Source: Love Mac | Software download link: Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel
Borderlands: The Pre-Sequel is a first-person shooter action role-playing game developed by Gearbox Software, with its story set between Borderlands 1 and Borderlands 2. The Mac version is provided through a specific platform and is perfectly adapted for the macOS system. This guide will walk you through the game’s core interface, the complete control flow, advanced tips, and solutions to common issues, helping you explore the moon of Pandora with ease.
I. Detailed Overview of the Core Interface and Workspace
The game interface continues the series’ classic cel-shaded art style, with an intuitive information layout. It is mainly divided into the following areas:
- Main Game View Area: Located in the center of the screen, displaying the 3D game world, character models, weapon effects, and environment. The jump trajectory in the low-gravity environment is a distinctive visual element of this title.
- Heads-Up Display (HUD): Surrounds the main view area.
- Health and Shield Bar: In the lower-left corner of the screen; green represents health, and blue represents shield value.
- Oxygen/Air Gauge: Located at the bottom center of the screen. On the lunar surface, you need to keep an eye on this value; when it runs out, you will continuously lose health.
- Weapon and Ammo Info: Located in the bottom-right corner of the screen, displaying the currently equipped weapon, magazine capacity, and total ammunition.
- Minimap and Quest Indicators: Located in the top-right corner of the screen, displaying surrounding terrain, enemy positions (red dots), and the direction of the current quest objective.
Tab key (default) to bring it up.
- Backpack: Manage equipment such as weapons, shields, class mods, oxygen kits, and artifacts.
- Skill Tree: Allocate skill points, unlock and upgrade the character’s active skills and passive bonuses.
- Quest Log: View current quests, completed quests, and challenge objective details.
- Map: View the detailed layout of the entire region.
- Badass Rank: View permanent stat bonuses earned by completing challenges.
II. Complete Walkthrough: From Launching to Exporting a Character
Launch the game via the launcher or the application. After entering the main menu, the options include:
- “New Game”: Create a new character by choosing one of four selectable characters (Athena, Wilhelm, Claptrap, Nisha).
- “Continue Game”: Load the most recent single-player save file.
- “Select Character”: Manage all created character saves, load or delete them.
- “Settings”: Adjust graphics, audio, controls, and gameplay options.
- Click “New Game”.
- Choose one of the four characters and review their active skill descriptions (e.g., Athena’s “Aegis of the War Goddess”).
- Name your character (optional).
- Select the game mode: “Normal Mode” or “True Vault Hunter Mode” (high-difficulty second playthrough).
- Confirm, and the game will begin playing the opening cinematic.
- Movement: Use the
WASDkeys to move forward, backward, left, and right. - Camera Control: Move the mouse to control the camera direction.
- Jump: Press the
Spacebar. In low-gravity areas, jump height and distance increase significantly; hold to perform a charged jump. - Crouch/Slide: Press the
Ckey. Crouching on slopes allows you to slide quickly. - Interact/Pick Up: When you approach an interactable object or item, a prompt appears in the center of the screen. Press the
Ekey to perform the action. - Shoot: Left mouse button.
- Aim (ADS): Right mouse button.
- Reload: Press the
Rkey. - Melee Attack: Press the
Qkey. - Use Active Skill: Press the
Fkey.
- Press the
Tabkey to open the main menu. - Use the mouse to click or the
WASDkeys to switch between different tabs. - Equip Weapons: Go to the “Backpack,” hover the mouse over a weapon slot (slots 1-4), and click the weapon you want to equip from the item list below.
- Use Items: In the item bar, right-click medkits, grenade mods, and other consumables to use them directly.
- Allocate Skill Points: You earn skill points when you level up. Go to the “Skill Tree” page and click the skill icon you want to unlock or upgrade. Press the
Kkey to quickly open the skill tree. - Track Quests: In the “Quest Log,” select a quest and click “Track.” The objective marker will then appear on the minimap and in the game world.
