GameInformer September Issue [Article summary [no eye candy]GAMEPLAY-Co-op plans to stick to 4 players
-Gearbox plans to create a more unified world
-Handsome Jack, will be the main Antagonist of BL2.
-The original Vault Hunters will be support NPC's.
-The players will also have interacting dialogues, similar to those in Left 4 Dead.
-NPC's will be fully animated and move around their locations, interacting with objects within their locations
-Story missions will no longer be static, I.E. if you need to rescue somebody as a mission but take too long that story arc will continue and the story will change for you [cdog9183] In short, you may be penalized in later missions/story for taking too long or failing completely.
-Certain missions will expand as you carry them out
-Guardian Angel and Claptrap will be back
VEHICLES-4 Seating capacity will be standard on all vehicles
-Different Variety of Vehicles, one being a Bandit Technical
-Vehicles will be more detailed
-Vehicles will have the ability to powerslide
CLASSES-BL2's skill tree will maintain the 3 Branch system and have more defined abilities rather than simple stat boosts. It is unknown how many skills will occupy each branch.
-New class is Salvador, the Gunzerker. Special ability is Dual-wielding. Any weapon can be dual-wield.
-2 Gunzerker Skills were mentioned: one increases the fire rate of any weapon the longer the trigger is held down. A second increases accuracy with different class weapons, or doubles damage for same class weapons while Dual-wielding
ENEMIES-AI communication/interaction is not scripted and is based on real-time.
-AI improvements allow them to be more responsive, use cover better, and use their surroundings to their advantage.
-Badass Fire Skags now have the ability to engulf pup skags with their flame, giving them a temporary offensive/defensive buff, along with being immune to fire damage. Once the buff has expired, the Badass can call the remaining pup skags back for another buff.
-New druid enemy, the Surveyor, uses a shield to deflect projectiles back at the player when alone. In groups, they are able to heal/repair their friendlies, but at the cost of being unable to use their deflective shields.
-The Bullymong, a 4 arm ape-like creature, is a very agile enemy, climbing structures quickly and capable of using objects around it as projectiles.
-EXP Loader [or exploder], is Hyperion's own kamikaze war mech
WEAPONS-Weapons will have more details and highlights
-BL1 manufacturers that were mentioned in the article: Vladof, Jakobs, Tediore, Torgue, Hyperion, Maliwan
-Bandits weapons have the highest magazine capacity in the game
-Each manufacturer will have their own visual styling/theme. The purpose of this is to be able to easily identify a weapon's manufacturer and quality by simple looking at it. No manufacturers will have the same looking gun. Examples: Vladof will sport Russian [AK-47 type] bodies, Dahl will have more modern militaristic characteristics.
-Class mods and Artifacts will be returning
-Eridium, can be used to enhance weapons and are the only Currency to purchase the most powerful weapons in the world. They can also be used to provide temporary buffs, like health, defense, or damage to the player.
-Eridium will be scattered throughout Pandora and will be rare to find.
-Weapons can have unique decals and enhancements
Randy Pitchford's Interview [Interview] -2 Player Splitscreen will be able to go online
To clear up on the split screen issue, here's what it looks like you can do and can't do:
Can:
Local Host + Online player + Online Player + Online Player
Local Splitscreen Hosts + Online Player + Online Player
Local Host + Online Splitscreen Players + Online Player
Cannot:
Local Splitscreen Hosts + Online Splitscreen Players
-Gunzerker will also have Brick's powerful Melee capability
-Saves will be stored in a "cloud". From there, you will be able to retrieve your character anywhere
-Menus will be more simpler, cleaner, and easy to use
-When using the in-game Inventory/Menu, the camera pans out to 3rd person. You can then see your character and the character interacting with the menu
-More character customization will be introduced, but was not detailed on what just yet
-Keeping the majority of the old systems in BL1, but improving them for the better for BL2
GameInformers "The Gun Peddlers of Pandora" [Article] -GameInformer gave straight forward descriptions of manufacturers that will be present in BL2.
