There was nothing quite like Borderlands when it was first announced. A loot-driven first-person shooter had never been made before, and no one was sure if the game would even work at a mechanical level. On top of all that, the game was supposed to be a comedy. While such a routine may have worked for Conker's Bad Fur Day, it had failed for so many other games before it. There was absolutely no guarantee that Borderlands would have an ounce of success.
Obviously, things worked out in the franchise's favor. The original game spawned one of the biggest series in gaming today, but Gearbox Software wasn't content to sit around and pump out sequels. Borderlands may only be on its third installment, but the franchise has made huge improvements in just five years.
In an industry where sequels are pumped out as quickly as possible, it's nice to see a franchise that takes its time. Borderlands wasn't always a guaranteed success, but with such an addicting formula and a passionate team working on the games, it'll be a long time before we see the end of Pandora.
