Summary
Distilled down to its core, Gearbox Software’sBorderlandsfranchise is built upon thrilling, fast-paced looter shooter action and comical, zany antics. Though not without its darker and more serious moments and story turns,Borderlands’whimsical, light-hearted tone runs deep in its presentation and design, and its ultimate goal is to provide fun. This can go doubly so when playing with friends, as the series has always catered to co-op as well as, if not more so, to single-player, and gaming shared between friends in general can create an even more enjoyable experience.
A few years after theoriginalBorderlands, a story emerged that Gearbox received a note from a friend of a fan who had recently passed away, asking if the studio would be willing to contribute to honoring their friend’s memory and their shared passion forBorderlands. Other developers have included memorials and homages to fans that sadly lost their lives. Gearbox displayed commendable care in this case by producing a recorded commemoration and then creating an NPC forBorderlands 2based on the departed fan that paid tribute to them in-game in a manner befitting the core tenants of the series.
A Touching Borderlands 2 NPC Concept Should Return in BL4
Gearbox’s Tribute to Michael John Mamaril in Borderlands 2
The character of Michael Mamaril inBorderlands 2is based on a real-life fan of the same name who passed away from cancer in October 2011, aged 22. Michael and a good friend, Carlo, spent a lot of time playing and enjoying the first title together. After Michael’s passing, Carlo contacted Gearbox, requesting the studio provide a remembrance for his late friend via an in-character eulogy fromBL’s iconic mischievous robot mascot, Claptrap, who was Michael’s favorite character. Gearbox honored this wish and then went a step further by adding a Sanctuary NPC bearing Michael’s name inBorderlands 2. It was a touching and heartfelt way of immortalizing his memory by making Michael an indelible part of the game, and showed that Gearbox truly appreciates and cares about its fans.
Fans wanting to pay their own respects by listening toGearbox’s eulogy for Michael Mamarilcan do so via the preceding link.
Borderlands 4 Should Feature the Concept of an NPC Like Michael Mamaril Again
Players have a chance of encountering Michael Mamaril’s Vault Hunter avatar inBorderlands 2around the main hub of Sanctuary. Upon being found, Michael then hands out a piece of loot of various rarity. By designing his character version in such a way, a part of him and his love for the game lives on in its world. The general concept, though, of a friendly NPC that hands out gear to players when they bump into them during a visit to a particular area is appealing, especially giventhe nature ofBorderlands' genre and central gameplay loops.
It need not necessarily be Michael Mamaril’s memorial character that appears again inBorderlands, as this might not be deemed the proper decision depending on the feelings of his friends and family, though if it has their blessing, then certainly it would seem acceptable. Either way, a similarly styled NPC could be included inBorderlands 4, one that is perhaps chosen due to a positive reason, such as Gearbox holding a contest testing fans' trivia knowledge, or a lottery drawing, with the winner being awarded an NPC of their own in the next title that assists other players by granting them items from time to time in the same way Michael’s NPC did inBL2.It would be an endearing touch, and a way to bring fans together.
Borderlands 3
WHERE TO PLAY
The original shooter-looter returns, packing bazillions of guns and an all-new mayhem-fueled adventure! Blast through new worlds and enemies as one of four brand new Vault Hunters – the ultimate treasure-seeking badasses of the Borderlands, each with deep skill trees, abilities, and customization. Play solo or join with friends to take on insane enemies, score loads of loot and save your home from the most ruthless cult leaders in the galaxy.A MAYHEM-FUELED THRILL RIDEStop the fanatical Calypso Twins from uniting the bandit clans and claiming the galaxy’s ultimate power. Only you, a thrill-seeking Vault Hunter, have the arsenal and allies to take them down.YOUR VAULT HUNTER, YOUR PLAYSTYLEBecome one of four extraordinary Vault Hunters, each with unique abilities, playstyles, deep skill trees, and tons of personalization options. All Vault Hunters are capable of awesome mayhem alone, but together they are unstoppable.LOCK, LOAD, AND LOOTWith bazillions of guns and gadgets, every fight is an opportunity to score new gear. Firearms with self-propelling bullet shields? Check. Rifles that spawn fire-spewing volcanoes? Obviously. Guns that grow legs and chase down enemies while hurling verbal insults? Yeah, got that too.NEW BORDERLANDSDiscover new worlds beyond Pandora, each featuring unique environments to explore and enemies to destroy. Tear through hostile deserts, battle your way across war-torn cityscapes, navigate deadly bayous, and more! QUICK & SEAMLESS CO-OP ACTIONPlay with anyone at any time online or in split-screen co-op, regardless of your level or mission progress. Take down enemies and challenges as a team, but reap rewards that are yours alone – no one misses out on loot.
