Borderlands 2 DLC 4 News: Does Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep Justify a Purchase?

Borderlands 2 released their fourth set of season pass DLC yesterday, entitled Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep. The DLC, which may be the final piece of DLC content released for the game, takes players to a fantasy world conjured up by Tiny Tina for the Dungeons & Dragons parody Bunkers & Badasses. Overall, this DLC is the best out of all the story-based DLC for the game, and offers a refreshing take on the game's themes and gameplay.
Anyone sick of fighting the same old Hyperions robots and bandits will be pleased to know that the DLC offers many different types of enemies to take on. Instead of putting a new coat of paint on old enemies, each new baddie has unique properties that players will have to figure out. For example, some undead warriors have magic shields that reflect bullets, while some dwarves will duel-wield weapons like the playable character Salvador. In addition, the different enemies rotate frequently, so each new area feels different from the others. 

The DLC's story is also somewhat of a departure for the series. Tiny Tina, still in denial about a character's death in the main game, works her way through the process of grieving through the game. While the DLC keeps these scenes lighthearted for the most part, it is still refreshing to see a game known for humor to use that humor to underscore some serious themes. Additionally, that humor is shown in spades in the DLC, as the game takes several jabs at sci fi and fantasy icons, such as Doctor Who, Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, and, of course, Dungeons & Dragons. Gearbox also throws in a few barbs at their own expense.

While some may have been hoping for a DLC that helps set up the events of the next game in the series (much like Gearbox did with the events of the final piece of DLC for the original Borderlands) Tiny Tina's Assault on Dragon Keep is a departure for the game, and manages to hit all the right notes over the course of the DLC. By having Tiny Tina use a game to help her through some the issues in her life, Gearbox is mimicking what many gamers and fantasy lovers do when facing their own personal problems. By escaping into a fantasy realm where she controls the rules and can bring back deceased loved ones, Tiny Tina reflects what many people go through when disaster strikes. And that, perhaps, will be the lasting legacy of this DLC.