The dark humor in the side missions of Borderlands 3 has a reason. We reveal why it is particularly absurd there.
Borderlands 3 is the big co-op shooter that fans eagerly awaited in 2019. It stays true to its predecessors and only improves on minor details; the basic gameplay and the quirky humor remain the same. However, the particularly crude jokes, whether macabre, obscene, or openly offensive, mainly occur in the side missions.
What was said? In an interview with Gamesradar, level designer Katelyn Pitstick spoke about side quests and the humor used in the quests.
Compared to the main quests, which often follow the storyline and therefore must be mostly logical and built with a bit of seriousness, the side quests can be quirkier. Pitstick says:
“With side missions, it’s all more open; we can have a bit more fun with it. (…) There we incorporate the darker humor and the general irreverence for which our series is known.”
Humor should make the quests more attractive: One of the biggest points is that every quest should have a peculiarity that makes it memorable. This is mainly achieved through humor and the fact that something special happens during the quest.
“What encourages the player to interrupt the main quest and tackle these side missions, especially when they don’t seem that exciting at first glance? What is the surprise at the end? I want to lure them with a nice reward, but also draw them into the quest with something that happens in the story and makes them think, ‘Oh damn, I didn’t see that coming.'”
This is also only logical – the main quest doesn’t need these “high points” as much, since players will tackle it anyway, and the story provides enough motivation to continue playing.
Rewards emphasize the humor: This humor often also reflects in the rewards. There should often be weapons or items with special properties that refer to the respective quest line. Reminiscent of Borderlands 2, talking shields or weapons that shoot swords come to mind immediately.
Did you play all side missions in Borderlands 2 and will you also do so in Borderlands 3? Or do you prefer to rush through the main story and leave side missions aside?
