The Case

Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt is the third DLC released for Borderlands 2. One of the criticisms leveled at the first game was a lack of boss fights. While having some they were few and far between. Borderlands 2 delivered in the boss fight category and Big Game Hunt aims to extend that even further. Remember Sir Hammerlock from the beginning of the game? You meet up with him again and are on the hunt for ...wait for it - big game. Is Sir Hammerlocks Big Game Hunt the DLC we have been waiting for, or are we left pondering what could have been?

The Trial

Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt starts off with promise but does not fully succeed in the initial impression. Once you enter Aegrus, the new area the DLC takes place, the vibe is different than anything else in the rest of Borderlands 2. At the beginning of the DLC the atmosphere is gloomy and foreboding with you unsure to what to expect.

Vault hunters need some time for rest and relaxation and what better way to do that then by shooting big monsters in the face. Things of course do not go that way and before you know it you are fighting against the evil Professor Nakayama who aims to clone Handsome Jack. Unfortunately the new villain is underwhelming and not really that funny. He has some good dialogue here and there but remains largely forgettable. There is good news however because you are still going to slay giant monsters for the loot that lives in their bellies!

The same fun gameplay is here from the regular game and guess what, it is still rewarding. It is baffling though that Gearbox has not given a new level cap and makes the loot grind a little less interesting. Not to complain, the regular enemies in Big Game Hunt are challenging to say the least and will still give a level 50 character a run for his money. The new enemies are interesting and require a change in tactics to kill them. The new Witch Doctors are especially brutal because they can drain your life bar to get their own life back. A new vehicle makes an appearance in the form of a fan boat and is about as fun as the other vehicles in the game. The new weapons on the boat are useless except for the shock grenades only because they seem to do the most damage.

Borderlands 2 is a good looking game and Big Game Hunt certainly adds a unique flavor to the already superb art style. It all takes place in what looks like a giant cave, but with large open grasslands. There is barely any light that gets into the area and there is a threat around every corner. It looks great and the new enemies have an interesting, threatening look to them. There are gigantic spiders roaming the land, savages in their settlements, and many other new creatures to slay. The savages are particularly fun to fight because they use a variety of tactics to make you stay on your toes, at some points their assaults feel particularly brutal. They will throw spears at you that make a cool sound as they clank down in front of you.

You cannot play Borderlands 2 without doing quests. Too bad Big Game Hunt is not bringing anything really new to the table. The game is very short with the main quest only taking you a few hours to complete. The side quests are not really worth doing unless you are a completionist or just want to find another new weapon. Fetch quests are used too often and can make playing a drag, though, again, a level cap increase might of made it a bit more bearable . At least they have gigantic weird creatures to fight, so it manages to redeem itself. The story is just there for context, so come for the fighting, stay home for the story.

The Verdict

Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt will not blow anyone's mind, but adds some more variety to an already stellar game. It may not have a great story, the level cap is still the same, side quests are bland and unremarkable characters. But if you love Borderlands 2 it is absolutely worth checking out. You could beat it in an afternoon, but it would be an afternoon well spent. With some great fights against monsters, challenging new enemies, fun boss fights, and a visit to an interesting location. So are you ready for a fight? Bring some guns, big guns, you will need them.

Case Review