Borderlands®4 - Story Pack 1: Mad Ellie and the Vault of the Damned Review Summary

C4SH character praised: Players consistently highlight C4SH as a well-designed, fun, and enjoyable character with a great voice actor and gameplay mechanics.

Story well-received: The story is frequently mentioned as good, well-written, and enjoyable, with a tight narrative focus.

DLC quality praised: The DLC is described as high quality, enjoyable, and having a decent amount of content with a great vibe.

Map and level design commended: Players appreciate the gorgeous, well-made maps and the overall level design.

Mancubus character appreciated: Mancubus is noted for having a significant role and being a fun character that players love.

DLC overpriced for content: Players feel the DLC is not worth the cost, citing high prices for minimal content. Many compare it unfavorably to previous DLCs in terms of value.

Story criticized as weak: The story is widely criticized as confusing, forgettable, and underwhelming. Many players found it boring, lackluster, and poorly executed with an abrupt ending.

Boss fights underwhelming: Boss fights are described as disappointing, easy, and underwhelming. Many players found them to be the worst part of the game.

Main story too short: The main story is criticized for being too short, with some players completing it in around 2-3 hours.

Lack of substantial content: The DLC is criticized for lacking content and depth. Players note a disappointing amount of content and a lack of endgame activities.

Open world and exploration: The open world design and environment are well-received, with players enjoying the exploration aspects, including underwater exploration.

Story-driven gameplay praised: Players appreciate the integration and quality of the storyline, highlighting its structure and campaign.

Reskinned enemies and content: Criticism about enemies and content being reskinned versions of existing ones, lacking originality.

Story and campaign length: Discussions about the length of the story and campaign, with some players finding it too short.

New Vault Hunter character: Introduction of a new Vault Hunter character is noted, adding freshness to the gameplay.

Mixed performance feedback: Players report varied performance experiences, with some noting significant improvements and others experiencing worse performance than before. This includes reports of smoother gameplay as well as increased frame rate instability.

Visual and audio bugs: Several players have encountered graphical glitches and audio bugs. These issues affect the overall gaming experience and need attention for a smoother gameplay.

High hardware requirements: The game demands high-end hardware to run smoothly, which may not be accessible to all players. Some players report needing to lower settings significantly to achieve stable frame rates.

Menu and loading issues: Players have noted slow loading times for menu textures and constant shader compiling, which can be frustrating and disrupt the gaming experience.

Multiplayer performance issues: The game runs poorly in multiplayer sessions, with specific actions like running around in 3rd person causing significant frame rate drops.

Wait for a sale: Many players suggest waiting for a discount or sale before purchasing the game or its DLC, indicating a common sentiment about the pricing.

Request refunds or better value: Some players feel strongly enough to request refunds or suggest purchasing the season pass or other packs for better value.

Cautious recommendation for fans: The game or DLC is recommended cautiously, particularly for fans of the base game or those who engage with multiple characters.

Series needs a reboot: There is a sentiment that the Borderlands series needs a reboot, indicating dissatisfaction with the current state of the game.

More content desired: Some players find the DLC a great pickup if more content is desired, indicating it adds value for those seeking additional gameplay.

Community fair range: $15.00 - $20.00.

Game completion: 6.0h.

Story completion: 3.0h.

The game is perceived as boring and unengaging from the start, with no clear point where it becomes fun. Players consistently report a lack of enjoyment due to uninteresting characters, story, and repetitive content.

Friction: boring characters; uninteresting story; repetitive content; short and unengaging gameplay.

Franchise Fan: Enjoys the core gameplay loop and seeks additional content. Motivation: More content and enjoyment from the base game. Stance: sale.

Character Builder: Enjoys leveling and building characters. Motivation: Character progression and new playstyles. Stance: sale.

Critical Completionist: Critical of performance and value, enjoys completing content. Motivation: Completion and value for money. Stance: deep sale.

Monetization: The user reviews indicate significant concerns about the pricing and value of the DLC. Many users feel that the DLC is overpriced at $30 and suggest a lower price point would be more appropriate. While some aspects of the DLC, such as the new character and storyline, are praised, the overall sentiment is that the content does not justify the cost. Comparisons with previous Borderlands DLCs highlight a perceived decline in value and increase in cost. Users recommend waiting for sales or bundles to purchase the DLC.

Remove Denuvo: Players are requesting the removal of Denuvo, likely due to performance issues or personal preferences against anti-tamper technology.