The Borderlands community is celebrating a big win because Randy Pitchford responded to the community’s requests for a Mini-map in Borderlands 4.
Key Takeaways
- Borderlands 4 now also has a Combat Radar at launch.
- The Combat Radar is disabled by default.
From Compass to Mini-Map to Combat Radar
The Borderlands community is celebrating a big win because Borderlands 4 is getting a combat Radar at launch. The game initially would just feature a compass that highlights the direction of enemies and objectives; however, early hands-on feedback requested a mini-map, as spatial awareness was lacking during combat. Players were having a hard time knowing where the enemies were coming from.
Gearbox Software explained why the compass was the way to go and a superior way to communicate the info to the player. However, as the mini-map discourse continued, the developers analyzed the feedback and secretly went to work and returned with their solution: the combat radar.
The combat radar shows the enemy’s location relative to you. Red dots will highlight enemies and have an additional arrow if they appear on a higher or lower platform than you.
My Perspective
I wasn’t opposed to the compass as I saw it as a device to enhance the Vault Hunting journey. Besides collecting a lot of loot, Borderlands has always been an adventure for me, trying to find my way through the badlands. The compass could add a little bit of friction so that you would appreciate the journey and the discoveries along the way a bit more, and feel accomplished when overcoming the hurdles on your path.
ECHO-4’s in-world waypoints are always at your disposal in case you are lost. This way, players like me who want a challenge can enjoy the game that way, and people like my son who need a bit more guidance can also enjoy the game.
That said, I’m happy to see the combat radar is coming to Borderlands 4 because I also struggle from time to time to distinguish the enemies from the NPCs or environment. Having a radar to highlight their position relative to you helps combat in a big way. I don’t think I ever used the mini-map to find a door or something, as plotting a route has always been done on the overview map.
