Battleborn
Battleborn looks to capitalize on the overwhelming current popularity of MOBA hybrids, and developer Gearbox Software hasn’t been shy about labelling the game as a cohesive and innovative blend of genres. Yet, even since the earliest gameplay presentations, the developer’s commentary on why Battleborn should be considered a compelling title felt a little desperate. Battleborn never quite sparked the interest among the gaming community that seemed appropriate for a title that seemed to cater to the zeitgeist of the times, and after playing a few hours of it, it’s easy to see why.
On paper, Battleborn has everything going for it: a cast of colourful characters, gameplay that looks like an interesting spin on MOBA, and a fairly substantial single player offering. But despite the overuse of industry buzz words during gameplay demonstrations, and a flashy marketing campaign prior to launch, Battleborn fails to stand apart. The crux of the issue is that Battleborn just isn’t compelling at all, and rather than feeling unique, the core of its gameplay revolves around a tried and tested MOBA formula that exists, in much better form, elsewhere.
Battleborn wasn’t necessarily a disappointment because we thought it was going to be a title that would challenge for accolades at the end of the year, it’s a letdown because we expected more from Gearbox. Trying to spin Battleborn as something different from what it was prior to launch in an almost mad panic was quite simply poor form.
For more on what we thought, be sure to check out our full review.