We have rounded up another batch of reviews for inXile’s sequel to the 1988 original post-apocalyptic RPG Wasteland, which we hope will help you get an idea of the title’s strengths and weaknesses.
Toronto Sun, 4/5.
It’s clear from the critical mass of backers that this style of adventure left a lasting impact on the previous generation of gamers, and now that Wasteland 2 has delivered on its promise, this underserved genre seems poised to capture the imaginations of a new generation.
GamesTM, 9/10.
It’s a fantastic game; an echo of the past that simultaneously feels (in the most part) contemporary, and a game made with such a clear love, passion and vision behind it that you can’t help but feel its 26-year gestation period actually helped. If we only get one or two more Kickstarter-funded games of a similar quality to Wasteland 2, we’ll be spoilt.
Brilliant stuff.
Nerd Reactor, 4/5.
All in all, Wasteland 2 is great for what it is. It’s got a solid storyline, fun combat, character creation (my favorite), and dialogue. Even though there are small things here and that would irk some people, I feel this game is pretty solid as a tactical RPG. I highly recommend people picking it up!
Entertainment Buddha, 85/100.
Wasteland 2 is good fun but has some strange design choices that stop it from being a truly fantastic RPG, make no mistake; it is a great game with a great aesthetic and clever story but some of its systems feel as though they are under-utilized or poorly implemented to enhance the experience. Some of them such as the weapon jam trouble might be patched out in the future but other things are never going away.
Niche Gamer, 9.8/10.
That thankfully isn’t the case, since in this gamer’s opinion, Wasteland 2 is a much bigger and more varied CRPG than either of those two titles. Fargo & company should be proud of what they have here, and I sincerely hope that the market allows them to make a Wasteland 3.
.and hopefully next time inXile won’t need to crowd fund to get it done.
Gaming Shogun, 4/5.
Wasteland 2 is proof that a Kickstarter funded game can be great. What inXile Entertainment did with the nearly $3 million in funds from Kickstarter is nothing but incredible and proof that a solid, fun gaming experience does not need a movie sized budget. The story of Wasteland 2 is well developed and paced very nicely, with sections of absolute chaos and quiet parceled out to make the ride enjoyable. Game play is solid and gives the player a multitude of options in and out of combat, which is absolutely necessary at the higher difficulty levels of the game. The look and feel of Wasteland 2 adds to my enjoyment of the game by giving me a world that looks both lived in, and full of characters, places, and secrets to discover. If you liked Fallout 1 and 2, but never had the chance to play the game that made Fallout possible, I would strongly recommend picking up Wasteland 2. Wasteland 2 is currently available on Steam for $39.99. You can also pick up the original Wasteland while you are there for $4.99 and loose yourself for a long, long time in a couple of great role playing games.
AusGamers, 8.7/10.
If you can navigate the minefield of inconsistent tooltips and ugly character models, Wasteland 2 provides an old-school experience with new-school tweaks. It’s set in a dark world full of bad people, and you get to do your very best to make it a little brighter. And then you’re forced to realise that no matter how hard you try, you can’t save everyone. It’s a wonderfully old-school RPG, something fans of a bygone era can use to scratch that nostalgic itch and new gamers can use to acquaint themselves with how things once were.
Hooked Gamers, 8.5/10.
They don’t (make ‘˜m) like Wasteland 2 anymore, and I honestly do not understand why. Never have. I loved Fallout 3, but thought it was a completely different game from its predecessors. More of a spinoff, like Heroes of Might & Magic from Might & Magic. Nothing wrong with a spinoff, but the notion that some genres are too old-fashioned to be worth making has never struck a chord with me. Wasteland 2 proves that point magnificently. The game draws you in deeper with every new area that you explore. Even when you don’t take the time to read its extensive dialogue, the struggle to survive on the barren wasteland and the sometimes nail biting battles in which each bullet counts will make you want to devour this game from start to end.
If you weren’t around when they made (Wasteland’s) by the dozen but have heard sage (translate: slightly older, perhaps balding) gamers like myself speak about them with reverence bordering on religion, then play Wasteland 2 and you will understand why.
CHUD, 4/5.
However, it has to be kept in mind that we’re talking about a contemporary perspective here, one used to games so keen to imitate the narrative traits of cinema that visceral impact often trumps mechanics, and one has to consider how much Wasteland 2’˜s occasional clunkiness should be held against it when that’s exactly what was sold to us from the Kickstarter’s inception. This really is a bona-fide 90s isometric RPG, the kind some gamers seem unable to forgive Bethesda for not making, with little to no concessions made for the modern audience. In those terms it’s as much a rousing reminder of what this style of RPG still has an offer, while also highlighting why the genre evolved in some of the ways it did. Wasteland 2 is an easy game to like, not just for its strong writing but also for how damned inspirational it is to see some of the masters of the early years of the medium come back and prove the suits wrong (See also: Elite). Just be ready to meet it halfway now and then.
