Is Borderlands Legendary Collection better than Handsome Collection?
The short answer is yes – the Borderlands Legendary Collection is the superior version for Nintendo Switch, providing a more complete compilation of content and features tailored specifically for Nintendo‘s platform. As a passionate Borderlands fan and content creator, I‘ve analyzed both collections in depth and firmly believe the Legendary Collection is the definitive way to experience the series on Switch.
Complete Content & Game Modes
Firstly, the Legendary Collection includes the full story from the very beginning with Borderlands 1 Game of the Year Edition – this critically acclaimed entry lays the groundwork for the entire series and is essential for understanding the full narrative. The Handsome Collection notoriously excludes the first Borderlands game, so you miss out on those origins.
Additionally, the Legendary Collection packs in a vast wealth of DLC spanning across the series. We‘re talking all DLC from Borderlands 1, 16 robust DLC packs from Borderlands 2, and 8 substantial add-ons for The Pre-Sequel. Only the Commander Lilith DLC is missing from BL2, designed as a narrative lead-in to Borderlands 3.
Comparatively, The Handsome Collection does contain most BL2 & TPS DLC packs, but lacks the completeness felt in the Legendary Collection compiling the series‘ content as a whole.
Furthermore, local wireless co-op allows you to play with a friend on the couch using two Switch consoles – a perfect fit for Borderlands‘ established co-op dynamics. The Handsome Collection does offer 4 player online co-op, but lacks the inclusion of local multiplayer.
| Collection | BL1 + DLC | BL2 + DLC | TPS + DLC | Local Co-op |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Legendary | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ | ✅ |
| Handsome | ❌ | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ |
So in terms of core content, narrative completeness, and multiplayer game modes – the Legendary Collection is unambiguously superior, cramming in more Borderlands goodness per gigabyte than any other available version.
Optimization & Performance
As the Legendary Collection was rebuilt specifically for Nintendo Switch based on the Game of the Year editions, it has received extensive graphical enhancements and performance optimizations exclusive to Nintendo‘s hardware. As Digital Foundry‘s technical analysis revealed, Legendary features dynamic resolution scaling up to 1080p docked and 720p handheld, delivering smooth 30 FPS gameplay regardless of mode.
By comparison, The Handsome Collection is merely a direct port of the PS4 and Xbox One game compilations – some visual downtuning was applied, but overall resolution and performance takes a noticeable hit in translation to Switch. resolutions hover around 600p docked and 540p portable, while frame rate can dip under 30 FPS in intense combat scenes.
So the Legendary Collection‘s tailored optimization and up to 78% higher pixel counts make it undeniably the best performing Borderlands package on Switch. Playing in handheld mode especially highlights the smoother gameplay, sharper visuals, and stable frame rates that Legendary was designed for from the ground up.
Value & Price Point
Considering everything included, the Borderlands Legendary Collection offers tremendous value at an affordable price point. For just $49.99 USD, you receive the full narratives of three critically acclaimed looter shooters packed to the brim with content and DLC – that equals over 100 hours of motley adventures across the far reaches of the galaxy.
Comparatively, The Handsome Collection omits the origins of Borderlands 1 and normally retails for $59.99. So buying the separate Borderlands Game of the Year edition would run you $29.99, totaling $89.98 for an inferior content offering. Even on sale the Handsome Collection can cost up to $20 more for less games and missing DLC. Legendary Collection gives you more Borderlands for less bucks.
The Verdict: Legen-wait for it-dary Edition
Given the extensive quality-of-life improvements, wealth of content, and excellent value specifically enhanced for Nintendo Switch – I firmly declare the Borderlands Legendary Collection to be the definitive package for experiencing Pandora‘s mayhem on the go. The COMPLETE inclusiveness of narratives and DLC make it an unparalleled compilation unmatched by even the Handsome Collection.
For any Vault Hunter getting into Borderlands or a longtime fan desiring premium portable performance, the Legendary Collection is a must-buy. So in conclusively answering our initial question – yes, across criteria like completeness, optimization, and value the Legendary Collection marks the pinnacle of Borderlands reissues. It simply can‘t be beaten for enjoying Borderlands to its fullest anywhere, anytime, on Nintendo Switch.
