Now that the big reveal has happened with Borderlands and its change in art style, everyone can move on and focus on the story, gameplay and co-op. CVG has an in-depth look at the game via a hands on preview and overall the impressions seem very positive.
The game at is an action/RPG at its roots, and right from the get go players are given numerous missions choices that yield various rewards. Despite it's core RPG rules, the combat itself is purely action based, there's no behind the scenes dice rolling going on like in Fallout for example. The real fun happens though when joined by a co-op buddy.
With four player co-op support, the game is ripe for a virtual romp through the wastelands of Pandora. Players can work together utilizing tactics and roles, vehicles that support two or more players and the ability to revive fallen comrades.
I also got to play a short four-player co-op mission, although this was on the Xbox version of the game. We drove a pair of Runner buggies out into the desert: I manned the high-powered gun turret on the roof and picked off pursuing bandit patrols as they attacked, demolishing them in satisfying fireballs. We arrived at a rock formation impassible by buggy, so we crossed on foot. Suddenly the earth shook and a huge creature emerged from beneath the ground. This, I was told, was the rak hive - a walking colony of bat-like animals that were terrorizing the nearby settlement.
I absolutely can not wait to get my hands on this. Perhaps its better than Aliens: Colonial Marines was delayed and this took it's place. Borderlands looks to provide something fresh, and hopefully something with some longevity.