The lunar environment is a core game mechanic:
- Oxygen Management: The blue bar at the bottom of the screen is the oxygen meter. It continuously depletes in vacuum areas. You need to find oxygen refill stations or kill enemies to make them drop oxygen canisters (press the
Ekey to absorb). - Gravity Effects: Low gravity allows for higher and longer jumps. Use this to reach hidden areas or evade enemies.
- Slam Attack: Press the
Ckey when falling from a height to deal area damage to enemies below.
The game uses an auto-save mechanic. It automatically saves when you complete important missions, enter new areas, or fast travel. A gear icon will appear in the bottom right corner of the screen as an indicator.
To exit manually:
- Press the
Tabkey to open the menu. - Select “Return to Main Menu”, and the system will save your current progress.
- Select “Exit Game” from the main menu.
Tip: Character data (equipment, level, mission progress) is always saved locally; there is no need to “export” it. In online games, the host’s progress serves as the save data.
III. Advanced Tips for Common Features
- Quick Weapon Switching: Use the mouse scroll wheel or press the number keys
1–4to directly switch to the weapon in the corresponding weapon slot. - Quickly Selling Junk: In the shop’s sell interface, hold the
Commandkey and click on items to quickly mark them as “junk,” after which you can sell all marked items with one click. - Elemental Damage Targeting: Pay attention to the color of enemy health bars. Use electric damage against blue shields, fire damage against red health bars, and corrosive damage against yellow armor for the best effect.
- Oxygen Tank Explosions: Precisely shoot enemies in the head or their oxygen tanks (if any) to trigger an explosion, dealing extra damage to them and nearby enemies.
- Low-Gravity Sniping: Under low gravity, sniper rifle bullet drop is less noticeable, making it more suitable for long-range attacks.
IV. Common Problems and Solutions
Problem 1: The game crashes on startup or won’t open
Solution: Make sure your macOS system has been updated to the minimum version required by the game. Check whether the launcher or game is the latest version. Try allowing the game to run in “System Settings” > “Privacy & Security.”
Problem 2: Low frame rate or stuttering during gameplay
Solution: In the game, go to “Settings” > “Graphics” and lower the resolution, disable vertical sync, and reduce texture quality, shadows, and physics effects. Make sure no other large applications are running in the background.
Issue 3: Unable to pick up quest items or quest progress is stuck
Solution: Try completely quitting the game and reloading your save. If the problem persists, abandon the current quest and accept it again (some quests support this). Check whether all enemies in the quest area have been cleared.
Issue 4: High latency or unable to connect in multiplayer
Solution: Make sure all players have a stable network environment, and try having the player with the lowest latency act as host. Check the macOS firewall settings to ensure the game is allowed through. Use a wired network connection to improve stability.
Issue 5: Key presses not responding or mixed up
Solution: Go to the game’s “Settings” > “Controls” and check whether the key bindings are correct. Make sure no external devices (such as game controllers) are interfering with keyboard input. Try restoring the control settings to their defaults.
V. Summary of Mac Shortcuts
| Function | Shortcut | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Move forward | W |
|
| Move left | A |
|
| Move backward | S |
|
| Move right | D |
|
| Jump | Space |
Hold to charge |
| Crouch/Slide | C |
|
| Interact/Pick up | E |
|
| Shoot | Left mouse button | |
| Aim (ADS) | Right mouse button | |
| Melee attack | Q |
|
| Use active skill | F |
|
| Reload | R |
|
| Open main menu | Tab |
|
| Quickly open skill tree | K |
|
| Switch weapon 1-4 | 1, 2, 3, 4 |
|
| Use medkit | Z |
Or use from inventory |
| Throw grenade | G |
|
| Quest objective hint | T |
Shows the direction of the current quest |
| Map marker | V |
Used on the map screen |
| Quick sell (mark as junk) | Command + click |
Shop screen |
| Show player nameplate | Left Alt |
View player/enemy info |
Note: The above shortcuts are the game’s default settings. Players can customize them according to their personal preferences in “Settings” > “Controls”.
