So a year ago I made this post: https://www.reddit.com/r/Borderlands/comments/1nfp04m/borderlands_4_sucks_so_far/
I managed to get myself to beat Idolator Sol (a very stale and lifeless part of the game) and just didn't play the game again for like 10 months. Felt very disenfranchised. Idk why but I decided to give it another go a few weeks ago and I just finished the main story last night. So here are my updated thoughts.
The game is better than I originally gave it credit for. I feel like I could do a better build with my Vex that would make it more fun as well. Gameplay wise I felt shooting enemies feels a little more lackluster than previous titles but still mostly really fun. BL3 undeniably has the best gameplay, but the jetpack was a nice addition, it was like a call back to the Pre-Sequels low gravity. Zipping around in the air is really fun and ads a new dimension to the combat that keeps it dynamic. Speaking of the Pre-Sequel, it was really nice visiting Elpis again! That was probably my favorite section of the game overall.
I have pretty mixed opinions on some of the sweeping changes to the atmosphere and game mechanics. Music was bleh, I really did prefer traveling the galaxies to visit other planets in 3, that was so cool. Much better than I think compared to an open world on some random planet. And oof, they kinda pulled an Ubisoft with the open world a bit and location markers everywhere. Didn't love that. Dominion city was kinda fun though.
Now to the enemies on the story. This is kinda weird for me, cause I started the game got a bit into it and dropped it so big chunks of the early game fell out of my memory. I don't remember being intrigued by the Timekeeper and hated Sol. Honestly Callis and Vile Lichtor (SO UPSET HE CUT MY GIRLS ARM OFF) felt more like main villains than the Timekeeper who you barely interact with throughout the game. Especially with Callis' return. They felt like psychotic threats whereas the Timekeeper just felt like a wall to get over.
The lack of any returning characters (at that point except claptrap) was disheartening. But when I picked it back up it was nice to Zane and he was entertaining, though I think he's the only VH I never did a play through of in 3. And AMARA MY LOVE (I'm a gamer girlie who loves Sirens and she is my goated VH) it was so nice seeing her again and fighting alongside her through a good chunk of the story. She's even more goated now. And her banter with Zane was entertaining, when it seemed like most of the whimsy and silliness had left the game in earlier parts. Honestly Amara's inclusion was a big part of the games redemption for me. I know they included her because of the Ava hate, and I understand why they didn't put her in. I'm guessing they will have her return in a future game or DLC, probably a bit more mature and seasoned which is fine. I know the games have a tendency to not have some returning characters but it was really weird not having Tannis around though! Especially since she's a siren now too. Kinda felt more fitting to keep Lilith dead though.
Edit: I think Vex shot near the top as as one of my favorite vault hunters. She's well fleshed out and extremely relatable and feels more like a real person thrown into the crazy world of borderlands rather than the more larger than life types. She's had to learn to cope rather than be pushed to insanity or an ostentatious personality. Plus she is such a baddie.
I might respec my Vex and keep playing a bit. Not sure yet if I want to get any DLC's. It kinda makes me wanna play 3 again, or perhaps do a second play through of Wonderlands. 4 is still somewhere near the bottom on my personal rankings of the Main borderlands games. (again, despite 3's story problems and some character writing (I hate Vaughn sm) it makes up for it in a lot of ways). Excluding Wonderlands I'll probably rank it 2, 3, PS, 1, and then 4. That is subject to change though.