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Borderlands 4’s Approach to Toilet Humor is a Step in the Right Direction, But It Can’t Walk Too Far

Irving’s evolution is a brilliant mix of sorrow and victory, illustrating the emotional richness that characterizes Severance. His shift from a loyal worker to an unwilling dissenter reveals the price of facing a difficult truth. Through Irving, the series delves into the strength of the human spirit, the importance of relationships, and the painful sacrifices needed to challenge systemic oppression. Among a cast of intricate characters and compelling stories, Irving’s journey is particularly striking and memorable.

Borderlands boasts a long-standing legacy and a passionate fanbase, but even the most devoted fans can find its tone challenging, especially following the awkward humor of Borderlands 3. Comedy is a matter of personal preference, yet the series has been justifiably critiqued for its tendency toward childish, crude, and frankly annoying humor. After several games filled with the same kind of gross-out jokes and immature memes, it’s starting to feel repetitive. Winkler has been quite clear about his feelings, stating he would “cry real tears” if Borderlands 4 sticks to the same comedic style as before. While a change in direction is a smart idea, it’s crucial to maintain the series’ core identity.

Borderlands 4 Is Right to Step Away From Toilet Humor, But It Should Stay Close By

The Pros of Gearbox Reevaluating Borderlands’ Writing Style

Before the poorly received Borderlands film adaptation, the long-standing looter-shooter series already had a somewhat complicated image. On one hand, it has garnered significant praise from both audiences and critics for its variety of unique weapons and robust combat mechanics. The lore, while not particularly innovative, provides enough substance for players to engage with. On the other hand, the humor, present since the first installment, tends to be more irritating than entertaining.

The franchise often relies on shock value and randomness instead of clever humor, as seen with references like “Butt Stallion.” It tends to adopt a frustratingly self-referential style that can feel overly meta. Essentially, Borderlands sometimes mirrors the worst aspects of memes, where the humor comes from simply referencing something familiar to the audience. For example, characters might chuckle when they see the number 69, and that’s meant to be funny—there’s no real punchline or twist; the game is merely highlighting that 69 is considered a humorous number.

Borderlands 4 Doesn’t Need To Get Overly Sober

Taking a break from the middle-school humor could be beneficial for Borderlands 4, but it would be unfortunate if the game became overly sophisticated and serious. While some titles, like American McGee’s Alice, have successfully transformed lighthearted themes into darker narratives, many others have stumbled in their attempts. It’s easy to picture Borderlands 4 veering too far from its roots, swapping out its signature toilet humor for shock tactics, grim storylines, or other bleak themes. While this shift might not be as grating as the cringe-worthy dialogue and juvenile jokes of Borderlands 3, it could end up being much less engaging.

To clarify, it’s reasonable to argue that cringe is a better option than being dull. The Borderlands series merits more than humor that appeals to a very niche audience, which many players could find intolerable. At the same time, it shouldn’t become just another typical, overly safe FPS—there are already too many of those out there. Thankfully, this seems improbable, as Winkler has indicated that some of Borderlands’ unique comedy will return in Borderlands 4. Fingers crossed for a more refined version!