Claptrap's New Robot Revolution Impressions
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Updated
Claptrap's New Robot Revolution is the fourth DLC for the 2009 4 player co-op sleeper hit Borderlands. The first thing you need to know about this DLC is that the level cap has not yet been increased and the enemies have not been re-balanced. So if you have hit the level cap of 61 get ready for a five hour cakewalk that will net you mid-level 50 loot.
A 2K Games PR Representative tells us that a free patch is supposed to be ready for the October 12 release of the Game of the Year edition. This patch will raise the cap to 69 and re-balance the enemies.
Like the three previous DLCs, CNRR is accessible through the Fast Travel Network. Once you've reached the new area, Tartarus Station, a familiar face greets you and sends you on your first quest. This first task takes you to a new but familiar area where, surprise, surprise, you shoot masked bandits in a junkyard.
Once you've ventured a little ways into the area some new enemies make an appearance. The first are Hyperion Soldiers, which are similar to the Crimson Lance. The second are weaponized Claptraps, and they are awesome. Claptraps have become a polarizing figure in Borderlands, as gamers have found them either funny and charming or curse-inducing annoyances.
The only good Claptrap...
These warrior Claptraps cater to both parties. For those of you who like the little 'bots, they are dressed like samurais, boxers, soldiers, and other characters. They also make jokes as they attack you mercilessly. On the other hand, they repeat the jokes over and over again, but now you can shoot them. You can shoot them right in their cyclopean faces every time they say, "How do you like them apples?" No. Really. You're going to hear that about a thousand times.
The main quest is succinctly called Operation Trap Claptrap Trap, which involves tracking down the Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap, whom veterans of the game should be familiar with. A representative from the Hyperion Corporation is your benefactor, and he'll dish out the main quest missions.
But this is Borderlands, right? You're not here for plot, you're here for loot!
And that is the main problem with this DLC. As I mentioned earlier, the level cap has not increased. I don't think I'm going too far out on a limb in assuming that if you're buying this DLC you're probably capped out. None of the enemies are level 60, which means there are no high level loot drops. Without loot or leveling you simply have another average, brown-colored shooter.
I trusted you.
It's a shame, too, because all the other Borderlands goodness is in there. The humor is over the top. There is some new moody combat music. The new areas are large and fit in well with the Borderlands universe. There are abundant movie references. There are plenty of boss battles accompanied by small, lootable weapons caches. Too bad the weapons are under-leveled and underpowered. There are more new enemies than just the Hyperion Soldiers and Claptraps, but I won't spoil them for you. It should also be noted that vehicle combat, which was a main focus of Secret Armory, it totally absent here. And there are still no Fast Travel stations, which means you'll be hoofing it between areas.
The Secret Armory of General Knoxx felt like a nice ending to Borderlands. Claptrap's New Robot Revolution doesn't feel as polished, mainly because of the balancing issues. If you are a level 55 or lower, you will find the same enjoyment here as you have in the other installments. In the past Gearbox has done a great job in giving their fans what they want. I feel that they have done their fans and themselves a disservice by releasing this DLC too early. I cannot stress enough how lackluster this content is if you are at the level cap. Wait for the patch or the GOTY edition. Until then, here's the trailer, once again narrated by Marcus.
Update: It has come to my attention that if you have beaten Crawmerax the Invincible and turned in the mission at the Bounty Board in T-Bone Junction the game will scale to level 61 players appropriately. You need The Secret Armory of General Knoxx DLC. I decided to check it out for myself, and this is 100% true. The enemies are harder and the loot is better. A detail of the enemy scaling can be found in the Gearbox Forums. Big thanks to Swissy Jim for pointing it out! It should also be noted that there is still no level cap increase, and I still recommend on waiting for patch (due out in a couple of weeks) if you have hit the level cap. Happy looting!
- Tags:
- playstation 3,
- xbox 360,
- 4 player co-op,
- claptrap,
- borderlands dlc,
- news
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