Borderlands: Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution

Written by Tina Amini on 9/28/2010 for 360  

Borderlands has been one of the more supported games post-release that I’ve had the pleasure of following over the past year. Since its release in October of 2009, Gearbox and 2K Games have released a total of four DLC packages. The add-ons introduced zombies, an arena perfect for co-operative slaughter, and a new short storyline with the promise of huge loot to be achieved at the end. Today, Gearbox and 2K collaboratively bring you the latest downloadable content: Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution.

Your friendly neighborhood claptraps have banded together under the lead of INAC (Interplanetary Ninja Assassin Claptrap) who has formulated a robot revolution against the oppressive Hyperion Corporation. Although your history with Hyperion is itself of questionable standing, the corporation calls on you to crush the rebellion.


Among the new characters introduced in Robot Revolution, Mr. Blake who functions as a middleman between the mercenaries and Hyperion located in Tartarus Station. As mediator, he provides you with your most important missions in the DLC, and sets you out to prepare for a final confrontation with INAC.

Everything that is characteristic of Borderlands - the loot, the crazy enemies, the graphic novel kind of art - is present in this package, with the addition of robot enemies. The most entertaining enemies, however, are claptrap-ified versions of familiar enemies from the original game. You’ll re-encounter General Knoxx, Steele and even Dr. Ned in more than one version that can only amount to hilarity. Borderlands has always consistently provided fast-paced first person shooter action coupled with quirky humor. The robot theme could not be more demonstrative of these qualities, given the oddity of humor from a robot. There is so much potential to work from, and it’s well worth listening to everything INAC has to say.


Although the experience is very short - easily done in roughly 3 hours - you traverse multiple new areas with the Tartarus Station functioning as the hub. This is very similar to The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, but the new areas in Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution are actually much more intriguing. Visiting the Hyperion Dump is a fairly reminiscent experience, with a gritty environment and crazed bandits who greet you warmly alongside the new Hyperion Soldiers. Sander’s Gorge, although also quite similar to other underground areas of Borderlands, introduces new colorful alien-like creatures that uproot the ground to attack as you intrude on their territory.

Next to The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned (though Chuck won’t agree), this is the best Borderlands DLC yet, with delightfully unorthodox characters who have the same quirky appeal that Borderlands has become known for. Gearbox has even thrown in equally quirky item hunting expeditions, from claptrap statues to panties to oil cans. Dr. Tannis will send you fetching various claptrap items for her own scientific discoveries, as well. Though the content is short, Claptrap’s New Robot Revolution is perfect for a video game weekend getaway for that time you need some witty comic relief from your daily routine.