We have rounded up some more reviews for inXile’s Kickstarter-funded post-apocalyptic sequel to Wasteland, which so far has elicited a generally positive respone from critics, though not without criticism concerning bugs, usability issues, and graphics.
Pixel Dynamo, 8.9/10.
Overall, Wasteland 2 has stayed true to its premise, and deserves a place alongside Divinity: Original Sin as one of the best cRPGs of its era. Immersive and intriguing, the game balances risk and reward; pushing the player to the limits of their inventory and capabilities time and time again; like only the best survival games can.
Those expecting Fallout 4 will be disappointed, although they only really have their own delusional misconceptions to blame. Wasteland 2 is a truly excellent top-down, turn-based tactical RPG, just like it promised to be. While it shares similarities in story-arc and decision making with the Fallout franchise, that is largely because, frankly, there’s only so much narrative you can force upon a post-apocalyptic survival title; much like comparing a FIFA game to Pro Evolution Soccer would lead you to believe they’re both about football. They are. Obviously.
So let us doff our caps to Fargo, inXile Entertainment and the 61,290 unique backers that wouldn’t accept no for an answer. 26 years of hurt have been well and truly laid to rest you got your game, and it did not disappoint.
GameInformer, 8.75/10.
The game is huge and offers strategy fans a substantial serving to devour. However, even with a handy quest log, not everything for critical progress is laid out in an understandable fashion. Even players familiar with the genre may find themselves wondering how to proceed at certain points after exhausting dialogue options.
Wasteland 2 feels like a perfect execution of what inExile hoped to accomplish with this Kickstarter-fueled project, not only an excellent retro nod to the computer RPGs of decades ago, but a great RPG of today. After a 26-year hiatus, this long-awaited sequel is a worthy successor to the CRPG throne.
Strategy Informer, 7.5/10.
However. There’s a level of roughness here that I couldn’t help but be a little disappointed by after such a long development time. For every smartly written sequence with vibrant locations and characters, there’s an aimless fetch quest or an overlong combat section. Oddly enough, despite the content added in Wasteland 2’s extra year of production, I think the game could have benefited from being cut down, edited to emphasise the best bits and get rid of some of the clutter. I like Wasteland 2, I really do, but I can’t help but think it’s not quite the masterpiece we were promised.
The Independent, 4/5.
Although perhaps a little rough around the edges graphically, Wasteland 2 manages to transcend the long wait and provides a challenge with admirable scope. Those who sunk countless hours into the first game will thank inExile for staying true to the blueprint rather than losing the feel of the game in an attempt to capitalise on the latest trends.
PC World, 4.5/5.
But those are such minor complaints. I’m almost annoyed putting them to paper because I’d feel awful on the off chance someone read them and decided to skip Wasteland 2.
Instead, I want to be the post-nuclear version of Uncle Sam to point, stare straight into your soul, and say “I want you for Desert Rangers.” Even with its flaws, Wasteland 2 is nothing short of outstanding.
Joystiq, 3/5.
Wasteland 2 is exactly the sort of game the industry should be making. It’s a clear labor of love featuring clever mechanics, novel design ideas and lovely, if sparse aesthetic design. Wasteland 2 is so packed with stuff to do and things to see that the game demands multiple plays, yet its story options are so intricate that replaying the plot never seems like a chore. But all of that is overshadowed by omnipresent bugs. Most often they’re benign and understandable, but when you’ve forgotten to save for two hours then attempt to travel back to the Ranger Citadel only to have the game crash and lose your progress, it’s hard to feel anything but rage. I hold out hope that InXile will be able to patch the game in rapid fashion, but until those bugs are squashed fans of the post-apocalypse are better off spending their time in New Vegas.
MMORPG.com, 8.2/10.
All in all, I’m very pleased with Wasteland 2 and I would highly recommend it to anyone who enjoyed the original. But for those who never played Wasteland 1, the appeal of this sequel may be a mystery. My advice for you is to pay the $5.99 for the original game on Steam and play it to the end. Know your roots, kids! And get off my lawn!
GameDebate, 6.5/10.
While inXile make a big point on the menu screen about not trying to squeeze players with DLC and other money-making ploys, Wasteland 2 is currently as full-price as it gets. But it feels like something you should be able to pick up for a fraction of the price. For the nostalgia buzz from playing through a bunch of vaguely familiar plot ideas set in a radiation-scoured wilderness, I would counsel waiting until the price drops a little before investing your time and money in this. Sorry Brian – see you in a quarter of a century for the next one.
The Register, 3.5/5.
Wasteland 2 isn’t as polished as Divinity Original Sin and there are a few small issues here and there. Making a sequel to such an old game should be fraught with pitfalls. Wasteland 2 manages to have spent people’s Kickstarter money well with tons of content for a contemporary audience.
The marketing budget for both these games combined doesn’t come close to that of many full retail releases but they feel way more invigorating and immersive than big budget games I’ve played lately. And so the tide turns for turn-based games. ®
A Kotaku writer describes his experience with the first 20 hours of the game (not a review proper, but still useful for people looking for impressions on the game):
I still don’t know if Wasteland 2’s heart beats as strongly in comparison. At face value, it can often end up looking like a cheaper version of Fallout more than a proper “successor.” But if Fallout has taught me anything, it’s that games like this take time to understand and explore before gamers can begin to truly appreciate and evaluate them. We need to let ourselves get lost in the wasteland. We need to puzzle through the game both alone and together online before we discover its greatest characters, its deepest quests, its weirdest surprises.
Or at least, that what I want to do going forward. Despite the many wrong turns I’ve already taken in Wasteland 2, I’m intrigued enough to keep picking away it at in my own bumbling way.
GamersFTW, 5/5.
I have no doubt that Wasteland 2 is going to become another classic alongside it’s forbears and provide gamers with hours upon hours of RPG entertainment. Fans of both isometric strategy and in depth RPG’s are going to love this game.
Armed Gamer, 4.5/5.
Having sunk over 40 hours into the pre-release and another 10 into the game today, I can safely say that Wasteland 2 is an instant classic. It’s been a great year for the old school CRPG so far, as I said in my Divinity: Original Sin review. Wasteland 2 proves that the trend will continue for the foreseeable future. It’s tough, madcap, expansive and occasionally frustrating, but it evokes all the feelings I had of my first playthrough through the nigh esoteric Fallout. Fallout, being a spiritual successor to Wasteland, was a good place for Fargo and company to look for inspiration, and I think that the combination of Wasteland’s style and lore with the top-down third person style makes for a great sequel. Considering the first came out before I was even in elementary school, this sequel has been a long time in the making, but damn it delivers. I experienced only a few minor bugs, and most of them I attribute to using an old pre-release save when they suggested that only new saves be used after release, so your mileage in that department may very. Wasteland’s deadly deserts and overrun agricultural facilities have drawn me in and left me wanting more, much like Fallout 1 and 2 did many years ago.