ActionTrip, 6.7/10.
Wasteland 2 has familiar trappings of past great games. It may be salvaged by future content and updates, albeit we fear that this may require the kind of budget and commitment inXile may not be able to follow-up on. In fact, it almost seems like the developer’s budget was pretty tight at the end, which is could be the reason why it’s clearly so unpolished.
It still has great potential. Judging from our experience though, it seems that a lot of that potential has been wasted and a great bulk of the game crumbles under the weight of technical issues, which are all packed into a visually outdated game. High quality visuals can be substituted in favor of complex gameplay and fine storytelling. While the atmosphere can be great from time to time, on the whole, we just missed the post-apocalyptic sci-fi flavored ambience that’s heavily incorporated into games like Fallout.
XTGN, 81%.
These slight flaws aside, Wasteland 2 is an excellent experience, but perhaps an acquired taste for some. The game offers a deep, complex world full of morally ambiguous choices, that will later show their repercussions in some shape or form, be it good or ill. Its these choices which will define your experience with the game and this wealth of options available to you provides limitless replayability. Combat and exploration is entertaining and addictive but the table-top, dice roll nature of the game may be too old school for some. All of this is set against a rich and intriguing backdrop, a world torn asunder by nuclear war where the survivors cling to abstract notions of civilized society, desperately seeking protection from the savages which rule the remnants of the old world. inXile isn’t afraid to tackle the darkest recesses of human nature, and where Fallout may portray post nuclear disaster in a comical light, Wasteland pursues a more serious tone, highlighting the brutal nature of humanity on the brink of extinction.
Zed Games, scoreless.
There’s still half a very enjoyable game here, and if you’re enough of a fan of the genre to have already played the other recent oldschool revival RPGs you’ll want this next, but I can’t help but feel if we were still in 1997 a game like Wasteland 2 wouldn’t be quite such a big deal.
Frugal Gaming, 7/10.
It’s a shame that the Wasteland 2 comes so hot on the heels of Divinity: Original Sin, a game which really raised the bar when it comes to what can be achieved in the medium of computer role-playing games. However, when Wasteland grabs hold of you with its story, everything else fades into the background and you’ll be glad that you took the time to explore its desolate regions.
GotGame, 4.5/5.
All in all, I think Wasteland 2 does a good job preserving the harsh, lewd, and often funny post-apocalyptic RPG genre. This game’s minor shortcomings are easily outweighed by its strengths and I would recommend it to any fans of the genre.
GamePlanet, 8.0/10.
It’s really the story and atmosphere we’re here for though, and here Wasteland 2 shines with a number of memorable encounters and characters, and in the way that all those choices start adding up. The game is huge this reviewer is still some way from the end and the paths not taken first time around are clearly waiting for repeat playthroughs. Saving humanity is a big job, but someone’s got to do it top up that canteen and get out there, Ranger.
Game Central rolls the review with an interview in a single article, 9/10.
With a single play through estimated at 70 hours, and more scope for second, third and even fourth run throughs than any other game out there, Wasteland 2 is about as big a game as we’ve seen in recent years. Mixing up truly genre defining customisation, a superb and challenging combat system, as well as an open ended narrative that puts you in complete control of your own story, Wasteland 2 is an absolute must play for all you RPG fans out there.
Cliqist, scoreless.
Although there wasn’t any doubt, I can now attest that inXile followed through with their Kickstarter promises. Recently, while browsing my obnoxiously large Steam library (I suspect my games are mating while I’m away, thus the ever-expanding list), I noticed a copy of The Bard’s Tale. Pleasantly surprised, as I didn’t remember purchasing the game, I assumed it must have hopped into my cart during the last Steam holiday sale. Then I saw the original Wasteland, and sure enough a quick Google search revealed that I’d received both titles free with my Digital Deluxe Edition. Thanks, inXile. Wasteland 2 feels much refreshed, and is sure to offer hours of entertainment, meaning it’s certainly no waste of time.
Redcoat Reviews, scoreless.
Unpleasantness with bugs aside, is Wasteland 2 a good game? Yeah, it’s pretty great. The gameplay is engaging and the story is fantastic. The major bugs, while frustrating, aren’t that common so provided you’re disciplined and save often and to multiple save files they shouldn’t cause you much more than a passing annoyance. Plus I’m hopeful that they’ll be corrected through patches soon. If you’re nostalgic for the classic RPG days of Fallout and Baldur’s Gate you’ll be immediately taken by this game, though its text heavy styling and rather simple graphics engine may limit its appeal to a wider audience.
True Geek Radio, scoreless.
