History YMMV / Borderlands1

* FakeUltimateMook: The Guardians introduced en force during the main storyline's final section can be annoying but aren't very threatening, and are absolutely annihilated by Shock element guns. Notably the developers didn't feel the need to include any Guardians in the DLC, aside for as randomly-spawned cannon fodder in a couple Underdome arenas.

* SpiritualLicensee: With the game's main focus being on collecting and playing with a seemingly endless array of brightly colored, ludicrously overbuilt guns, it's probably fair to call it the best ''Nerf'' game ever made. Especially considering the cheerfully violent and absurd story and creatures feel like the kind of things preteen boys would come up with while playing with toy sci-fi guns in their backyard.
* SpiritualSuccessor: There's an orange PluckyComicRelief, an emphasis on vehicles and gunplay, elements that give one superpowers and a race of precursors. It's basically ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' as an FPS and with less platforming.

* FakeUltimateMook: The Guardians introduced en force during the main storyline's final section can be annoying but aren't very threatening, and are absolutely annihilated by Shock element guns.

** Launchers, if you're not playing as [[MadBomber Brick.]] Their damage is pathetic like you're shooting off fireworks instead of high explosives. It doesn't help that they're ''extremely'' slow to both fire and reload, and their mag capacity is laughable. At least with Brick, his class stats favor the usability of launchers and buffs them to become appropriately powerful, and there's one particular ability of his that allows him to regenerate launcher ammo after killing an enemy, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap thereby making the uselessness of launchers moot only if playing as him.]] Only one kind is NotCompletelyUseless: Helix launchers, that fire three rockets in a spiral pattern for the cost of one, are a ''death sentence'' against vehicles. Among unique Legendary launchers, the Maliwan Rhino is perhaps the only useful one, although the Vladof Mongol could possibly make a reasonable case as well. Otherwise, you're far better off using so much as a [[BetterOffSold white-titled]] {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}}, even if you don't go crit-hunting.

* SleeperHit: As Pitchford noted in one interview, the game actually sold better as time went on, compared to the usual pattern of a burst of sales at release, and it was all thanks to word of mouth. This is one reason why the sequel got a much bigger budget and proper advertising.

* SpiritualSuccessor: There's an orange ComicRelief, an emphasis on vehicles and gunplay, elements that give one superpowers and a race of precursors. It's basically ''VideoGame/JakAndDaxter'' as an FPS and with less platforming.

** Launchers, if you're not playing as [[MadBomber Brick.]] Their damage is pathetic like you're shooting off fireworks instead of high explosives. It doesn't help that they're ''extremely'' slow to both fire and reload, and their mag capacity is laughable. At least with Brick, his class stats favors the usability of launchers and buffs them to become appropriately powerful, and there's one particular ability of his that allows him to regenerate launcher ammo after killing an enemy, [[RescuedFromTheScrappyHeap thereby making the uselessness of launchers moot only if playing as him.]] Only one kind is NotCompletelyUseless: Helix launchers, that fire three rockets in a spiral pattern for the cost of one, are a ''death sentence'' against vehicles. Among unique Legendary launchers, the Maliwan Rhino is perhaps the only useful one, although the Vladof Mongol could possibly make a reasonable case as well. Otherwise, you're far better off using so much as a [[BetterOffSold white-titled]] {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}}, even if you don't go crit-hunting.

** Launchers. Their damage is pathetic like you're shooting off fireworks instead of high explosives. It doesn't help that they're ''extremely'' slow to both fire and reload, and their mag capacity is laughable. Only one kind is NotCompletelyUseless: Helix launchers, that fire three rockets in a spiral pattern for the cost of one, are a ''death sentence'' against vehicles. Otherwise, you're far better off using so much as a [[BetterOffSold white-titled]] {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}}, even if you don't go crit-hunting.

** Repeater Pistols are absolutely wimpy in their attack stats and even firing sounds. It's little wonder why they and revolvers were merged together in the sequel, as well as being improved vastly all around.

** One-Eyed Jack if you're driving a car, as you can just [[SquashedFlat run him over]]. You may do so accidentally, as it's possible you came screaming in in a Runner and splattered him all over the hood without even realizing.

** Launchers. Their damage is pathetic like you're shooting off fireworks instead of high explosives. It doesn't help that they're ''extremely'' slow to both fire and reload, and their mag capacity is laughable. Only one kind is NotCompletelyUseless: Helix launchers, that fire three rockets in a spiral pattern for the cost of one, are a ''death sentence'' against vehicles. Otherwise, you're far better off using so much as a [[VendorTrash white-titled]] {{revolver|sAreJustBetter}}, even if you don't go crit-hunting.