Borderlands: The Secret Armory of General Knoxx Review (Xbox 360, PlayStation 3)

"You like it?  Bought it down at the pawn shop!"

You have to hand it to 2K Games and Gearbox, it sure knows how to make some mighty fine downloadable content.  Its first add-on for Borderlands, The Zombie Island of Dr. Ned, is a campy, horror-filled delight, and Mad Moxxi’s Underdome Riot wasn’t too shabby either.  But now we have the best one of them all, The Secret Armory of General Knoxx, a whopping 1.5+ GB download that expands the game even further than you could’ve ever imagined.

If you missed traveling by vehicle in Mad Moxxi, not to worry.  General Knoxx has you covered with all new highway terrain (complete with treacherous turn-offs and no shortage of bad guys employed by the Atlas Corporation), along with two great new vehicles.  The first is a truck that seats four, giving each of its riders their own gun to shoot at enemies with.  If you prefer something a little more lethal for one, the homing missile-carrying monster truck is sure to be your speed, with its combined crushing power and explosiveness.  We couldn’t get enough of driving both of these – and wonder what it would be like if they battled each other.  (Our guess is the monster truck would win.)

Not only does the game have new vehicles and missions, but also new enemies.  Among our favorites are the ninjas, a group of angry freaks that want nothing more than to slice your energy bar to ribbons.  Also equally bothersome (in an enjoyable kind of way) are the jet packers, who shoot at you from above and move about so quickly that it’s hard to get a bead on them at times.  Even the medics pose a challenge, healing up their fellow soldiers rapidly enough that you can’t drop them.  And then there’s the General himself, who…well, we won’t spoil it for you.

The game is tough, just like some of Borderlands’ more vicious challenges.  In fact, you won’t even be able to start up a round unless you’re properly leveled up, like previous missions.  That’s a good thing, because you’d be slaughtered in a moment’s notice without the experience.  These guys know how to stay alive, whether it’s a homicidal midget popping out of a locker or a big, nearly impenetrable mech that runs at you, all guns firing.  Your best bet is to work your way through the main game and the other sub-chapters before stepping foot into the Secret Armory.  Otherwise, no matter who you team up with, you’re dog meat.

There are rewards waiting for your effort, however.  Along with a slew of new power cores (which enhance your abilities) and weapons, you’ll also receive a new level cap, boosting your power to level 61.  You’ll still want to make sure you save often, as there’s still the possibility of your soldier going bye-bye due to a glitch (something 2K still needs to address soon).  However, if you hold on long enough and keep your data in check, you’ll be promptly rewarded with a powerful, versatile soldier, no matter which class you go with.

Now THAT is a monster truck.

Secret Armory of General Knoxx looks impressive.  In fact, this is probably the most visually stunning DLC for the game to date, going toe-to-toe with the cel-shaded surroundings of the original.  The enemies are a riot to watch, whether they’re scampering about or going in full-on assault mode towards you.  There are no frame rate hitches or texture problems to speak of, and seeing familiar characters, such as Scooter and Moxxi, is good fun.  The audio is equally likable, with plenty of humorous quips (wait till you hear the Ice Cream Day song) and lots of B-grade taunts thrown your way.  The twangy-twangy background music is back as well, setting the mood for Borderlands’ Western theme.

Sure, it’s big in size, and it requires you to work harder than you do in most first-person shooters.  But, that said, Secret Armory of General Knoxx is incredibly rewarding, especially if you’re ready to go the distance and level yourself up.  Grab your friends, start up a co-op session, and show the General who’s boss.  If you’ve got nerves of steel and an itchy trigger finger, step up for a few rounds of pure Borderlands bliss.