Borderlands: The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned PC Game Reviews
Posted by in PC Game Reviews, PC Reviews
Gameplay 9
Graphics 9
Sound 9

The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned is a good example of how to do DLC properly. With some nice new areas, a new visual palette and an interesting storyline this should definitely not be missed. Zombies have been done to death before (pun intended) but Borderlansd proves that there is still some life left in the undead.

Gameplay: A tighter story and lots of zombie killing action.

Graphics: A completely new look and feel for the game.

Sound: Good but would have liked to hear some new battle cries

Summary 9.0 Outstanding
Gameplay 0
Graphics 0
Sound 0
Summary rating from user's marks. You can set own marks for this article - just click on stars above and press "Accept".
Accept
Summary 0.0 Terrible

Borderlands: The Zombie Island Of Dr. Ned

Developer: Gearbox Software | Publisher: 2K Games | Release Date: 2009 | Genre: First Person Shooter / RPG | Website: Official Website | Purchase: Steam

The first bit of DLC for Borderlands, titled “The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned” opens with Marcus Kincaid telling a bedtime story to his son. It seems that the milling town (yes apparently Pandora does have trees) of Jakobs Cove has fallen foul to an undead scourge. The corporation who owns the town obviously wants the situation taken care of which is where you come in.

Jacobs Cove and its twisted story are set apart from the main game and can be accessed from any fast travel station. While it is recommended that you finish the main story first, there is nothing preventing you from jumping right into the zombie slaying action. The DLC has a completely different look and feel to the main game with some spooky new scenery. The town and surroundings is bathed in the light of a full moon and you get to visit all the classic horror movie locations like a cemetery, hospital and pumpkin patch. The whole thing has a very Tim Burton look to it which fits the Borderlands humor perfectly.

As the name suggests you’ll be battling hordes of zombies but you can expect to run into some were-skags, tankensteins and other nasties such as the loot goon as well. Zombies are unarmed but some like the defilers will projectile vomit all over you which slows you down and obscures your vision. This is two handicaps that you do not want in the middle of a zombie apocalypse. There are also some cool new bosses for you to battle. You’ll be battling against hordes of zombies so it is a pity that this DLC does not increase your level cap. The areas are a lot more claustrophobic than those of the main game so unfortunately there are no vehicle sections. You cannot fast travel to other areas in Jakobs Cove either which means that there is a lot of running back and forth between missions. Since the zombies respawn all the time you will have your work cut out for you.

Apart from the story missions there is also a bounty board in Jakobs Cove with a few new side missions. These do not really deviate from the standard fetch/kill missions but at least they are quite funny. Be sure not to miss a very special zombie who has an optional quest for you! This DLC seems to be lacking any cool new weapons and features which are bound to disappoint some players. After completing everything I only had one new, marginally better sniper-rifle to show for my troubles. There are also no new skills for any of the characters, which is a pity. Even some new battle cries would have been nice as by now I’m quite tired of hearing the same phrases yelled during combat.

Those who found the plot of the main game uninspiring will appreciate the tighter narrative in this DLC. The humor is brilliant and Gearbox even pokes fun at themselves for re-using some character models. Shooting the limbs off zombies and watching them keep coming is a blast and a few of them even managed to startle me by sneaking up behind me. Turning around to see a suicidal bomber zombie bearing down on you is quite a sight and you’ll only make the mistake of using electrical based attacks on a Frankenstein enemy once before realizing what a bad idea it is.

If you enjoyed Borderlands then you will definitely want to check out this DLC. It took me just over five hours to complete everything it had to offer and I had a blast doing so. At this point, the best bet is to buy the “Game of the Year” edition which includes all four DLC which is perfect if you have yet to experience Borderlands.

*Review originally published 2009.

