSW festival in Texas, Gearbox unveiled a teaser trailer for a new downloadable vault hunter character.

  "Deep beneath Pandora, an experiment has escaped," says the teaser. "Bandits beware, a new vault hunter is coming. More mayhem awaits." Shown only in silhouette, the character appears to use melee attacks and looks to be a mixture of Hulk and Robocop. Pretty tempting, eh?

  No release date was given, but Borderlands franchise director Matt Armstrong explained to the crowd that we'll be playing with this new addition sooner rather than later. "DLC is announced on a very tight schedule," he said, "and I don't think you'll have to wait long until you see that character."

  This will be the second additional character for the game. Shortly after Borderlands 2 was released, the Mechromancer Pack added a crazy robot-unleashing little girl called Gaige to the line-up. There have also been three hefty expansion packs released so far. Captain Scarlett and Her Pirate's Booty, Mr. Torgue's Campaign of Carnage and Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt are all available, each offering large new maps and loads more hilarious storyline to an already obscenely generous game. If you haven't given it a try, now's the time.

  Borderlands 2 is out now for PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 and PC.
  

  Published: 11/03/2013

• SONY's Journey dominates DICE Awards

  Journey, the stunning ambient explore-em-up from designer Jenova Chen, swept the board at the annual DICE Awards. Voted for by the Academy of Interactive Arts and Sciences, the awards are the closest thing the games industry has to the Oscars, although the ceremony inevitably involves less dance numbers.

  Already a favourite with critics and a top selling game on SONY's PlayStation Network, Journey took home eight awards, including the big three: Game of the Year, Outstanding Achievement in Game Direction and Outstanding Innovation in Gaming.

  No other game came close to Journey's haul, but several games came away with multiple awards. The brutally brilliant XCOM: Enemy Unknown took home prizes for best strategy/simulation game as well as Outstanding Achievement in Gameplay Engineering. Microsoft's Halo 4 also took home two gongs, for Outstanding Achievement in Visual Engineering and Outstanding Achievement in Connectivity.

  Topping off a 2012 that was stuffed with superb titles across all genres, the exuberant Borderlands 2 was crowned Action Game of the Year, while Need for Speed: Most Wanted took the prize for best racing game and Mass Effect 3 was dubbed best role-playing game. Skylanders Giants beat Lego Batman 2 and Nintendo Land for Family Game of the Year, while PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale provided an upset in the fighting game category, as SONY's character crossover mash-up beat such genre mainstays as Tekken Tag Tournament 2 and Street Fighter X Tekken.

  Telltale Games' gruelling episodic adventure series The Walking Dead, based on the hit comic, also won big. It was awarded Adventure Game of the Year, and also took home honours for story and voice acting.

  Published: 08/02/2013

• The Best of 2012: Xbox 360

  
  

  And so another year gallops to a close, thundering through the ribbon into January on a wave of good cheer and over-eating. And what a cracker of a year it's been for gaming, with all the major platforms delivering some absolutely stonking exclusives along with some truly spectacular blockbusters spread across all formats, like warm butter on the crumpet you're hopefully eating right now to ward off the December chills.

  

  For Xbox 360 owners, it's been the year in which Master Chief finally returned to the gaming stage. Absent for five years - an eternity in games terms - his triumphant return in Halo 4 not only kickstarted the new Reclaimer Trilogy, but also introduced new developer 343 Studios to the series. 343 immediately put its stamp on Bungie's universe, crafting a game with sumptuous visuals and a distinctly personal spin on storytelling, as Chief battles not just to save the galaxy, but his AI companion Cortana, whose code is deteriorating. Add in an exhaustive suite of multiplayer modes, a full co-op campaign, and the ongoing Spartan Ops bonus missions and you've got one of the best games of the series, and of this year.

  

  Halo wasn't the only Microsoft legend getting a makeover in 2012. Forza Horizon took the imposing racing simulation and gave it a funky mainstream twist, combining developer Turn 10's impeccable vehicle physics with an open world underground racing vibe. Everything from drift racing to hardcore rallying is covered as you roar around a virtual Colorado racing festival, looking for events and opportunities to show off your talent behind the wheel.

  

  The wonderful land of Albion also showed off a new perspective in Fable: The Journey. This Kinect-fuelled spin-off from the superb RPG series puts you right into the action as a young boy, separated from his tribe and forced to travel across this magical land alone as dark forces gather against him. Using precision motion control, you steer your wagon, fire off spells and even look after your loyal horse. It's an unusual game, offering an experience far removed from the other Fable titles, yet it's also one of the best Kinect games. Immersive and packed with genuine challenge, it's a good sign that motion gaming doesn't have to just mean simple mini-games for little kids.