-No mention of Atlas, S&S, or Eridian
-Hyperion weapons will be switching from Red/Crimson to the iconic Hyperion Yellow/White
Teaser Trailer [Teaser Trailer] -Areas with snow and lush green grass
-Music is 3p1c
-Character animation is more fluid and breath condensations are seen in the snowy environment
-Surrounding environment is more detailed and lively [as noted by the oil drill and wind tracker at the beginning of the Trailer]
-The enemies are Bullymongs and Hyperion Mechs
-Salvador is holding a Bandit Beer-bottle scope MG and what appears to be a Bandit Sniper Rifle
-Salvador has 2 weapon SDU's, since Salvador can Dual-wield
-The Bandit Sniper Rifle is characterized by the Rim [no information on it yet] and the Flashlight Scope
NowGamer article [NowGamer article] -Another Siren,
Maya is pictured with Salvador. [confirmed by AdamF].
-There is a book strapped the Maya's left leg.
-There's an in-hand/first person view of the Bandit MG.
-Featured enemies: Bullymong, Hyperion Mechs, Surveyors, Shield Nomads using Psycho Midgets as a meat shield
GameInformers "Meet the Gunzerker" [Article] -There will be 4
NEW characters
-New "amp" element covers enemies in a "debuff", which in turn increases elemental damage
-Salvador's 3 skill branches:
Rampage [tied to dual-wielding],
Brawn [increases toughness], and
Gun Lust [increases weapon stats and new aggro turret ability]
-Divergent Likeness: 2 same weapons = bonus damage. 2 different weapons = increased accuracy
-Down, Not Out: able to dual-wield while down
-Overheat: increase fire-rate the longer the trigger is held down
-No information on the "aggro turret"
Gamescom 2011[
Gearboxity Article List]
-Contains a list to various articles [some of which are included below]
[
Gamespot Article]
-Vehicles will be more drivable, less sporadic physics
-Article states there will be a mini-map
[
VideoGamer Article]
-Vladof gatling barrels will fire slowly at first, then rapidly increase fire rate
-Seems that Torgue weapons will exclusively fire explosive projectiles
-Each subset of skills will get their own Y-branch. More in-depth skills to personify your profession choice even more.
-New Gunzerker skills: Die Hard [Brick's old skill], Asbestos [reduces negative status effects, possibly similar to Lilith's Resilience], Just Got Real [increase damage with all weapons]
[
GamingLives Article]
-Maya will not have Lilith's Phasewalk. It was stated that each Siren is connected, but each has their own unique ability
[
uStream]
-
2 guns were shown, 1st was a Torgue Rifle,
2nd red gun was a Scopeless Bandit MG-Hyperion more war orientated, their forces will reflect that
-Enemies will now be knocked down, stagger, or be stunned when shot
-When running over enemies with vehicles, they will actually become rag-dolls and fly over your hood
-Atlas was obliterated in BL1 and Knoxx DLC, gave Hyperion the chance to become top dog
-Trades will be more reasonable, quests will no longer be illegible
-Second Playthrough will be present
-Bandit guns put S&S out of business
-Salvador is a Dwarf
-No invisible pony rides
GamingLives interviews NVidia interviews Scott KesterMachinima interviews writer Anthony Burch[
DealsPwn Article]
-Confirms a Gunzerker skill called: Sexual Tyrannosaurus
-Hyperion City will be a location
-The dam in various images is confirmed to be called the Dahl Dam
-Bandit guns will be very low-tech
[
1up Article]
-Improved AI, Psychos will climb any obstacle to reach you
-More free environment, no invisible walls
-Borderlands humor is present, especially in the demo [hint: last paragraph]
[
G4TV Article]
-Enemies will insult the player more than the first
-Possible reward system for players switching to many different weapons
-Enemies will now be more responsive and limp or be slowed depending on where the target is hit
GameInformers: The Art of Borderlands 2 [
Article]
-Hyperion will have a straight/plain design to conflict with the crazy/jagged design of Borderlands
-Environments will retain the harsh and dangerous feel of Pandora
-Handsome Jack's placed a supply base on the moon represented by a giant H. The "eye" is symbolic of Hyperion, and gives you the feeling that Jack is always watching you.
