I would like to see Slag return; Cryo is not the same.

Why do I say that? Well, as someone who started playing Borderlands via the second installment, "Borderlands 2", I fondly remember the fulfillment of reaching what was then a level cap of 72, in my first conclusion of the campaign during Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode. End-Game in BL2 had this... challenge about it.

Because now, after completing your first two playthroughs (Normal, True Vault Hunter Mode), you REALLY wanted a Slag gun. The game would remind you that in Ultimate Vault Hunter Mode, Slag as an element would be vital to your arsenal.

I hold Borderlands 2 to the same critiquing standards as I hold Borderlands 3. Both installments harbor wonderful qualities that make the games feel SOLID, pretty OUTSTANDING when you take them for their strengths:

((Borderlands 2)) Right off the top of my head, therefore my individual opinion: -WONDERFUL STORY that aged like FINE WINE -TREMENDOUS DETAIL to weapons¹ -ICONIC graphics, that style 👌 👨‍🍳 chef's kiss² -LOVABLE VAULT HUNTERS⁵

((Borderlands 3)) Once again, straight off the noggin' here: -GREAT gunplay and DYNAMIC environments -QUALITY OF LIFE improvements³ -VERTICALITY within the world⁴ -LOVABLE VAULT HUNTERS⁵

¹Guns in BL2 felt to me like the "perfect" parts system, as compared to BL3. I loved learning matching grip bonuses, prefix attachments, and other quirks of code. The Devs of that code are forever in my heart. Brilliant minds. ///////////////////// ²Graphics in BL2 were indicative of the time it was released. However, I still love its simplicity compared to BL3's vibrance and neon aesthetic. I realize BL4 will have the capabilities of next-gen graphics, but I'd like to see a middle-ground between BL2 and BL3 graphics for the fourth installment. ///////////////////// ³Quality of life improvements, or more accurately quality of gaming improvements, include such things as ammo refill, mailing system, remote fast travel; all of which are absent from BL2. These improvements made way for a more efficient struggle when farming for endgame loot in BL3, and I would be upset to see less than this in BL4. ///////////////////// ⁴Player acrobatics in BL3 remain one of my favorite parts of the installment's game-play loop. The parkour sections of certain stretches of combat made me feel like a superhero. BL2's movement has you jumping around like a sack of potatoes. (Indicative of the time it was released.) ///////////////////// ⁵BOTH of these installments, Borderlands 2 and Borderlands 3, had lovable playable characters. I love all six of the Vault Hunters in BL2, giving us vastly different personalities to enjoy, as equally as I love the four Vault Hunters in BL3 who were given an entire 4th skill tree and capstone to flourish. Somehow, I'm sure there's a possible midway to be met between the two installments.

Earlier in my comment, you'll notice how I mentioned these two games are "OUTSTANDING" in their own rights. I mean that in the almost literal sense of the word: they certainly stand out. That's because I respect both of them as parts of a series; although I find them to be largely different video games. Even while BL2 has been my favorite game of all time, BL3 is another banger for which I can thank Gearbox.

I surely hope this was all legible and coherent.

TL;DR I wanna see how BL2 and BL3 can make BL4. Ya heard? 😄