  

  Definitely not suitable for little kids was The Witcher 2: Assassins of Kings. Previously a well-deserved smash hit on the PC, the game crossed over to consoles exclusively for Xbox 360. This was no mere half-hearted port either. Czech developer CD Projekt went out of its way to recreate the game specifically for a console audience, adding four hours of fresh questing content, as well as new cinematics. The result was one of the best role-playing games, not just of 2012, but of all time. A thorny, challenging adventure set in a bawdy, complex world torn apart by racism, political strife and class war.

  

  On the digital frontline, the Xbox continued to thrill. World conquering epic Minecraft came to consoles just for the 360, allowing a whole new audience to experience the genius of Mojang's communal block bashing and building. No surprise that it quickly became one of the most popular online games, challenging even the heavyweight shooters. Indie hit Fez got critics hot under the collar too with its mind-bending puzzle platforming action, and knockabout motocross romp Trials Evolution offered gamers the chance to punish their ragdoll rider in the year's biggest highs and most hilarious fails.

  

  Xbox owners weren't left out when it came to multi-format releases either. The brilliant Borderlands 2, with its lunatic mix of co-op action and loot-swapping mayhem, is what your Xbox LIVE Friends List was invented for, while the online action of hits such as FIFA 13 and Need for Speed: Most Wanted made the most of Microsoft's ever-evolving digital community. Even the biggest game of the year had something extra special for Xbox players, as Activision announced that all the DLC maps for Call of Duty: Black Ops II will be exclusive to Xbox 360 for a limited time.

  And that's just this year. Where will Xbox be in another twelve months? Will there be a new console to save up for? How long will we have to wait for Halo 5? And what will developers do next with the controller-free Kinect? One thing's for sure, it's going to be an amazing ride finding out.

  Published: 13/12/2012

• Observant gamers discover Minecraft, Dark Souls, Ninja Turtles and more hidden in Borderlands 2

  Borderlands 2, the sequel to Gearbox's 2009 loot-grabbing free-roaming shooter, has topped the charts in its first week on sale and players have discovered all manner of hilarious gags and references hidden off the beaten path.

  Venture into the upper left hand corner of the map in the Caustic Caverns area, for example, and you'll find a familiar looking wall made up of dirt cubes. Bash your way through and you'll discover a homage to beloved indie game Minecraft, complete with Creeper enemies and a bonus character skin. Head to the right hand side of the same area and you'll find an eerie campfire with a ghostly warrior sitting beside it, a nod to the equally beloved hardcore RPG Dark Souls.

  There are TV and film references as well. The mission Too Close For Missiles is chock full of Top Gun jokes, from a map location called Goose's Roost to the quest giver, a man named Loggins after Kenny Loggins, singer of Top Gun soundtrack classic Danger Zone. There's even a volleyball net. Another mission, Splinter Group, sends you into the sewers to track down four mutants who love pizza and fight using melee weapons. They're not teenagers or turtles but they are mutants and ninjas, and their colour coded costumes will tip you off as to who they're meant to be.

  This is surely just the tip of the iceberg. Borderlands 2 is a game crammed with silly little details and gags that are easily missed in the heat of battle. If you haven't picked up a copy, it's out now for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC. Hours of entertainment, guaranteed!

  Published: 25/09/2012

• Borderlands 2 - Review

  
  

  

  Bigger And Better

  Borderlands 2 doesn't mess too heavily with the successful formula established by the original back in 2009, delivering another customisation-heavy first-person shooter with the questing structure and customisation options of a role-playing game and a big emphasis on co-operative play.

  What it does do is build on the first game in a number of ways that mark it out as a great follow-up. These range from minor things like walking over ammo to pick it up and the ability to trade with co-op partners, to significant ones, like more varied and unpredictable missions, as opposed to the original's series of fetch and carry quests.

  The story centres on your rebel faction's race across the planet Pandora to stop villain and self-proclaimed dictator Handsome Jack from opening a vault and awakening an ancient alien evil. However, you'll spend a lot of time getting sidetracked by non-essential side missions and a desire to go hunting for new items, or just getting distracted by packs of wild animals and hideouts full of bandits.

