Its cool but its very hard to play by modern standards you have to force yourself through it.
This game is rough by modern standards, but this is where Fallout came from. Everything from the setting to the strange, sometimes terrible enemy designs screams 1980s. This was one of the first games where you could try going anywhere and testing what was possible. The remaster faithfully updates the visuals while leaving the 1988 gameplay intact. Fun time machine.
The rooftop window leveling exploit still works by the way.
The rooftop window leveling exploit still works by the way.
This review contains spoilers
Besides a few QoL enhancements, this is still the same obtuse game it was in 1988. I sadly can't recommend it to anyone with modern gaming sensibilities.
It was given a facelift and everything has been faithfully recreated – sadly, this includes the numerous dead ends you'll find because you didn't have a specific skill or lost a key item.
How anyone is supposed to know what skills to bring into the mind maze, know how essential disposable rockets would be, have the necessary IQ for cyborg tech, get by without knowing the window experience trick, or be fortunate enough to carry a plasma coupler on the final floor of the final dungeon is simply beyond me.
This wasn't made to help Wasteland reach new audiences, it's just there for the people who already liked it... and that begs the question of why this remaster exists at all.
It was given a facelift and everything has been faithfully recreated – sadly, this includes the numerous dead ends you'll find because you didn't have a specific skill or lost a key item.
How anyone is supposed to know what skills to bring into the mind maze, know how essential disposable rockets would be, have the necessary IQ for cyborg tech, get by without knowing the window experience trick, or be fortunate enough to carry a plasma coupler on the final floor of the final dungeon is simply beyond me.
This wasn't made to help Wasteland reach new audiences, it's just there for the people who already liked it... and that begs the question of why this remaster exists at all.
The game has an interesting enough story, but the gameplay feels uninteresting and feels very repetitive after a few encounters. Then random encounters happen so often it gets annoying and slow you down and don't help or hurt you, so often times you're left wondering what was the point of that fight and slows the story down.
On top of all this, achievements didn't even work, and since receiving achievements sometimes helps a game feel worth it through what feels like an endless grind, it hurt the game having the achievements not work. Also the lack of NPC interactions leaves a lot to be desired, since interreacting with NPCs can be a ton of fun, while in this game there's not really much to do with any NPC.
On top of all this, achievements didn't even work, and since receiving achievements sometimes helps a game feel worth it through what feels like an endless grind, it hurt the game having the achievements not work. Also the lack of NPC interactions leaves a lot to be desired, since interreacting with NPCs can be a ton of fun, while in this game there's not really much to do with any NPC.
As a fan of older and messier crpgs, I still can't recommend Wasteland. The skills are endless with no indication as to what is needed, combat is not only slow, but also hard to visualize, and while I know the story picks up, it is honestly just not fun enough to continue to that point. Gets points for upgraded visuals that retain the original style while looking better, and call forwards with some of the character portraits, but unless you're really invested in it, have fond memories, or really feel like punishing yourself, just skip it.
If you want to get into the series, the second game explains everything that happens in 1 and the third game doesn't really have much to do with the events of 1 at all.
If you want to get into the series, the second game explains everything that happens in 1 and the third game doesn't really have much to do with the events of 1 at all.
I wanted to give this a fair shot, but this game is just so old and dated for me that I can't personally get into it. I'm sure it's great for those that grew up with it, and I'm thankful for it existing.
Just not for me at all.
Just not for me at all.
This has some really cool looking environments and yet it also has some of the ugliest character portraits of all time. Also, brave but stupid choice to not change the gameplay or UI in any way for a remaster of a goddam MS-dos game. Combat is hard to visualise, mission objectives are simple yet but to hard to know how to complete without using a guide and the UI is unnecessarily complicated.
Even though this has been remastered, this game really shows it's age.
Combat is neither fun or engaging
No matter what I typed when talking to Bobby, he wouldn't understand so that put me off.
The UI is very poor
I would avoid this game, but at least it is another game off my backlog
Combat is neither fun or engaging
No matter what I typed when talking to Bobby, he wouldn't understand so that put me off.
The UI is very poor
I would avoid this game, but at least it is another game off my backlog
Yet another reminder that what I really like about about games is how they look and sound and feel. I know that sounds daft, but this game looks and sounds and feels like nothing. Flat, empty, nothing. There is simply nothing to care about here.