You know that moment in a game when a character dies and you actually feel it in your gut? That didn't happen for me in Borderlands 4's Wild Bandito expansion. I was playing through a mission where one of the Vault Hunters' allies was about to die unless I moved fast enough. I wasn't fast enough. The optional objective flashed "Failed" on my screen, the character died, and... nothing. No emotional punch, no regret, just a shrug and moving on to the next firefight. That's when I realized the game's biggest missed opportunity - these characters just don't stick with you.
Let me paint you a picture of what we're dealing with here. Rush is your classic strong guy with a heart of gold - the kind who probably pets small animals between firefights but never gets any deeper development. Then there's Zadra, the scientist with a shady past that we keep hearing about but never actually see. They're like cardboard cutouts of characters rather than living, breathing people you want to root for. I found myself remembering characters from Borderlands 2 years after I'd finished playing, but I struggle to recall Rush's name without looking it up while I'm writing this.
The problem isn't that these characters are badly written per se - it's that they're written with the depth of a puddle after a light drizzle. Think about it - when was the last time you played a game where a character's death actually made you put down the controller for a minute? For me, it was The Last of Us back in 2013. That opening sequence wrecked me. Here? I'm just going through the motions, shooting bandits and collecting loot while these supposedly important characters pop in and out of the narrative like they're clocking in for work.
What's particularly frustrating is that the Wild Bandito adventure had so much potential. The environments are stunning - crimson canyons that stretch to the horizon, abandoned mining facilities that tell stories through their decaying machinery, and weather systems that actually affect gameplay. I spent about 45 minutes just watching dust storms roll across the desert, the particles catching the light in ways that made me wish the characters were half as detailed as the scenery.
I've been tracking my playtime across different Borderlands games, and the numbers don't lie. I averaged 120 hours in Borderlands 2, 95 in Borderlands 3, but I'm struggling to hit 40 in this expansion. That's roughly 65% less engagement despite similar content volume. The gameplay loop is still satisfying - there's nothing quite like that feeling when a legendary weapon drops - but without characters I care about, it starts feeling like a fancy shooting gallery rather than an adventure I'm invested in.
Here's the thing about creating memorable characters - it's not about making them likable, it's about making them real. I don't need every character to be my best friend, but I need to believe they exist beyond the missions they give me. Take Mad Moxxi from previous games - within minutes of meeting her, you get her personality, her history, her motivations. With these new characters, I'm 15 hours in and I still don't know what drives them beyond the basic "good guy must save the day" template.
The irony is that the actual bandit hunting mechanics are better than ever. The new stealth takedowns feel visceral, the weapon customization has been expanded with about 30% more options, and the vehicle combat is genuinely thrilling. There was this one chase sequence where I was pursuing a bandit convoy across salt flats, jumping between vehicles while explosions rocked the landscape. It was cinematic perfection - until the mission ended and Rush delivered his generic "good job, hunter" line with all the enthusiasm of someone reading a grocery list.
What makes this particularly disappointing is that Gearbox has proven they can create compelling characters. The Borderlands universe is filled with memorable personalities that have become gaming icons. That's why this expansion feels like such a step backward - it's all spectacle without substance, all action without heart. I want to care about these characters, I really do, but the game never gives me reasons beyond the superficial.
As I approach what I assume is the final mission (I'm at what feels like the 85% completion mark based on my mission log), I'm realizing that the wild adventure the title promises is only half-delivered. The environments are wild, the combat is adventurous, but without characters that matter, it all feels somewhat hollow. It's like watching a beautifully filmed movie with gorgeous cinematography but wooden actors reading lines without conviction.
Still, I'll probably finish the expansion - there's about 12 hours of content here if you rush through, closer to 25 if you're completionist like me. The core gameplay remains fun enough to carry the experience, and there are moments where the potential shines through. But when I think back on this Wild Bandito adventure months from now, I suspect I'll remember the landscapes more than the people inhabiting them - and for a story-driven expansion, that feels like the greatest bandit heist of all.