  

  Your journey through Pandora is made all the more enjoyable by the fact that Gearbox has replaced the samey brown colour palette that defined environments in the original with a more varied colour scheme, from the crisp icy blues of an arctic tundra to toxic neon caves and lurid purple mountains which, in combination with the game's striking art style, make Borderlands 2 one of the prettiest titles of 2012.

  Gun Club

  If you had to sum up Borderlands 2 in one word though it would be 'guns' - bazillions of them, according to the game's promotional material. The title uses a complex procedural generation system to create literally millions of combinations of weapons which you upgrade throughout the game.

  There's a dizzying amount of variables (damage, accuracy, magazine size, reload etc.) and specialist parts that alter how items perform, ensuring you're never short of ways to engage the many hostile creatures that inhabit Pandora's unpredictable alien landscapes.

  

  Rebel Alliance

  Borderlands 2 is at its best with four friends playing co-operatively, combining crowd control and healing abilities with close and long-range combat specialities to devastating effect. The game's four character classes are designed to work together; among their specialities, Maya the Siren can freeze enemies, Zer0 the Assassin can create clones of himself, Salvador the Gunzerker can dual-wield weapons, and Axton the Commando can deploy turrets that seek out enemies.

  Borderlands 2 builds on the template set out by the original to create a bigger, better sequel. The gunplay's great fun, the collection and customisation options are extremely moreish, the art style's gorgeous, and the locations, missions and enemies are more varied than they were in the original. If you liked the first game you're bound to love this, and those new to the series are in for a real treat too.

  GAME's Verdict

  The Good:

  • Markedly improves on the original.
  • Fantastic co-op gameplay.
  • It's lovely to look at.

  The Bad:

  • Not quite as satisfying in single player.
  • The story's not exactly riveting.
  • More weapon slots would be nice.

  Published: 20/09/2012

• Review Roundup: Borderlands 2

  Review Roundup: Borderlands 2

  The scores are coming in for Borderlands 2, Gearbox's eagerly awaited co-op RPG shooter hybrid sequel, and it's looking like universal acclaim.

  "An excellent shooter no one even remotely curious should overlook," is IGN's verdict, sitting atop a 9/10 score. "Prepare to level. Prepare to loot. Prepare to get lost in the hilarious, bizarre and wonderful world of Pandora."

  Eurogamer agrees, adding another 9/10 to the stack. "Borderlands 2 is still a hillbilly moonshiner sort of game," says their review, "But it's the hillbilly at his canny, tinkering, big-dreaming best. It's the hillbilly at the peak of his powers. It's the hillbilly made majestic."

  There are also 9/10 scores from both the Official Xbox and Official PlayStation magazines, while Play magazine dished out - yes - a 9/10 while declaring Gearbox's labour of love to be "an excellent lesson in sequel-making and is easily one of 2012's best games."

  Even the posh papers have joined the chorus of praise. "Whether players are ploughing through icy tundra, driving across a desert, picking their way through a goop-filled cavern or blasting through a gang's blood-daubed hideout, Borderlands 2 feels consistently fresh", reckons The Guardian's five-star review. "This is a world to lose yourself in - and thanks to the addictive quality of the game's loot-drops, it's likely many players will do just that."

  Drooling much? Don't worry - Borderlands 2 is out this Friday for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC.

  Published: 18/09/2012

• Borderlands 2 given away free to bungee daredevils

  2K Games has come up with a terrifying way to promote Borderlands 2, the eagerly anticipated openworld RPG shooter that launches this week. Anyone who fancies a free copy of the game is welcome to have one - all you need to do is throw yourself off a building.

  The Old Truman Brewery in London, to be precise, where 2K is hosting a special bungee jump event for brave souls who like to combine their bargain hunting with a stomach-churning squirt of adrenalin. Head there on Sunday September 23rd, make the jump and nab a free game.

  "We want to provide an afternoon of extreme fun and discover just how psycho Borderlands 2 fans can get," says Ben Lawrence from 2K Games UK office. "A bungee jump is the perfect way to truly test your nerves and we're excited to bring the insane pleasure of the game into the real world!"

  Of course, if you don't live in London, or just prefer not to risk life and limb for free software, you can just buy the game now and have it delivered to your letterbox, with no stunts required. It's out on September 21st for PC, Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and is already attracting glowing reviews, including a 9/10 from IGN, 95% from GamesMaster magazine and a stonking 9.8/10 from Game Informer.

  Published: 17/09/2012

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