Summary
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandswas a dream come true for manyBorderlandsfans when it was first revealed, as it seemed a standalone title that mixed the typical gun frenzy of Gearbox’s looter-shooter series with the randomness of Tiny Tina and the success of Assault on Dragon Keep.Borderlands 2’s Assault on Dragon Keep was arguably the single best DLC for what is widely considered the best game in the franchise, so expectations were high - butTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsfailed to deliver, for the most part, and especially with its expansions. As such, the newlyleakedTiny Tina’s Wonderlandssequelshouldn’t exactly be “Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2,” but rather embrace different aspects of its predecessor and other Gearbox games to become its own thing.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlandshad many good qualities, such as a deep and enjoyable character creation screen where players could go wild and make the weirdest protagonists imaginable, also featuring the option to change their appearance later on. The gameplay inTiny Tina’s Wonderlandswas also fun, with spells effectively replacing grenades inBorderlands 3, while adding a nice touch to any build players could make and also a more diverse approach to fights as a whole. However, a sequel should learn fromTiny Tina’s Wonderlands' shortcomings if it wants to be a successful and beloved entry.
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Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 Needs to Deliver on its Predecessor’s Promises
Why Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands Broke Players' Trust
One of the biggest issuesaTiny Tina’s Wonderlandssequelfaces is that players lost a lot of trust in the first title after it failed to deliver on its promises to enhance the endgame experience with plenty of new offerings. The main problem is that every DLC for the game was quite short - rather than full-blown expansions, which is what players expected based on the initial marketing forTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, they got bite-sized content additions that didn’t do enough to motivate them to keep playing.
The DLCs were also often poorly timed or simply announced for immediate release with little hype or momentum going for them, which in return didn’t help their case. Many players had purchased theChaotic Great Edition forTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsexpecting that it would be treated as a sort of live-service game based on the “season pass” label associated with its expansions, which were simply stated to come after launch. The four DLCs were instead delivered in a short span of time, and there was never a second season pass forTiny Tina’s Wonderlands.
How Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2 Can Fix The Original’s Problems
What follows is that many of those who pre-orderedTiny Tina’s Wonderlandsmay be skeptical about the sequel’s ability to deliver, and things are made even messier withEmbracer Group potentially selling Gearbox. Still, not only does a sequel need to impress and regain the trust of players, but it should also try and move away fromBorderlandsas a series to create something more unique. The main appeal of Assault on Dragon Keep inBL2was that it felt like aDungeons and Dragonsspin-off for the franchise, and whileTiny Tina’s Wonderlandspartially recaptured that feeling, on the other hand, it also muddied the waters by heavily featuring gunplay and little fantasy elements.
There are manyfantasy creatures forTiny Tina’s Wonderlands 2to feature or at least take a closer look at, and that could help make it stand out compared to the original. More fantasy weapons rather than guns could also be a good idea. The sequel can and should double down on the positives ofTiny Tina’s Wonderlands, but the overall delivery should be different in order to make it more akin to what many players truly want - which is a standalone Assault on Dragon Keep.
Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands
WHERE TO PLAY
Embark on an epic adventure full of whimsy, wonder, and high-powered weaponry. Bullets, magic and broadswords collide across this chaotic fantasy world brought to life by the unpredictable Tiny Tina. Roll your own multiclass hero and loot, shoot, slash and cast your way through outlandish monsters and loot-filled dungeons on a quest to stop the tyrannical Dragon Lord. Tiny Tina is your disorderly guide through an extraordinary tabletop realm where rules rarely apply. Explore a vast overworld spanning majestic cities, dank mushroom forests, foreboding fortresses and more! Joining you at the table are headstrong captain Valentine and rule-obsessed robot Frette. During your quest to defeat the Dragon Lord, you’ll meet a cast of lovable misfits like a lute-wielding Bardbarian and your very own Fairy Punchfather. Everyone’s welcome, so join the party, throw on your adventuring boots and be Chaotic Great!
