Borderlands 2 Preview

In case you're interested in reading more coverage about Gearbox Software's FPS/RPG sequel Borderlands 2, RPGSite is offering a hands-on preview, which includes some snippets on the Mechromancer DLC class. Here's a sampling:
Before the hands-on the team had one more thing to show us - the Mechromancer DLC class. Arriving within 60 days of the game's launch and free for those who pre-order, the unfinished class looks like an awesome addition to the cast.

She's essentially like a summoner or beast master in traditional RPG terms, except she summons a hulking, massive robot called Deathtrap.

Deathtrap floats ominously about the battlefield slapping, smashing and crushing enemies of his own free will, leaving the mechromancer free to shoot with her own weapons.

A great deal of her skills appear to be geared towards buffing up Deathtrap's offensive capabilities, but other skills shown involved adding ways for the mechromancer to protect herself from damage while her robot friend does the heavy lifting.

Her progression tree was clearly as unfinished as the rest of the character, unbalanced and missing icons and text - but what was there looked interesting.

One notable ability is titled 'Close Enough', and causes bullets to ricochet from walls and other areas to hit enemies. Firing a shotgun in the general direction of enemy from a distance proves surprisingly successful with this cool ability - one designed to make the character easy to play, as ill-thought out comments about a "girlfriend mode" a few weeks ago underlined. She looks like a very cool free bonus, so pre-ordering is definitely advised.