How Borderlands References Mad Max

The Borderlands series contains many pop culture references, and Mad Max is one of them. Just looking at the vast desert in the first game, with its post-apocalyptic vibe, psychotic raiders, and vehicles that look like they were built with whatever spare parts could be found, the similarities to the Mad Max film franchise are striking. Besides the overall atmosphere, Borderlands possesses even more specific references to Mad Max in the form of characters, quests, and locations.

DesertPhoto byWillian Justen de VasconcellosonUnsplash

Borderlands References Mad Max

In the first Borderlands game, there are all kinds of pop culture references to be found. From movies and TV shows like Idiocracy and Futurama to even other video games like Half-Life and 2K's own Bioshock, there is no shortage of Easter eggs and references implemented into the game. It is obvious that Borderlands was heavily inspired by Mad Max, so it's no surprise that the developers added several callbacks to the iconic film franchise. The fact that the developers don't bother to hide what inspires them in their work is part of what makes the world of Borderlands all the more endearing.

Mad Mel is a bandit leader who can be found in the Dahl Headlands. His name is a clear reference to both Mad Max and its star, Mel Gibson. He is a boss who must be defeated in order for the mechanic Scooter to fix Pandora's fast travel network. During the fight, he drives a Monster and strongly resembles the antagonist of the second Mad Max movie, Lord Humungous. The mission text describes him as a "lethal weapon", which is an obvious nod to the film of the same name. Helena Pierce makes a Braveheart reference when offering a reward to kill Mad Mel, which itself is another Mel Gibson movie.

Beyond Underdome

The playable Vault Hunter Brick has a skill named 'Master Blaster' that increases his rate of fire and regenerates rockets briefly after killing an enemy. This skill is a reference to the characters The Master and The Blaster from Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome. The characters from the movie consist of a tiny man on the shoulders of a large man, with Blaster being physically powerful but mentally weak, and Master being the opposite. Together, they form Master Blaster, a humorous but deadly duo. The two characters having different attributes loosely correlate with the skill itself.

The DLC Mad Moxxi's Underdome Riot is a reference to the second Mad Max movie, where Max is forced to fight in arena death matches. The game follows a similar premise, with the player tasked with surviving several waves of enemies to gain Moxxi's favor. Players will receive an achievement for this DLC titled "Can't We Get Beyond Thunderdome?" after winning an arena match. Gearbox has made it clear with these references that they are huge fans of Mad Max and are not afraid to show their love for the film through the gameplay.

A World of Fire and Blood

As 2K's most successful series, Borderlands owes its existence in part to the many pieces of pop culture that are incorporated into the game. With its dystopian world, off-the-wall characters, and even locations like the Underdome, it's no secret that Borderlands draws heavy influence from the world of Mad Max. These references are just a small portion of examples from properties that have inspired the development team. This has resulted in a beautiful amalgamation of pop culture that can be found in every corner of the massive Borderlands universe.

These are just a few references to Mad Max that have been found by players, and we wouldn't be surprised if there are actually more. Some of these references are silly and eye-roll-inducing, yet some are pretty creative. If you're looking for a game with a similar world to Fallout that takes itself less seriously, or just a big Mad Max fan, Borderlands is the game for you. Spotting callbacks to other games, movies, and songs is one of the most fun aspects about the game, and you might have a chuckle or two while uncovering them.

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This article was written by Eric Whitlow.