First introduced in the original Borderlands, the game's classic intro became one of the mainstays for the franchise, acting like a character roll call of all the four main playable characters at the time of release. During the sequence, a stylistic version of their character's name and a brief title popped on the screen, usually with the fourth character having a comedic twist, like the playable character in Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel Claptrap being dubbed a "mistake." The intro, while relatively short, allowed for a moment for players to immerse themselves in the wacky and violent universe of Borderlands.
With each iteration of Borderlands, the intro became more ambitious and creative. The first Borderlands was relatively reserved, with the four characters simply getting out of their seats; however, in Borderlands 2 and Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel, the characters were far more active, showcasing their unique abilities and weapons of choice. When Borderlands 3 came around, the intro went off the rails, introducing the characters' skills and weapons and seemingly interweaving the introduction with some of the game's narrative beats. While the opening is a staple to the franchise, like some of Borderlands' goofiest characters, the intro can be taken to the next level.
Why Borderlands 4's Intro and Tutorial Should Change
While Borderlands' intro is a welcome sight to most players, especially franchise veterans, it's become more akin to a waiting room. Rather than going straight into the action, it forces players to watch the characters do incredible feats to the tune of an epic soundtrack. As a first-person shooter, the Borderlands franchise has interactive gameplay and mechanics, like Borderlands' weapon proficiency, that tailor each weapon depending on the player. The intro, however, is a more passive staple feature that could use a big shake-up.
Along with game-changing updates to Borderlands' loot and gameplay, Borderlands 4 has a chance to change not only how interactive the intro can be, but also the tutorial that typically follows. Tutorials can often feel unnecessary for longtime fans of a certain franchise or video games as a whole, and while it wouldn't be feasible to just remove them entirely from Borderlands 4, the shooter could combine its tutorial with a more interactive intro sequence.
The Intro Can Be More Interactive in Borderlands 4
Rather than outright change the intro's style, Borderlands 4 could make its opening end with a stylized boss fight, giving control to the players during the intro to showcase their powers and combat prowess while putting each character into the spotlight, one at a time. It would also make the beginning of the game much more visceral, giving players a "trial by fire" to learn the controls and introducing features and gameplay mechanics. It doesn't need to be something akin to Borderlands 3's Takedowns, but it could feel quite a grandiose entrance for the characters compared to a cinematic sequence.
Another way could be making the intro playable from start to finish with music underlining each character's actions. The scene from Borderlands 2 where the four players fight off Handsome Jack's forces could easily fit this archetype of introduction. Each player is essentially in their area, but each action dictates the battle and, as a result, the intro's tempo. It would allow players to make a more informed choice on their starting character, too, considering they can play them all before making that choice. With Borderlands 4 possibly on the horizon from Gearbox, the need to change the formula and make way for a more immersive opening could be a fundamental pillar of the franchise.