I love the game. It really is great. I am just getting out my thoughts. First off, a few words.
No game is perfect and every game has it's flaws, just look at reviews of any game. Even Angry Joe's review of Guild Wars 2, he gave it a 10/10 but even said that no game is perfect, it just means that the game is worth every penny and beyond. In all his reviews he mentions the good and the bad. As much as he loved a game, even a 10/10 game there, he mentions the flaws and fault.
So don't get upset by all this. When you want something or someone to be better, like an artist, you don't give nothing but praise and tell them it's awesome. You tell them what they should work on to make it better next time. But some are just too blinded that when they love a game, they can't see any flaw. But really, this game has had me addicted for awhile and it's been a long time since a game has had that effect on me.
1.) Action Skills, Rely on Them
First thing, the game forces you to use your action skill way more than in the first game. Which can be a good or bad thing, depending on how you look at it. Borderlands 2 relies heavily on each characters Action Skill. You just get so overwhelmed because the game also put more focus on Co-op play, even when playing solo there is just way too many enemies to handle.
Borderlands 1, the Action Skill felt more like a bonus, like a last resort sort of thing. Otherwise you just focused on shooting. Yet, in BL2, they want you to constantly use your Action Skill to survive. Just makes you think... "Why are there guns again?". Though that is thinking extremely. Just from how a friend told me he is playing as Axton and his friend is Maya and they take out enemies with mostly just their Action Skills combined, making a great team.
As I said, that can be viewed as either good or bad. I see it as a bit bad, but then it would just be another FPS if they didn't eh?
2.) Aiming on Console Is Done Wrong?
Now, a bigger gripe I have with the game, is their lack of thought into the controls. It seems most developers don't put much thought into that sort of thing, mostly with the aiming mechanics. In there it is just too... jerky. Skips a bit too much. I think it lacks smooth prescaled movement like such options found in games like Half-Life, which is a PC game at that. Which of course, with mouse aiming, it is better than aiming with a controller. But even then, I notice a difference on PC when it is non-smooth mouse and smooth mouse.
I think that is the problem with it on console, at least the PS3 version. It isn't so much the controller as it is the mechanics. Those of you who have played Saints Row 2 or 3 on PS3, the aiming is smooth and probably most perfect aiming on a console game out there.
3.) Aim Assist is Actually Auto Aim
Aim assist is poorly implemented as well. Just like in the 1st game, it is more like a magnet and follows an enemy for a bit, so if another enemy gets in your shot, you miss your shot. It is also a bit harder to hit critical points because of this. Gearbox has only made FPS games, right? Yet they can't master console FPS making? Other games at least implement right on consoles, where you can't really notice it is there. How it does more of a slow down so it glues a bit on an enemy. So to turn it off, which I do, it is still like shooting into thin air and still easily miss your shot, mostly on a fast moving target.
There are also more things that I am sure reviews have said, like the map is still lacking, should've put if something is below or above level. These are just minor things and just wanted to see who else agrees with this. I love the game, I am not bashing it. Maybe it's my OCD wishing it was closer to perfect with those fixes but oh well.
To further add, I been informed by a friend that Dishonored has an Auto Aim option, which is a lot like Borderlands 2's Aim Assist. Goes to further show BL2 did it wrong, named it wrong at least. And Dishonored has Aim Assist, done right, and can adjust it's level of strength. This is what Gearbox has to learn. The more options, the better. That and Sound/Speech should be 2 different audio options.
4.) Power Level. Why? Cheat. Why?
I am reading around on boards of people who are power leveling. Why? You have to think, once you reach level 50 and have the best gear, what else is there to do? The game, like many games, including FF6 and other RPGs, what is the point of being max level and best gear when nothing to do with it once you have it? The game is all about just having fun and enjoying the game. The growing and feeling of getting stronger. The joy of finding new gear that is better, even if it doesn't stay around for long.
That and cheating. You know those who duplicate weapons or any other forms of cheating. Takes away the fun and point of things. It might be fun and neat to do at first, but then just play it properly, I would say. I just can't understand those who enjoy cheating and having everything be a breeze.
5.) Salvador is Underrated or Underused. But Maybe The Best
Last, but not least, Salvador. So far I have only played him and he might be the best character out there. A character in which people are under rating, not even giving a chance, thinking he is just another Brick.
I have yet to play the other characters, so it is my current opinion, but playing as Salvador is easy Solo play once you get to master the Rampage tree, maybe 5 levels before such. Could clear out a room of enemies, all around me, pretty fast like, and Gunzerk would be ready in 5 seconds or less once it ran out and I'd go at it again. Massive damage and good survival with the regen.
Again this goes back to the whole, game relies too much on Action Skills. Also, this goes back to the cheating as well. They cheat to be very powerful and want to do massive damage yet don't go Salvador so... yeah. Yes, he is my personal favorite.
Another amusing thing is that everyone chooses the pretty people which they cannot even see themselves as they move around and play. Only while at the menu or vendors so... yeah. To why I enjoy third person shooters more, you can still see your character.
tl ; dr
Love the game, it's great. Relies too much on action skills. Aiming on console is poorly done like most games out there but a bit worse. Salvador is under rated but probably the better character out there? Opinions.
Side Note, anyone up for Coop? PS3 version.