Fetch quests have developed a bad reputation in video games, and deservedly so. They’re often some of the most uninspired and boring content in any game they appear in. There are completelyvalid instances of fetch quests done right, but they’re few and far between, especially when it comes to theBorderlandsseries.
Borderlandsfetch quests have usually been some of the more predictable quests in the series. They usually come packaged with some sort of Easter egg or pop culture reference which provides a light chuckle on a first playthrough. In a series that expects players to grind out repeated playthroughs to max out characters, these quests can become some of the least compelling to replay over time. But ifBorderlands 4takes some inspiration fromCall of Duty Zombies, its fetch quests can stay fresh and interesting across multiple playthroughs.
Borderlands 4’s Fetch Quests Should Lean on COD Zombies' Randomization
Randomized Item/Enemy Spawns Can Make Fetch Quests Much More Palatable on Subsequent Playthroughs
From what started as a fun side mode relegated toa single, tiny zombies map inWorld at War,Call of Duty’s Zombies mode has become a tentpole of the franchise, with expansive lore, gameplay mechanics, and a community all its own. Perhaps the most famous aspect of the game mode these days is its elaborate, if not convoluted, Easter eggs.
The newest of the Zombies maps,Shattered Veil has one of the most tricky Easter eggsin the series so far, primarily because so much of it is randomized: player character dialogue, enemy spawn locations, and, perhaps most importantly, item drop locations. Randomized item spawns make each run of the level feel more unique, as squads can’t simply wait in a single scripted place for the next component of the puzzle to spawn it. It makes the Easter egg more engaging in subsequent attempts. Randomization goes a long way toward adding replayability to any game, and it could be just whatBorderlands 4needs.
Borderlands 4 Can Make the Most of Randomized Fetch Quests
If jokey, Easter egg-laden fetch quests are unavoidably going to be a part ofBorderlands 4, Gearbox can take a cue fromCODand lean into the randomization aspect of Shattered Veil.Jokes and memes can carry those firstBorderlands 4playthroughs, but keeping players on their toes in subsequent runs with randomization will keep the game fresh as the grind for max level characters presses on into the game’s lifecycle.
Instead of keeping item/enemy spawns at a single given location,Borderlands 4should spawn them at semi-randomized locations across a given map, since truly random spawns every single time wouldn’t always be logistically practical or particularly conducive to good gameplay. Having a set of 5-6 possible spawn locations for enemies/items would keep the experience fresh just about every time the player resets the game for a new run on a character;typicalBorderlandsgames only require about three playthroughsper character before everything on a character hits max level.
Randomized Dialogue Can Also Help Liven Up Borderlands 4 Playthroughs
Though its impact on gameplay is next to none, Shattered Veil also features some randomized dialogue to reflect the different ways rounds can play out. It’s a nice bit of added flavor to the game when the characters comment on the relatively unique circumstances. In the same vein,Borderlands 4can also benefit from having multiple different voicelinesfor specific story instances. Ever since the series introduced the concept of Vault Hunters speaking, it’s become commonplace for player characters to comment on various things happening in the story as things play out.
The problem with this also extends to the various bits of NPC dialogue encountered throughout the game: it gets incredibly repetitive. The humor may hit on that first run, but as the game moves on and players keep hearing the same canned lines time and again, even the funniest jokes can get a little grating. Thankfully, a writer has already confirmedBorderlands 4will be reeling back on the meme jokes.
Having multiple, changing, randomized voice lines for story beats and quests is definitely a little more work in the writing and voice acting departments. There’s no getting around it. But the trade-off would be massive for the long-term health and life of the game. It would keep the game and its story way more fresh in the hands of players who are in it for the long haul.
