Borderlands 2: Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt Review

If chance, circumstance, or choice should put you in position to acquire only one of Borderlands 2's three DLC add-ons thus far, make it Sir Hammerlock's Big Game Hunt. Captain Scarlett delivered sand pirates and Mister Torgue brought the hilarious -- both are good options, but they can't top the marquee feature offered by Sir Hammerlock: Pandora's most challenging adventure yet.



Instead of a sideshow, Big Game Hunt continues the story of the Handsome Jack-focused core campaign. If you haven't completed that tale yet, save this DLC until you do. As such, it's recommended for level 30 players and above, and for good reason -- it's flippin' hard. Moments after arriving on the swampy new continent of Aegrus, my level 34 Zero faced a group of club-wielding, spear-hurling Savages. Aegrus' mildly offensive natives (what is this Hollywood circa 1950?) are harmless at first glance, and being accustomed to stalking Pandora like the undisputed champion of badassery, I chuckled when the Savages attacked. I died with that brazen expression. Quickly.

Beware the Good (Bad) Doctor

See, a mad Hyperion scientist named Nakayama convinced these natives to worship Handsome Jack like a god, and seeing Jack's nemesis on their home turf gets their blood boiling. Along with their enthusiasm for murder, they've got a secret weapon: the Witch Doctor. Deadly on his own, he gets far deadlier when accompanied by other Savages, who thanks to the Witch Doctor's buffs would suddenly go from wounded level 30 weaklings to fully healed level 36 badasses right before my eyes. That's some bad mojo.


Facing the many Savages and their Witch Doctors is a challenge that requires strategic thinking and on-the-fly swapping between various elemental weapons. Instead of rushing in, I learned to seek out the high ground, observe my foes, and carefully plan my attack. Slag grenades became my new best friend, and I made sure to paint my enemies purple before going to my flame and shock rounds. I also leaned heavily on my rocket launcher, shooting more missiles over the course of this six-hour DLC adventure then I did during my entire 40-plus hours in the core game.

Savages aren't the only newcomers to Pandora's monster manual. There are massive, poison-spewing scorpions, flying elemental terrors who rain down pain on anyone in the vicinity, tall AT-AT-like insects, and more. They go a long way in making Big Game Hunt feel like it actually delivers something new, rather than the "more" offered by the first two DLCs. My biggest disappointment was that Gearbox didn't make the same type of effort with the setting. While the name would suggest a lush, ruin-strewn jungle setting, the relatively barren, gray swamp of Aegrus is bland and forgettable.

Onward and Upward

The level design itself is much more memorable. Gearbox said it wanted to make Borderlands 2 more vertical with Big Game Hunt, and it succeeded, creating vertical environments large and small. I shot my way up into tight, multi-story structures as well as more open mountain passes, and it was a nice change of pace from the typically flat, straight ahead paths Pandora offers.


I traveled across this landscape in a new vehicle, a fan boat reminiscent of the Sand Skiff from the Captain Scarlett DLC. It's easily the best Borderlands 2 vehicle yet, offering the smooth, slight hovering of the Skiff, only with tighter maneuverability. It also features a flamethrower as an optional weapon, and coasting around Aegrus while toasting monsters is a blast. Unfortunately, Gearbox didn't take full advantage of the fan boat with vehicle-focused missions (at least none that I've found yet in my six hours played). For a game that desperately needs to improving its driving aspects, this seemed like an opportunity missed.

Jack's Back?

The cowardly Professor Nakayama is good for a few laughs, but sadly he's not one of Gearbox's more noteworthy characters (especially after the last DLC's Mr. Torgue). Nonetheless, Nakayama dangles a tantalizing carrot -- more of 2012's most memorable villain, Handsome Jack -- and, without spoiling anything, the end delivers a nice payoff.

This DLC doesn't bring the much-anticipated level cap increase (Gearbox says that's on the way soon), but otherwise, this is the adventure that Borderlands 2 veterans have been waiting for. Go on the Big Game Hunt for the continued story, but stay in Aegrus for the challenge.