[
GameInformers: Concept Art]
GameInformers: Gearbox Talks Co-Op [Article] -Shows Gearbox's strong emphasis to improve co-op gameplay
-Knows the importance of communication
-Looking into improving connectivity
GameInformers: The Sound Design of BL2 [
Article] -More emphasis on mechanical sounds to give each gun more personality/feel
-Hints that each manufacturer will not only have their own unique look, but also their own unique sound. i.e. Bandit guns sounding rattly
-Certain unique characters/enemies will have their own theme song
-Dynamic interaction between characters
-Important sounds will be intensified to have a bigger impact
Bonus:-Screen in the back shows an unarmed class with unused Skill Points. Also displays how fire looks in BL2.
-Circle in top right corner seems to be the minimap.
PAX 2011 [
Gearboxity Article List]
[
uStream]
-No Ice element
-Thousands of different accessories, including decals, knives
-Possibly more than 1 accessory slot
-Scope parts are randomly generated as well. More variations and functions in each scope
-
Eridium is a unique Eridian power that was unlocked when the Vault was opened. Eridium has come to life and are now scavengeable, but very rare. Eridium has the ability to give temporary stat boosts
-
Slag is leftover Eridium that provide weapon boosts. It causes double damage on the enemy you slagged. However, enemies can also slag themselves and become immune to slag effects.
-Skags, Bandits are confirmed along with new varieties of Bandits and new enemies
-Enemy AI will be more aware of their surroundings and use it to their advantage
-Ice/Tundra, lava pits, caves will be accessable locations. Also, large areas where automotive combat will be preferred
-Custom UI for PC. Players will be able to move their items around freely
-Boss weapons will be more unique [firing modes, behaviors, look]. They will also have access to unique accessories
[GamerGaia Article]-Each gun will generate it's own scope, will no longer have 6 preset scopes
-Explosive ammo clips [interesting...]
-Unique Boss accessories will be able to be fitted onto existing weapons to greatly impact the performance of the weapon
[GameHounds Article]-Gamechanger will unlock later in skill trees and will be able to change your gameplay significantly
Kotaku Gameplay [
Kotaku Article]
-Snow/Blood on-screen effects
-Viewing menu/inventory/skill tree will be in 3rd Person
-Gunzerker Rampage and Brawn Skill Trees
-Missions will be tied with the story line
-Everything you see is explorable and reachable
-Torgue weapons are confirmed to shoot mini Gyrojet rockets
-Guncard seems to expand to accomodate extra stat modifiers
GameInformers: Podcast [
Article]
-Changes in Active Abilities. Similar to old classes but with new twists
-A couple of the old locations may be revisited in order to provide a backstory/how Handsome Jack affected Pandora
-Jakobs: steampunk, WWII design
-Hyperion: Sleek, Claptrap color scheme
-Still loading between sections
-Certain Vendors will only accept Eridium as a form of currency for some of the most powerful weapons
[Kotaku Article]-PC will not be a port. PC users will have their own version of BL2 with drag-drop UI-Weapons will have around twelve to fourteen different parts
IGN Article [
Article]
-Variance in weapon parts. Some may be just visual, while others may actually have additional effects
-Weapon parts will retain technical effects
-More emphasis on unique Boss/special weapons
-Shield & Grenade mods will be bountiful and have more crazy variations
-Only one Action Skill, but various ways to use it. Example: Salvador's Gunzerking ability, will give you the power to dual-wield and/or increase melee damage, making it essentially Brick's Berserk
-Enemies will no longer instantly die by simply running them over with a vehicle
-Importance of 2nd and possibly a 3rd Playthrough
IGN Article [
Article]-UI will be more narrow to accommodate Splitscreens
-BL2 will use Unreal Engine 3
The Play Vault Article [
Article]
-Bandits will be getting their own "city" [may be referring to the settlement located before/on the Dahl Dam in various pictures]
-Bandit backstory: how they survived, etc.
Gamasutra Interview [
Article]
-Interview with Anthony Burch [writer] and Scott Kester [concept designer]
IGN: Building a Better Story [
IGN Interview]
-IGN Interview with lead writer Anthony Burch and lead designer Jon Hemingway
-Handsome Jack will have a presence during your gameplay via radio contact
-Eridium is the reason for fighting for control of the planet
Gearbox Studio Interview!
-Double the amount of enemies
-Fast travel system has been improved
-Weapon capabilities of vehicles have been improved
-Vehicle passengers may be able to shoot their own or vehicle specific guns
-More over-the-top weapons
-Regions will have varied enemies that have adapted to their surroundings
