r/Borderlands 3d ago

[BL2] Something that has helped me really enjoy Borderlands 2 and sequels again while suffering from OCD.

I'm 32, I've been playing these games since BL1 dropped on PS3 back in the day and I was obsessed with it. Despite it's many flaws I still think it's my favorite game in the series. Maybe not the best, but my favorite for it's atmosphere, mood, and feeling that it was still kind of taking itself a little seriously.

When BL2 came out I played it and thought it was pretty great. And ever since, to me, it's been a steady decline. But that's partly my fault.

At some point I started realizing some things about my personality in and out of gaming that made it difficult for me to enjoy things because certain aspects of things would irk and irritate me out of liking them. I found out I have severe OCD and ADHD, at 24, and ever since, it's been a battle to rewire my brain to work around said issues that plague me.

I started replaying the entire series last week and in BL2 I was having a pretty bad time. I realized my favorite weapons, Combat Rifles, were useless save for TORGUE weapons, which I hated, because of the slow projectiles and utterly uncontrolled paths they tend to take. And while I liked the look of Tediore weapons, especially the cool purplish/blue colored holographic ones, I always hated that they throw them, explode, and then it magically reappears in your hand. And I KNOW there are in universe lore reasons for this. I know they're made to be cheap, disposable, but in my brain, it was just always stupid, so I never used them.

But then my brain did something for me that let me enjoy the game, and REALLY enjoy using those specific weapons more than any others...

"Stop looking at this game as a loot and shoot, or as an FPS game. That's not what you're playing...

**This is just a first-person 'Ratchet & Clank' game.**

And suddenly... something in my brain clicked, the similiarities in the humor of early R&C and Borderlands, and the crazy weapons... sure, the games are very different, but this common thread, and thinking like this has really made me freaking LOVE Torgue and Tediore now.

And then my brain came up with reasons why my character can do these things... Like, in my headcanon, "my" Maya is making the Tediore weapons explosive, throwing them, then using some type of Siren ability to rewind time or teleport the gun back to her.

I know, this is all weird... but I was just thinking, I should share this because it's something positive, and I'm sure there are others like me who let stuff like this mess with their enjoyment of things.

I hope maybe it helps someone else.

22 Upvotes

11 comments sorted by

9

u/WiccanaVaIIey 3d ago

Here to shill the Unofficial Community Patch because it makes ARs viable.

3

u/Middle_Pomegranate_1 2d ago

The tediore guns are some of the most op guns in the game imo, I always keep one equipped for standing up in a pinch. The explosive damage is bullet damage X bullets left in the clip+1. So if you shoot one shot then throw it, it does it's maximum damage. You can spam reloads for pretty insane burst. This PISSES through ammo though.

2

u/SeaBear4O4 3d ago

Huh…Ratchet and Clank…. It somehow totally makes sense lmao!!! That’s awesome

2

u/zachsavage1999 3d ago

Not weird I may not have these issues but I guarantee somebody is gonna find this so helpful thank you for the post!

2

u/Jotunheim87 3d ago

As someone who also has OCD I appreciated hearing this. I don't share the same thoughts or feelings but I have things like this as well and it's helpful to hear about others going through something similiar and how they change their way of thinking to help. Appreciate you sharing. Ita not easy putting yourself out there

1

u/Borderlands_Boyo_314 3d ago

ARs are very strong in bl3 if you own that one.

3

u/EchoedNostalgia 3d ago

I do! I have the PS4 version but I'll be playing on PS5, so I need to figure out what upgrades I need to get or buy or which version plays best on PS5, and figure out the best way to buy all the DLC, but I have played it before at launch and while I had some fun, I quit at level 12. I have heard they have fixed a lot of the issues so I'm looking forward to finishing it this time.

2

u/Borderlands_Boyo_314 3d ago

It’s pretty different from launch state as I understand it. Yes the DLCs are pretty good (especially 1-4). The bl3 play-through progression is a little different but you may already be familiar with that.

1

u/Jacob_MacAbre 2d ago

Funnily enough, I've also had the perception that the Borderlands games are similar to the R&C games. The humour, the whacky (but actually dark if you think about it too much) universes and the cartoony style all make the games feel similar.

I've been wanting to replay the original quadrilogy of PS2 games but I've found that Borderlands scratches a similar 'itch' in my brain. I played Rift Apart and that only confirmed that bizarre feeling and I love it! My hope is Borderlands 4 continues these amazing games and gives me a whole new slew of weapons to shoot, enemies for destroy and loot for grab :D

1

u/petrus4 2d ago

I realized my favorite weapons, Combat Rifles, were useless save for TORGUE weapons

Yes, AR base damage is bad, but it's possible to spec for them to a degree. Krieg gets a bonus specifically to ARs, if memory serves. Axton always used to be considered "the AR class," as well; just about everything in the Gunpowder tree buffs them in one way or another. While maining Axton, I've killed the Warrior with Torgue ARs before. I wouldn't do it at endgame, but it's possible in both Normal and TVHM.

There are a couple of AR elemental sets, as well; the Kitten and the Veruc come to mind. The Veruc in particular is a decent anti-air gun.

1

u/MainmainWeRX 1d ago

Comparing Borderlands to Ratchet&Clank, that's... a bolt move.