Summary
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmay be a spin-off ofBorderlands, but it takes its fair share of moves to differentiate itself from the main series. The game is a memorable part of the franchise, largely because of how much it stands out compared to the rest of theBorderlandsgames.Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsprobably won’t bring all of its changes to the mainline games, if any of them. However, they managed to make the game a fresh experience despite most ofBorderlands' formula being in place.
Based on theBorderlandsseries, theDungeons and Dragons-influencedTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis a lighter take on the already-wacky series of shooters. With the humorous and high-spirited Tiny Tina acting as the game’s main narrator, the player embarks on a fantastical journey that is a far cry from vault hunting. Still, the bombastic nature of the world around them, as well as Tina’s occasional ad-libs for the sake of excitement ensure that the player never forgets that they’re still in theBorderlandsuniverse.
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Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands is Less Explicit Than Borderlands
While the story of theBorderlandsgames often has many silly and ridiculous turns, the games undoubtedly earn their M for Mature rating. Players with good aim can blast off enemy heads, leaving their headless bodies to ragdoll to the ground, or just splatter them with a vehicle. Not to mention, a lot of enemy chatter can range from bizarre and hilarious to disturbing.Borderlandsis definitely no stranger to dark humor, especially when Handsome Jack is involved, and the punchlines can get messy.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis rated T for Teen, and the content is turned down accordingly.Enemies inTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmostly consist of undead hordes and other inhuman creatures, so players will often be watching skeletons crumble into bone piles, even when sniped head-on. Even the more humanoid bandits don’t bleed likeBorderlands' baddies when shot. Even other aspects were toned down, like the bar serving juice instead of alcohol, and the smack-talk from enemies being lighter in tone.
Although it doesn’t share the main series' rating,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsstill has great jokes, and it’s perfectly enjoyable. In a way, it feels like a cartoon version ofBorderlands, and that’s not a bad thing at all.Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmay have toned down the blood, but the spirit of the series is definitely still present in both the gameplay and presentation. If anything, it shows that aBorderlandsgame doesn’t need a Mature rating to be a good time.
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Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Makes Some Fantasy-Themed Tweaks to Borderlands' Gameplay
Along withTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' fantasy settingcame a few tweaks toBorderlands' long-standing mechanics. While the player still primarily uses guns, albeit mostly in the form of crossbows, a few mechanics saw clear changes. For one, grenades were replaced with spells. While spells played a similar role, being splash damage, they have a cooldown rather than limited ammo. In addition, spells differentiated themselves with their effects, ranging from shooting homing bolts to dropping elemental meteors, making combat a visual treat.
Another big change came withTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' melee weapons. Normally in theBorderlandsgames, every character has a single melee option that is only modified through some weapon or perk effects. However, inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, there is a selection of melee weapons to choose from, such as kamas, claymores, and morningstars. While it gives players an extra inventory slot to juggle, it also lets players further improve their character build. Melee weapons could be oneWonderlands' best additions to the series.
LongtimeBorderlandsplayers may have been thrown off becauseBorderlandsdoes not have an overworld, butTiny Tina’s Wonderlanddoes. In a move reminiscent of old school RPGs, players move between important locations on a world map, rather than the open world favored by otherBorderlandstitles. Players can even find random encounters in the grass similar toPokemon, although fought in the game’s typical FPS style. As a fun bonus, the overworld avatar looks like the player’s Fatemaker turned into a game piece.
The Playable Character is Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands' Biggest Break From Tradition
The most impactful break in theBorderlandsformula may lie inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' custom character. Unlike the rest of theBorderlandsgames that give the player a selection of Vault Hunters to play as,Wonderlandshas players build their own character from scratch. Everything about them, including their design, voice, class, and starting stats, are all up to the player’s discretion. The result of this approach is the most customizable protagonist in theBorderlandsfranchise to date.
Along with the custom protagonist came the ability todual-class inTiny Tina’s Wonderlands. While the Vault Hunters in previousBorderlandsgames held their original classes for the whole game,Wonderlandslets players multi-class their character once they reach a certain point. Once the player picks up their second class, they can gain benefits from both at once. This could range from stacking offensive buffs to giving the Fatemaker two pets at once, making multi-classing a powerful tool for any player.
While theVault Hunters of pastBorderlandsgamesare memorable characters in their own right, the Fatemaker inTiny TIna’s Wonderlandshas their own appeal. While the Fatemaker doesn’t have an iconic design or storyline, they act as a conduit for the player’s creativity and strategy. It’s an approach that hasn’t been tried before inBorderlandssince the Vault Hunters have always been so important in the plot. In that sense,Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis truly unique in the franchise.
Even thoughTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmissed some opportunities with its changes, its differences led to many of its strengths. Even though most of the general gameplay is similar, the replaced mechanics and different character dynamics ensured thatWonderlandshad its own distinct feeling rather than just being anotherBorderlandstitle.Borderlands' traditions have a history of success, butTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsfound its own success by breaking some of those rules.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandsis available now for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
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