Borderlands 2 Replay Reveals Secret Ingredient Borderlands 3 & 4 Missing (And It's Not Just Handsome Jack)

In general, I think it's safe to say that Gearbox has successfully iterated on their looter shooter game throughout Border series, maybe save for the current end of the game Borderlands 4. Not only are there quality of life improvements, but also a solid expansion of available loot from game to game. Nowhere is this more obvious than playing them in sequence Border on Borderlands 4. But for many fans, Borderlands 2 reigns supreme. The reason is incredibly obvious in retrospect, but in recent weeks I've been struggling with a big question: why is this?

My colleague Drew Swanson commented on this recently Borderlands 2 proved to be the exception for the franchise, not the rule. Actually, neither Borderlands 3 or Borderlands 4 (until now) they had constant power or income Borderlands 2, and it is doubtful that they ever do. With solid iterative gameplay, I feel the clear answer to my question is Handsome Jack.

He is by far the best villain in the entire series, with the twins Calypso and Timekeeper a few steps away from his dominance. After all, he's generally considered one of the best villains in gaming, but I've come to the conclusion that Jack is more of a symbol Borderlands 2's size and not just an instigator.

This article contains major spoilers for Borderlands 2.

Handsome Jack is a vault symbol burned into the Borderlands series

I played a lot of games with my wife over the holidays. We decided to leave our current one Baldur's Gate 3 playthrough, maybe one day I'll pick it back up (doubt it) and go back to Border series. I wouldn't say we played any of the games a lot, but we definitely put a few passes into each game except Borderlands 4. We've beaten all of its main content and we're going to make another game as part of this marathon. But experience is the best teacher and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't hoping to see what the secret sauce Borderlands 2 others lacked it.

I've played Borderlands 4 twice so far, once with my wife and once with friends.

I was convinced it couldn't just be Handsome Jack; there had to be something more. We lost Borderof course, and I was Roland and she was Brick. In 2025 I can promise that Borderlands 1 it feels like a 2009 game; it hasn't aged that well, though I've definitely played games that have aged worse. We've played all the DLC, and even though it hasn't been that long since I've played it all, I was surprised at how new it all felt. Apart from TK, the Destroyer boss battle and Ned/Zed's heel spin the best Borderlands 1 DLC, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, nothing felt so familiar.

Borderlands campaign DLC image, The Zombie Island of Dr. Sun

On the other hand, Borderlands 2 it feels like a comfortable, cozy, home game – an ideal choice for a holiday. At every step, my wife and I walked through the hall of memories. Beginning with Claptrap, where he loses an eye to Bullymong. Classical. Jack's comments on Butt Stallion? Yes. Finding Lilith, Mordecai, Roland and Brick? This is a great integration of the last few Vault Hunters, with Brick's role as plate king a simple but effective stamp on the ole nuggin. We even threw ourselves into a side quest which is simply shooting a guy in the face. In addition, each quest feels like a golden memory of the franchise:

Bloodwing's death? This still hurts, especially since Mordecai was my first Borderlands Vault Hunter.
The threat of a warrior? Just as memorable as the destroyer, if not more so.
Angel's actual role in the franchise? It's one of those moments that really changes how you view the game in later games, even if (or especially) it was obvious in hindsight.
Vault Hunters DLC Krieg and Gaige are iconic and exactly why fans have always wanted Vault Hunters DLC in other Border games.
The plot with Angel and Lilith, like why Angel didn't want Lilith in her chambers, still holds up.
Roland's death? Oh, it still hurts.
Claptrap's commentary on Stairs: Gold.
Jack's defeat and a map of all the Vaults? A solid ending.
Tiny Tiny's attack on Dragon Keep? Using Dungeons and Dragons to process grief? Inspired.

Borderlands 2 is an exception thanks to its memorable moments

I think saying that a good/fantastic story needs memorable moments to be effective is a bit reductive and trite, but a good story has memorable moments. Playback Borderlands 2 he showed me how his story and his moments stayed with me years later. Borderlands 1 I felt so foreign and try as I might, I don't remember anything particularly memorable Borderlands 3 or Borderlands 4. Handsome Jack plays a role in elevating these moments, but he's a part, not a whole, where the overall framing and story do something above the rest. So much of what happened in Borderlands 2 still defines the franchise; The reason is the attack on the Dragon Keep Tiny Tiny's Wonderlands there is, in part, and why fans still hope va Tiny Tiny's Wonderlands 2.

Logically speaking, gameplay should be the main factor of a looter shooter. PUSH, Border games are strong against their opponents, but against Borderlands 2they always lose because the story recedes more into the background of the game. Borderlands 2The story elevates the world and the gameplay, leaving behind so many wonderful bits and lifelong memories that defined the franchise in so many bland ways. The Calypso Twins and The Timekeeper could never compare to Handsome Jack, but the story could have elevated the games even further. Instead, they suffered.

Why you should start Borderlands 2 Over in 2025

Borderlands 4 it's made worse because the few iconic characters that do return, even Lilith, feel so muted. Claptrap goes from being an annoying, important character in the franchise to a complete piece, sa Borderlands 4 set to mute Claptrap is a symbol of how BL4's treats the characters of the franchise. A game can always be fun, but the world needs more story telling. It may never replace Borderlands 2but I don't think so either Borderlands 3 or Borderlands 4 try because they leave no lasting memories.