this post was submitted on 10 Apr 2024
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Should I buy my kid Borderlands? (hexbear.net)
submitted 7 months ago by LeylaLove@hexbear.net to c/games@hexbear.net
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cross-posted from: https://hexbear.net/post/2261454

My foster kiddo's birthday is coming up soon, and we got a REALLY good deal on a PS4 for his birthday. I'm buying him used games to go with the console. I asked him to describe what kind of games he wanted and things he liked in games. He wants a split screen co-op FPS where he's able to hunt for rare loot. He wants a looter shooter that he can play with me. Also odd criteria, but he wants games that I'm good at because it's like "watching a ninja". He explained this, and Borderlands is the only game I can think of that has all of it. He didn't mention Borderlands by name, so it's not like I'd be saying no to anything on his list specifically. I'd settle for a co-op split screen FPS we could play, but there aren't very many of those on PS4.

Here is the issue I'm running into though. On one hand, this child is turning 9. He is just too young for Borderlands. However, this child has also witnessed multiple people die of drug overdoses, watched a million rated R movies with his mom, so censoring things feels weird. Like who am I to censor some middle school grade jokes when he's into morbid things as a result of seeing death his entire life? I'm thinking maybe we just make it a game where I have to play it with him if he wants to play? Any split screen game recommendations for us that may be more age appropriate?

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[–] LeylaLove@hexbear.net 10 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

He's been playing Roblox since before I was his foster parent, that's already a thing he's been introduced to on those games. Even worse, CSGO style loot cases are standard in games on Roblox. Borderlands loot system would be a marked improvement over his current favorite games. There are a lot of weird moral issues that have popped up for me because this is not my child, I wasn't there for the first 8 years and had no input on how he was raised before he came into my household. I wouldn't let my kid play Roblox if they were my kid, but he's been playing Roblox for the past 8 years while his mom was busy getting high, I can't take away what was his only social link with other kids for his entire life. It would feel like a punishment, so instead I just play Roblox with him to make sure that he's not getting into too much trouble or playing anything that's totally brain rot.

Also, I'm more worried about sexual content in the games. I remember BL2 having a lot of sexually oriented jokes, and while I haven't played in years, my 8 year old just doesn't like hearing about sex. He wants me to censor things that are overly sexual. He's thanked me for shutting the TV off before, great kid. I don't remember it being a super sexy game or anything, but if they're constantly making sexualized jokes it's something I'd want to look out for.

[–] lapis@hexbear.net 8 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago) (1 children)

oh, yeah, would not get an 8yo who dislikes anything sexual into Borderlands, one of the running themes throughout the series is sex jokes - the sex jokes did ramp up in BL2, but there were still plenty in BL1, as I recall.

unfortunately there just aren’t many splitscreen coop games anymore, and especially not looter-shooters, most of ‘em are one player per TV with online multiplayer. this is a very sad state of affairs but it’s so rare for a game to buck the trend that I can’t think of anything other than Borderlands.

if you drop the loot requirement, I think the SW Battlefront classic collection would fit the splitscreen shooter requirement? but yeah I’m drawing a blank otherwise.

[–] LeylaLove@hexbear.net 5 points 7 months ago (1 children)

I'm probably going to buy a used copy and do a guided playthrough with him to see if it bothers him or not because he's inconsistent with it, but will speak if he doesn't like something. We encourage him to be vocal about stuff like that, so I'm not worried that he'd hide it, especially because I don't find Borderlands particularly funny. I remember BL being mostly middle school type jokes, nothing too crazy but I'd wanna be there to make sure it doesn't say something that's a full conversation without me being there to play it with him in case he doesn't like it, or has questions about it.

Definitely going to check out Battlefront! Didn't know they did split screen but that's really the major requirement I'm looking for with the game. He's a super sweet kid and would play pretty much whatever I give him as long as he can play it with me. Yeah, I wish there were more split screen co-op games nowadays, would love to grab Left 4 Dead for him because it'd be a great game for his tastes. I don't know why split screen fell out of style so hard :/

[–] lapis@hexbear.net 5 points 7 months ago* (last edited 7 months ago)

hell yeah, awesome that y’all have open communication about these things. hope the kiddo loves Borderlands, it’s one of my favorite co-op game series.

note about Battlefront: there are the new ones that have a splitscreen mode but it’s kinda a glorified practice mode for the online-only modes, and the remakes of the originals (Battlefront Classic Collection) that have proper splitscreen campaigns but (from what I’ve heard) poor online play.