Today was devoted to just one game - Borderlands. But a fun twist - for me - was that I was to introduce a friend of mine to the joys of this games co-op multiplayer aspect via Game Ranger. Fingers crossed we could get all the online systems firing on all cylinders, as past experience has taught me that these things seldom go without some form of screw up!

At this point I have already whizzed through my first play though of this game thanks to my fellow BIG team-mates Paddy and Magnus who dragged me along at their obscenely high level rankings in order to level me up in double quick time. However, there are disadvantages to this fast track method of playing this game - chiefly that I missed out on so many of the side missions and some of the story-line (such as it is).

So I decided to take a nice relaxing day to play through at a more sedate pace and at the same time see if I could get my mate - BIG Legz - connected and into the co-op side of this excellent game.

Above: BIG Legs meets Crazy Earl. I don't know if anyone else has noticed this but why do you think it is that Crazy Earl's hut is padlocked from the *outside*?

It took us a little fiddling about to get Game Ranger working, but eventually I managed to join Legz's hosted game - I joined him so he could continue with his progression through the missions - and even Ventrillo (voice comms system) behaved itself and soon we were merrily chatting away while slaying bad guys!

I had thought about buying Left 4 Dead 2 as it was released today, but in the end I still have so much I want to do with Borderlands that I thought I would save this new game until next month and after I complete my second play through. The idea of jumping ship with games so soon after buying Borderlands just seems so wasteful when there is still plenty of enjoyment to be had from Borderlands.

It was nice to spend today taking the time to investigate some of the side missions I blazed through first time around, and I was able to take some nice screenshots as we went along (something I didn't have a lot of time to do the first time round). I especially like the excellent cut scenes of the level bosses that Gearbox has included and I grabbed a screen of each one I have done as a visual trophy (I snatched a screen of the baddies demise as well) to mark my progress through the game.

Al in all today has been a very enjoyable day as |I have not only been able to have a relaxing time playing a great game but I also felt good about teaming up with Legz and getting him started with co-op gaming...I look forward to my second run through with a new character.

Above: He doesn't look happy! The 'Roid Rage Psycho' boss - just a little bit of a bitch if you ask me.

Here's me - BIG-Ranger - going a little beserk! (The Brick character's special skill!)