Gearbox Studios and 2K's New Tales from the Borderlands has been out for a few days now, and players have finally been able to dive into the familiar yet refreshed world of Borderlands on the planet of Promethea. A follow-up to Telltale's episodic title set in the same universe, New Tales from the Borderlands brings back the setup of the previous game with new characters, storylines, and gameplay features. Among the new cast of characters, one really stood out from the crowd – the debonair killbot L0U13.
The Borderlands franchise is full of fun characters, and many side NPCs that players can meet along their journeys end up stealing the show. This has been the case in a number of other Borderlands entries, and it seems like New Tales from the Borderlands is no different. Although not a playable character, the well-spoken and sharply dressed L0U13 managed to steal the heart of the audience, and many believe he deserves a more prominent place alongside the other three main characters.
L0U13's Breakout Role In New Tales From The Borderlands
The Borderlands games are great at giving characters memorable introductions, and the flavor text that accompanies them not only provides a straight-to-the-point summary of who they are but can also give players a good laugh too. L0U13 became an instant icon in New Tales from the Borderlands, especially with his short but sweet intro of "killer. Friend." He's the perfect foil for Octavio and his over-the-top personality, and L0U13's deadpan delivery and seemingly polite responses help to bring the humor to many a situation.
The assassin and aspiring comedian is also an integral part of the mismatched group of unlikely heroes that are set to take down yet another corrupt corporation in Borderlands' cutthroat universe, and he deserves just as much focus as Fran, Anu, or Octavio. L0U13 may just be an NPC, but he helps with the various hijinks, and by the end of the game many players were wishing the straight-talking killbot was among New Tales from the Borderlands' playable cast. With his impeccable manners and fascination with the dysfunctional dynamic between the group, L0U13 is a unique and interesting addition to the Borderlands world.
Why L0U13 Deserves A More Prominent Place
L0U13 is arguably one of the best new characters that New Tales from the Borderlands introduces, and he's also a key part of the team. His slightly bizarre rating system plays a vital part in which of the endings players can achieve, with a high Skateboard Score required to unlock the "best" ending. The Borderlands series is no stranger to engaging robotic characters, with recurring figures like the controversial Claptrap (loved by some, loathed by others) who became the unofficial mascot for the franchise. Even the original Tales from the Borderlands had its share of lovable robotic companions with the scene-stealing Loader Bot and adorable Gortys.
New Tales from the Borderlands features some other entertaining robots alongside L0U13, like the enthusiastic TIMM-E or the annoyingly helpful Sponsor-Bot, but none of them come close to matching the killbot's charisma. L0U13 is funny, engaging, adorably awkward on occasion, and is a standout in almost all the scenes that he appears in, even though he is among a cast of other colorful characters. He deserves top billing alongside the other protagonists, and possibly a future in the franchise depending on his player-determined fate in New Tales from the Borderlands as well.
New Tales from the Borderlands is available for PC, PS4, PS5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.