Borderlands: Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution (Xbox 360) Review
Posted by Adam Larck on 10.01.2010
The latest DLC for Borderlands, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution, is available on Xbox 360! But does it bring as much to the table as General Knoxx did? 411's Adam Larck checks in with his full review!
Title: Borderlands: Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution
Publisher: 2K Games
Developer: Gearbox Software
Genre: FPS/RPG
Players: 1-4
Rated: M for Mature
After a few months’ hiatus from releasing content, Gearbox has released what might be the last Borderlands DLC. Titled Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution, the content tries to bring some closure to the game by bringing back the Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap, known throughout the rest of the review as INAC, and what he did at the end of the game after activation.
Like previous DLCs, the content starts with an entertaining cut scene before putting you in Tarterus Station. The content starts off innocently enough, with you meeting up with Tannis and her asking you to get Claptrap parts. However, as you get to the Hyperion Dump, you’ll notice the first new thing about the content.
Everything scales with you, no matter what playthrough you’re on. I started playthrough 1 to try and just speed run the main quest before going to playthrough 2. However, everything was already level 60ish. Depending on your current level, along with what you’ve beaten in the General Knoxx content, will factor in to what current level all enemies are in this content.
Anyways, back at the dump, you’ll run into your standard fare of bandits and skags, along with the new Hyperion soldiers, which seem more difficult than the Crimson Enclave. After you take care of these enemies and find a few Claptrap parts that have been scattered around, you’ll get contacted by Mr. Blake, the vice president of Hyperion.
Apparently, after you beat the soldiers, the Claptraps stage a full revolution. By going back to the dump, you’ll see that all enemies you faced have been –Trap-ified. In fact, all enemies in the rest of the game are Claptrap hybrids that get a weak spot in the robotic parts that have been added.
There are about three different Claptrap enemies you’ll fight in the game. The Rebel, which will shot various guns at you, the Samurai, which charges at you with hammers or just with its pincers, and the Divine Wind, a kamikaze type that explodes when near you and explodes when shot.
The content only has about six main quests to go through: the original parts quests, four phases to quelling the revolution and the reward quest. Most of the story quests have you doing things to sabotage the revolution by going to various new areas. However, in each new area you’ll run across at least one familiar face.
Three of the previous bosses in the game have become –Trap-ified as well. General Knoxx, who hates being back alive, Dr. Ned, both regular and undead form, and Commander Steele, who can’t remember how the hole got put into her, are all back and fighting you. The only one players haven’t actually fought before is Steele, and she fights similar to the ninjas from the last content. You’ll fight each boss twice in the content while trying to get to the INAC.
The final battle with INAC is also really interesting and good closure to the series. It puts players back into the original area of the game, with Marcus waiting to take you to a new area. I won’t talk much more about the ending, just don’t expect to fight INAC immediately, and the boss you fight is a bit of a pain to kill. In fact, it’s the only time during the content where I died.
There are 21 quests to do in the game, some you’ll get from Marcus, Tannis and the Bounty Board. The Tannis quests have you collecting parts from destroyed Claptraps, and are very similar to the Braaaaaaaaaaaaains quest line from Zombie Island of Dr. Ned.
While doing these quests, you’ll notice that Claptraps drop various other items too, such as 3D glasses, oil cans, panties and more. These items don’t really serve a purpose; they’re just gotten for Achievements. However, the game doesn’t show you how many you’ve collected, and they all seem to be a random drop.
There are a few other things to see in the game as well. There are six Claptrap statues placed around the content, each of which shows a Claptrap as a figure from history. About halfway through the main quest, you’ll also see a bandit train come into town that spawns some bandit-traps and Claptraps. The train has been painted on that just gives it a bandit feel.
The sound in the content is also humorous to hear. The INCA gives various speech about the robolution, including a reference to Andrew Ryan’s speech from BioShock. Most of the speeches end with “Viva la Robolution!” which some of the bosses make fun of while fighting them.
The Claptraps also make some interesting comments when they get killed. Some refer to Error 404, File Not Found, while others talk about seeing three flashing red lights, an obvious reference to the Red Rings of Death. It’s these small jokes that really give the content a distinct Borderlands feel.
Pros
Content help add some closure to end of the original game.
Two new skill points and backpack slots to get.
Level scaling lets even players that have beaten everything else have a challenge with the new content.
Cons
Many of the quests are fetch quests, including a long fetch quest chain to do for Tannis.
No Pearlescent weapons in content.
Random things Claptraps drop seem few and far between.
The 411:
Players that are expecting content as big as General Knoxx will be disappointed. Instead, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution seems more akin to Zombie Island of Dr. Ned. Some new areas to explore, new enemies to face and plenty of fetch quests to do. Borderlands fans will still love the content, as it holds the series charm. It provides some hours of entertainment, and adds good closure to the series.
Graphics
8.5
It’s interesting to see how regular enemies have been –Trap-ified, and the environments hold the charm that has been seen in the series.
Gameplay
8.5
The content adds 21 new missions, which will keep leveled players entertained for hours. Plus, it will be great to use for leveling when the free level patch releases.
Sound
8.5
INAC has some humorous rants to hear, and the Claptraps have some interesting death phrases as well.
Lasting Appeal
8.0
Going through the content in both playthroughs will challenge all players, and the content will be great to use for leveling in a few weeks.
Fun Factor
8.5
Like the other DLC, going through this alone or with friends is still tons of fun. Plus, the ending will give Borderlands fans some closure to the game that no other content has.
