Though the original Borderlands was a terrific game, its most lackluster aspect was its story. The world of Pandora may have been interesting, but Commandant Steele was a forgettable villain with limited impact on the characters and narrative. With Borderlands 2, Gearbox delivered a story that was just as great as its looter shooter gameplay, and Handsome Jack is a huge reason why it worked as well as it did.
Handsome Jack became iconic for a number of reasons. While he was hilarious, quipping about pretzels and Butt Stallion as the story progressed, he was also ruthless and terrifying when he wanted to be. His motivations were understandable, even if his methods of achieving them were flawed. Most importantly, Handsome Jack was a tragic character that gamers were able to learn about across a number of Borderlands games, with the character having a key role in most of the games where he is featured.
Handsome Jack’s Importance To Borderlands Means He Will Never Be Forgotten
In each of Handsome Jack’s physical appearances, he has had a major impact on the player and the Borderlands universe as a whole. With Borderlands 2, Handsome Jack killed Bloodwing and Roland, two beloved figures from the first game. Considering that Roland’s loss is still being felt years after his death thanks to projects like Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands, fans will never be able to forget what Handsome Jack did.
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel and Tales from the Borderlands both managed to show a tragic side to Handsome Jack. The Pre-Sequel showed that Jack was once a decent man with a big ego, with the character being betrayed by Lilith and Moxxi - a move that ultimately drove him insane and sent him down his path of violence. Tales from the Borderlands gives more insight into Jack’s sadness about Angel and her mother, and the digital version of the villain begging Rhys to let him live is genuinely sad.
Borderlands 3 took the heartbreak to a new level, with players hearing recordings of Handsome Jack and a young Angel. It also brought back Timothy, a character who serves as the perfect reminder that Handsome Jack’s legacy will always be felt. When gamers think about Hyperion, or Rhys’ story, they will always think about Jack. Beyond that, Borderlands 2 being so beloved means that players will always be returning to and praising the game where Handsome Jack made his debut. As such, his story will continue to be celebrated for years, and every villain Gearbox introduces will be compared to him.
More Can Still Be Done With Handsome Jack
Considering that many see Handsome Jack as one of the best villains in gaming, it makes sense to honor his legacy with each Borderlands title that Gearbox releases. Fortunately, the company is able to do this without retconning his death, as it can continue revealing aspects of his backstory through audio logs like in Borderlands 3. The abuse Jack suffered as a child is also something that could be touched upon in greater detail, as fans only learn about this part of his history through a disturbing side quest.
Timothy is another way Jack could be brought back, and Gearbox seemingly plays with the idea in Heist of the Handsome Jackpot by suggesting that he occasionally snaps back into Jack’s personality. The Tales from the Borderlands ending where Rhys saves his cybernetic eye could also be canonized, opening another door for a Jack comeback. With the character being so great, and having so much more to give, adding to Handsome Jack’s impressive resume would be ideal. For many, his character is Borderlands at its best, meaning that Gearbox and the fans will always have Handsome Jack on their minds.