Crash, bang, wallop…wait, what was that first thing? Peter Hoskin reviews looter-shooter Borderlands 4 and finds even his beefy PC struggling to cope

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Borderlands 4 (PlayStation, Xbox, PC, £59.99)

Verdict: Crash landing

I always say I have a powerful gaming PC, but even it had trouble running Borderlands 4. The graphics were choppy, the game felt slow, and it crashed a few times.

It seems many players are experiencing problems with Borderlands 4. Online forums are full of reports about issues, and while the game developers have released updates to address them, problems still haven’t been completely resolved.

It’s unfortunate, because despite being a solid game, Borderlands 4 is hampered by technical issues that make it frustrating to play. It retains the classic Borderlands feel, while also trying out some new ideas.

This is another game where you shoot enemies on a distant planet, collecting increasingly powerful weapons as they drop.

The game remains full of witty (and sometimes cheesy) one-liners, alongside plenty of action. It also keeps the charming, comic book-inspired visuals we’ve come to expect.

The exciting part isn’t just the new game world – Kairos, controlled by a villainous ruler called The Timekeeper – it’s that you can now freely explore this world as it’s an open-world game.

You now have more freedom to explore the world and progress through the main story at your own speed.

Honestly, it’s not a huge surprise to see this kind of thing in games these days. But for a Borderlands game, it *feels* revolutionary! And it’s not just about the new features, it’s how fun they are to use. I’m absolutely loving the grappling hook and glider – though I’ll admit, I’ve still got a bit of a learning curve with the glider. Let’s just say I’ve had a few less-than-graceful landings!

 

Towa And The Guardians Of The Sacred Tree (PlayStation, Xbox, Switch, PC, £24.99)

Verdict: Long on ideas

The title ‘Towa and the Guardians of the Sacred Tree’ is quite a mouthful – and honestly, it’s hard to know where to even begin explaining the story!

Perhaps with the story?

The story centers around Towa, who is tasked with protecting a village that’s being attacked by frightening demons from Japanese legends.

She assembles a team of eight unique allies – including a kind witch known for her origami creations and a fierce warrior who is part human, part carp – to assist her with this important mission.

But before they’ve achieved much, the main baddie somehow scatters them across time so that…

Actually, that might not be the best place to start. How about the gameplay?

This game shares a lot with the popular roguelite Hades. You move through different areas, fighting enemies and improving your abilities as you go. The goal is to reach the end, but you’ll likely die and have to start over multiple times – it’s all about learning and trying again.

It sounds simple when I explain it, but Towa is so much more than that! What really grabbed me is how it lets you control two characters simultaneously – it adds a fantastic layer of complexity and fun that I wasn’t expecting.

Towa travels with two companions: one focuses on attacking and you control them directly, while the other provides automatic support.

The game really shines when the characters start chatting and joking with each other during downtime. You’ll quickly become fond of these quirky characters, making the difficult moments even more impactful.

I won’t bother detailing those things. Not the magic system, the limitations on weapon wear and tear, or even how great the music is.

Like I say, Towa is a lot. In the best possible way.

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2025-09-20 17:50