At the end of the day Wasteland 2 is an engaging CRPG that hearkens back to the good old days of gaming. But because of that your enjoyment of the game will be based on a few factors. Are you a fan of RPG’s that take a more spreadsheet approach to stats and gameplay? Are you willing to play a game that refuses to hold your hand, often tossing you in the fray like a parent not wanting to be bothered to watch their child? How much do you hate bugs and glitches? As for me, call me a masochist. Because despite it all.I just.can’t..stop playing.
N3rdabl3, 4.5/5.
It might not look as pretty as your this-gen graphical wonders but it delivers what matters most in a world of shiny, faceless games. Gameplay in spades.
Oh, don’t forget to pick up the spade, you’ll need it.
GameFront, 88/100.
These minor complaints aside, Wasteland 2 is a deep and addictive experience that will grab and hold you hard for its duration. Is it for everyone? Probably not. It has a decidedly old-school foundations that could be a put-off for new and younger gamers raised on modern day Fallouts and Skyrims. That said, for its target audience and for gamers looking for a deep and lengthy role-playing experience that steps well outside the current norm, Wasteland 2 is a near-perfect product that’s guaranteed to entertain and more than worth a purchase on Steam or at GOG.
MMGN Australia, 8.5/10.
To say this game will have you thinking of Fallout constantly is an understatement. This is for obvious reasons. However, it’s not this game’s connections to the Fallout series that makes it a great purchase Wasteland 2 simply performs exceptionally well. No element of the game is perfect, but tactical turn-based battles combine seamlessly with the exploration and discovery needed in any good RPG game to create an experience that is both rewarding and fun. Almost everything in the game is implemented to a high standard the stringent policies behind this game’s development window have clearly paid off. Thus, I end with this: after twenty six years, Wasteland 2 was definitely worth the wait.
Game Industry News, 4.5/5.
Wasteland 2 does what many sequels fail to accomplish. It remains stunningly true to its predecessor, expands on the ideas and the game world without breaking any canon, and improves on the original in quite a few ways. It’s an amazing game as a standalone title, but even better if you were lucky enough to play the first one. The boxed version of the game and the Steam downloadable one also contain the original Wasteland if you want to go through its four color world again, or experience a true classic for the first time. Wasteland 2 has been far too long in the making, but the final product delivered more than this hardcore fan’s wildest expectations. I’m pretty sure it will impress you as well.
GameCloud, 8.5/10.
The design is otherwise fantastic, with only a few minor issues, and has me enthralled despite being a genre I’m not normally interested in. I’ve put so much time into Wasteland 2 not because I had to for the review I probably could have finished this article days ago. I’ve racked up so many hours because I couldn’t pull myself away from this game. Even writing about it here just made me want to go back and play it. Which I would, and every time I would be playing for hours, to the detriment of this article, work, I think I had, like, a cat somewhere. But, that’s okay because I can deal with it later, I’ll just.. I can play awhile longer.. A couple of hours. Excuse me.
We Are The Nerdy, 8/10.
Though it sometimes falters on a mechanical level, Wasteland 2 more than makes up for it with a compelling setting, rock-solid plot, and seemingly boundless player freedom. For those who fondly remember the classic RPGs of old, it’s an absolute must-have game, a reminder of what made them stand tall. For those who never had the opportunity or weren’t interested, now’s your chance to see what you missed.
God Is A Geek, 8/10.
Wasteland 2 is a warm return to the RPGs of yesteryear. To quests that take hours to complete, to traps in every corridor, to desperate item foraging in light of dwindling ammo supplies. It’s not a classic of its genre, but it is ultimately a beacon of hope for a certain style of RPG the video game pen and paper style that many thought had been lost in more recent years.
Mind of the Geek, 4.3/5.
Wasteland 2 is fun and definitely worth the price of admission. There is easily over 100 hours of content in the game and if you play RPGs like I do, that’s over 100 hours per character playthrough.
Tech-Gaming, 88%.
With its brilliant writing, characters, an engaging world and a tough-as-nails strategic combat, Wasteland 2 is everything it set out to be; a love letter to old-school computer RPG gamers and a perfect introduction of the genre to newcomers.
411mania, 7.7/10.
Wasteland 2 is a deliberately classical RPG which is what made PC gaming special in the good old days. But you know what? It works. And this style of game is clearly coming back into vogue with the success of its Kickstarter, and with the success of Torment and Pillars of Eternity. Wasteland 2 does have some rough edges around it, especially with regards to the UI, but the game is still fun to play, even if it is a challenging game.
Skullbanger, 4/5.
Wasteland 2 offers a fantastic, fun and great story filled RPG for fans of old school PC gaming but also for those who are of newer gaming generations. The game can seem slow paced to newer gamers as many gamers of today are used to RPG’s being watered down a lot in favor of making them feel streamlined and ‘˜fast’. But I encourage you to give Wasteland 2 a try as the game is very deep and has a lot of content for those who really enjoy putting time into their games.
Finally, YouTuber “SuperBunnyHop” has an interesting critique of the title:
