So, Borderlands 2 is awesome. Very awesome. The first expansion to the game, Captain Scarlett And Her Pirate’s Booty was pretty great, as well. With such amazing gameplay already featuring in this epic game, how could Gearbox Software outdo themselves in their latest addition to the hit game? Two words: CAPITAL F#^$%@$% LETTERS. In Mr. Torgue’s Campaign Of Carnage, the Vault Hunter(s) take on a brand new challenge: A brand new vault located in the scenic Badass Crater Of Badassitude, only opened by sacrificing the ultimate coward into the Vault through the hands of the champion.

To do so, Torgue, the muscle-bound, profanity-spewing founder of the Torgue Corporation holds a tournament to find the ultimate Badass on Pandora. This sets the player up to do what the game allows them do to best: Kill, maim, and explode things in glorious ways. The game centers around the Crater, which is a vast expanse of dirt and debris featuring an arena and a racetrack, as well as a few other areas to explore and do various missions in, some of which involve parts of the story, which is to kill the higher-ranking badasses on the list and claim the number one spot from the current champion, Piston, who is built like a truck and has the gigantic guns attached to his body to back it up.

This guy.

Taking out the main characters is a blast, even if the battles don’t last too long. Most of the game is centered around the journey to the next ranking, and  quests that lead up to that battle usually build more anticipation than the fight itself. Most of the champions you actually face can be taken out pretty easily, but it’s no less fun watching them explode into tiny bits.

The gameplay is solid and fun, as Borderlands 2 is known to be, with various weapons, enemies and ridiculousness throughout. The driving section is nothing special, though the newer vehicle, which can seat up to four thanks to the truck bed in the back that will allow for two more passengers is a nice touch. Playing on foot is just as fun as ever, especially since the AI controlled vehicles can be dispatched pretty easily with the right loadout and skill tree (See: A Level 50 Rampaging Salvador dual-wielding two elemental Conference Call shotguns). The Boss fights are pretty pedestrian until the final showdown with Piston, where it really jumps up several notches, making for a challenging finish.

The Forge

The writing for this DLC is easily the best facet of it. Several beloved characters make an appearance here, with the innuendo-laden Moxxie serving as your sponsor, and the adorably dangerous Tiny Tina sending you on some difficult but equally ridiculous quests while serving as your trainer. By far, though, Mr. Torgue himself is the highlight. While he’s not seen, his presence is felt throughout as he comments frequently through the ECHO system, making profanity-laced and hilarious announcements along the entire 6+ hour DLC. Whether it’s the bleep of his censor-induced voicebox, his vocal guitar solos, or his terribly but hysterical attempts at innuendo, Torgue is the face of the DLC, and one of the best original supporting characters since Handsome Jack himself. His macho, caps-lock filled tirades serve as a prime example of why this franchise is one of the most popular, serving up humor with violence in equal servings.

Summary: In an attempted Mr. Torgue impression: THIS DLC IS F^%^&ING AWESOME! Great gameplay, hilarious writing and a well done story highlight the massively fun insanity that is Mr. Torgue’s Campaign Of Carnage. While the driving section and some of the boss fights were a bit lackluster, the rest of the DLC is great, and a ton of fun. Filled with explosions, chaos and the trademark Borderlands 2 nonsense, this is a DLC that no fan of the series should miss out on.

The Good: Great Story, Writing And Gameplay

The Bad: Driving Sequences And Boss Fights Are A Bit Weak

The Ugly: Piston Apparently Has Thirteen Pecs. Gross.

Score: 9.5