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Borderlands 2: Tiny Tina's Assault On Dragon Keep Review

Andrew Schultz |
July 9, 2013 | 7:10 p.m. PDT

Staff Reporter

Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep was released on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on June 25th. (IGN/Creative Commons)
Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep was released on PC, PS3, and Xbox 360 on June 25th. (IGN/Creative Commons)
In an era where downloadable content for first-person shooters has mostly boiled down to new multiplayer maps, game modes, and a couple new guns, Gearbox Software’s Borderlands 2 offers a refreshing change of pace. Previous DLCs have packaged new guns, characters, raid bosses, and more in mini-campaigns that feature the same great writing and charm as the original story.

Gearbox hopes to make up for the disappointing Sir Hammerlock’s Big Game Hunt with Tiny Tina’s Assault on Dragon Keep, which they’ve labeled as their biggest DLC offering for Borderlands 2. While it does have a few shortcomings, this campaign provides the most enjoyable experience of the downloadable campaigns, sending the player to a world unlike any previously seen in the Borderlands universe.

The story revolves around a Dungeons and Dragons-style game called Bunkers and Badasses, overseen by Tiny Tina. You are "controlled" by Brick, Lilith, and Mordecai, and tasked with saving the queen of the town. The tale is narrated by Tina, who serves as the “dungeon-master” of the game. 

The story is charming, providing a tale and a world that’s different than past releases. Old characters such as Mr. Torgue return in fantasy garb, while references to popular media like Game of Thrones and Skyrim are mixed in throughout the gripping tale. The expansion also comes with a host of new weapons, a new type of grenade, new class mods, a new raid boss, and a new arena. It's the most additional content Borderlands 2 has had in a single campaign, providing plenty for players to do after reaching level 61.

Despite the massive amount of content added in Assault on Dragon Keep, there are some minor issues. The main storyline can be completed in a matter of hours, ignoring any side quests. The side quests range from annoying (chasing a drunk around the main town) to especially entertaining (killing a raid boss with other "players" there), with most closer to the latter. The new raid boss, although extremely well-designed, requires 4 players to effectively beat, which can be an issue to players who prefer to play solo.

Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep combines the addictive Borderlands gameplay and a gripping fantasy story to create an experience that shouldn't be missed by fans of the series. It isn't perfect, but it does a great job setting up the next entry in the franchise. Even if you haven't played in awhile, Assault on Dragon Keep is a great way to get back into one of the best games of 2012.

 

Reach staff writer Andrew Schultz here or follow him on Twitter.



 

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