The villains, Tyreen and Troy, from Borderlands 3 are insignificant, annoying, and shallow. Many criticize this in the game’s story. Our editor Leya believes that this makes the worst of all streamers particularly brilliant.
You’ve probably seen them before. This particular type of streamer and influencer who has a bunch of followers, and what do they offer?
Squealing sounds from their mouths. Bright colors and emoticons dancing across the screen as soon as someone leaves a follow or donates money. This is paired with a seemingly perfect lifestyle presented on Instagram, YouTube, Twitch, and Twitter.
Like, follow, and obey.
This very type of streamer is Tyreen and Troy Calypso, the antagonists from Borderlands 3. The developers at Gearbox themselves describe them as “the worst kind of streamers.” This is what many criticize in the story.
TyREEN and Troy are empty
What issue do the critics have?
- Throughout the story of Borderlands 3, the twin siblings receive no depth.
- Handsome Jack, the villain from the predecessor Borderlands 2, is a multi-faceted character who plays with his own emotions. He sets the bar very high for the new antagonists.
Tyreen and Troy pursue only one goal: They want to be superstars. That is their only motivation to kill, abuse their followers, and act cruelly. This absolutely one-dimensional motivation makes them appear like empty shells mumbling meaningless nonsense.
Handsome Jack, on the other hand, unfolds throughout the story as increasingly deeper and more insidious. It becomes clear that he went through a disturbing childhood and likely learned how to morally break someone. His motivation for acting in a dehumanizing way serves a higher political purpose that can even be somewhat understood.
Handsome Jack treats you like the best friend who also makes a (fatal) joke. He can be compared to the Joker from the Batman universe.
In contrast, Tyreen and Troy come off as childish, immature, annoying, and absolutely self-centered with their blunt desire to be a superstar.
Renowned gaming sites criticize Tyreen and Troy as a major weakness in the story:
- For example, Pcgamer states that the Calypso Twins are shitty, power-hungry people who would do anything to rule the universe.
- At GameStar it says: “Borderlands 3 only fails at one point – but a damn important point. The new villains Troy and Tyreen Calypso want to be the next Handsome Jack but fail miserably.”
- Polygon finds: “The problem with them [the Calypso twins] is that they are just so boring. Handsome Jack was written in a way that he acted like a disgusting, hateful piece of shit. It was great!”
This list could go on.
Some of our readers at MeinMMO also perceive the story with the Calypso twins as a weakness in the game, as can be read in our community review of Borderlands 3 .
The emptiness defines the twins in their role
I am a huge fan of Handsome Jack and enjoyed every minute with him in Borderlands 2. In the last act of the game, I truly despise him, but I can understand his goal, as perverse as it is. I have a love-hate relationship with Handsome Jack. He is an iconic villain who should not be missing from any list of the best video game villains.
Why would character depth have bothered me? By the end of the campaign, I was waiting for that one twist that would turn the siblings into more than just “I want to be a superstar.” That twist never comes.
At first, I sat there perplexed, even with my memories of Handsome Jack in mind. But upon closer inspection, I’m glad the two remain empty until the end.
It really annoyed and disgusted me at times to see their stupid, loud videos. Tyreen’s shrill voice. The way they treated characters that I had come to love in earlier installments, especially Lilith and Maya. And for what? To become superstars – great. When I could finally make these two self-righteous jerks disappear from the screen, it really made me happy.
Should I honestly tell you something? I wouldn’t have wished them even a hint more character depth. They made me way too aggressive with their self-absorbed behavior.
Will they remain in my memory like a Handsome Jack? Probably not. Can I appreciate the twins for what they are? Definitely.
Tyreen and Troy are truly the worst kind of streamers.
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