System Requirements

  • OS: Windows XP/Vista
  • Processor: 2.4 Ghz or equivalent processor with SSE2 support
  • Memory: 1GB System RAM (2GB recommended with Vista)
  • Graphics: 256mb video ram or better (GeForce 7 series or higher/Radeon HD3000 series or higher)
  • Hard Drive: 8 GB or more free space
  • Sound: Windows compatible sound card

Also On The Site

Tags: DLC, First Person Shooter, PC, Review, RPG

About author

Related posts

Professor Lupo and his Horrible Pets PC Game Reviews

Professor Lupo and his Horrible Pets

Professor Lupo and his Horrible Pets is a fast-paced puzzle game with a great story and interesting enemies to outsmart. Playing as an intern trying to escape a doomed space station overrun by deadly alien pets is a lot of fun, and the solid narrative elements make it even better. The game also features a surprising amount of content and can keep players busy for a long time. Some more variety for the environments would have been nice, but the great monster designs make up for this, and their varied behaviors keep things fresh. Overall, this is one of our favorite puzzle games of the year and a must-have for any fan of the genre. Gameplay: The game features five chapters with a 100 challenging, but entertaining, levels to conquer. Graphics: The hand-drawn visuals and the monster designs are neat. Sound: The audio is well-rounded, with a great soundtrack, decent sound effects, and even full voice acting.

The Little Acre PC Game Reviews

The Little Acre

The Little Acre is a charming hand-drawn point-and-click adventure with two playable characters and two very different settings. Players play as a young man named Aiden and his daughter Lily and must guide them around their home in 1950s Ireland and a strange alien world called Clonfira. However, the short duration and straightforward puzzles mean The Little Acre will be more appealing to newcomers to the genre and not so much to point-and-click adventure veterans. Gameplay: The puzzles are logical, and the game is fun to play, but it is also very short, and the final part feels rushed. Graphics: The hand-drawn animations are a highlight, but The Little Acre only has a few locations for players to explore. Sound: The voice acting is decent for a small indie title, and the music is fitting but unmemorable.

Mech Mechanic Simulator PC Game Reviews

Mech Mechanic Simulator

Step into the shoes of a mech mechanic and fix giant robots in this science fiction-themed simulation title by PolySlash. Mech Mechanic Simulator features a variety of gigantic iron machines to deconstruct and repair as well as an entire workshop to upgrade and customize. The game might seem daunting at first, but it is actually very accessible and while there's some grind involved it is also quite relaxing. It doesn't stray too far from the confines of the genre, but it is certainly one of the more unique titles in terms of what you get to work on. Gameplay: A little daunting at first, but accessible and relaxing once you get into the swing of things. Graphics: Great mech designs and tons of components to work on. Sound: Decent enough, but the game is best enjoyed with your own playlist or favorite podcast in the background.

Cat Quest II PC Game Reviews

Cat Quest II

Cat Quest 2 takes all the elements that made the original game such a hit and polishes everything to a fine sheen. It's not the most challenging 2D action RPG on the market, but it has a lot of charm and is still incredibly addictive. The main story is brief, but there are many side quests and optional dungeons that can keep players busy for ages. Although Cat Quest 2 is not perfect, it's a lot of fun and will appeal to fans of the first game, as well as newcomers looking for an accessible title. Gameplay: It's not very challenging, but it's a lot of fun. Graphics: The 2D visuals are beautiful and stylish. Sound: The game features a decent soundtrack and sound effects.

Deadstone PC Game Reviews

Deadstone

There aren’t that many titles on PC in the top down shooter genre and even fewer that offers as much as Deadstone. It’s got a meaty campaign mode that can be enjoyed in a serious or light-hearted fashion as well as a very addictive survival mode. Throw in the co-op mode, which is unfortunately local only, and you have the recipe for a great game. Graphics: The visual style of the game is a little dated and lacking in variety, but overall it’s quite polished. Sound: Nice voice acting during the cut-scenes and the music fits the atmosphere of the game well. Gameplay: Plenty of content and an addictive experience throughout despite the repetition.

The Medium PC Game Reviews

The Medium

The Medium sees players help a young woman with psychic abilities explore two realities in search of answers. The game is set in an abandoned communist resort that is home to many secrets as well as a few restless spirits. While The Medium won't win any awards for its puzzles or chase sequences, the story is interesting and the visuals beautiful. The game does have its fair share of issues but offers a compelling experience for fans of the genre. Gameplay: Nothing groundbreaking, but the dual-reality shenanigan is a nice feature. Graphics: The environments look incredible as do the creature designs. Sound: The soundtrack is beautiful, but the voice acting is a little uneven.

Leave a comment

4 × 3 =