Wasteland 2

 PC
User Score
7.2

Mixed or average reviews- based on 1217 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 786 out of 1217
  2. Mixed: 209 out of 1217
  3. Negative: 222 out of 1217
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  1. 1nsider
    Jan 28, 2015
    9
    Intelligent game-play, great story, aggressive combat system, proper music. This is hardcore. Not a Fallout sequel due to a number of design differences (a big party of 7 characters, each with unique traits, for one), another game that is. Minor downturns such as weapon illustrations, lack of armor rendered on character & perhaps questionable use of 'trinkets' as skill boosters. But minorIntelligent game-play, great story, aggressive combat system, proper music. This is hardcore. Not a Fallout sequel due to a number of design differences (a big party of 7 characters, each with unique traits, for one), another game that is. Minor downturns such as weapon illustrations, lack of armor rendered on character & perhaps questionable use of 'trinkets' as skill boosters. But minor those are. This is essentially 21st century RPG masterpiece, more please.… Expand
  2. postulio
    Sep 22, 2014
    9
    This is the CRPG I was waiting on someone to make for about 20 years. Ever since I played Fallout 2, I was in love with the concept of a brutal, non-kiddie RPG set in a cruel and unjust world. No dragons, no kindly kings and no prophecy that a young boy will grow up to save the world: this is a game based on what happen when a world destroys itself and goes to hell, but people are still inThis is the CRPG I was waiting on someone to make for about 20 years. Ever since I played Fallout 2, I was in love with the concept of a brutal, non-kiddie RPG set in a cruel and unjust world. No dragons, no kindly kings and no prophecy that a young boy will grow up to save the world: this is a game based on what happen when a world destroys itself and goes to hell, but people are still in it. Gritty, suspenseful, touching and at time hilarious, most of my weekend was absolutely ruined because I wouldn't get up from playing Wasteland 2.

    Sure there are a few bugs here and there (what game doesnt?), but nothing that took away from my absolute joy of playing.

    I am very optimistic about the future of CRPGs now that Kickstarter along with InXile and Hairbrained Schemes proved it can be done!    … Expand
  3. darkwolf79
    Sep 22, 2014
    9
    I have to be honest, at first, I wasn't sure if I like it.
    After spending some hours with it though I think it's great and definitely lives up to its namesake and similar games like the Fallout series (1 and 2, let's ignore anything that came thereafter because it was a departure from this type of game)
    The Plot: It's pretty much what you would expect from your post apocalyptic story    I have to be honest, at first, I wasn't sure if I like it.
    After spending some hours with it though I think it's great and definitely lives up to its namesake and similar games like the Fallout series (1 and 2, let's ignore anything that came thereafter because it was a departure from this type of game)

    The Plot:
    It's pretty much what you would expect from your post apocalyptic story line. The characters are a healthy mix of serious and fun, pretty much what I would have expected. The world is believable and yet never overly serious. It's enjoyable and frames the action and core game play well.

    The core experience:
    I started playing on Ranger Difficulty. At first, I was shocked at how hard it seemed to be. I was constantly scrimping for ammo and trying not to get blown to bits. But well, I didn't give up. Instead, I re-adjusted my strategy. It worked. I can't say I am swimming in ammo but as long as you're not going gung ho on everything and everyone you meet and always do a "risk assessment" you will do just fine. (It's worth re-visiting areas to clean out safes as well!)
    I think the game is hard but most definitely fair.

    The tech:
    I helped kick-start the game but never touched it until it's final release. Perhaps that's the reason for some of the more negative reviews? Hard to say...
    Being a game dev myself I've come to the point where I rather wait until something is done so I can enjoy the final experience.
    I've spend 14 hours playing so far and the game has been extremely stable. Not a single crash or technical issue, so I'm most happy from that perspective.
    Graphics and Audio design are great. They're not high end but they absolutely do the job. I very much love the visual aspect of the game. Audio design also works very well. The only thing that ever freaked me out a bit are the goats. But then, that's intended... Right?

    Overall:
    I think it's a very well executed game. I enjoy the encounters, they force you to work on your strategy and think before you shoot. It doesn't need a lot of the modern baggage but instead concentrates on the core game play instead. I like that. Back to the roots and such...

    I love finding those little references to it's great predecessors everywhere as well.

    So yes. Definitely a good game. It's been way too long since I've had the chance to play a game like this. The only other recent contender worth mentioning would be Halfway. An excellent little gem as well.    … Expand
  4. Infaereld
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Originally coming from an Amiga and console background, I was a bit of a late bloomer with PC gaming so never played the original Wasteland and Fallout series. However, being a massive fan of Fallout 3/NV, I thought I'd give this one a whirl.

    This game has been very well made. Although still a tough buggy at times, the story, combat, character customisation, game world, loot etc are all    Originally coming from an Amiga and console background, I was a bit of a late bloomer with PC gaming so never played the original Wasteland and Fallout series. However, being a massive fan of Fallout 3/NV, I thought I'd give this one a whirl.

    This game has been very well made. Although still a tough buggy at times, the story, combat, character customisation, game world, loot etc are all top-notch.

    I can tell a lot of thought and talent has gone into this title and it shows.

    Here's hoping for a WL3!    … Expand
  5. Bagraman
    Sep 19, 2014
    9
    Finally a true post-apocalyptic game here. Yes there are bugs, but hopefully they patch it quickly. I played Alpha to release now, and I highly recommend the game. it’s worth your attention
  6. Zuronas
    Mar 9, 2015
    9
    Wasteland 2 is a retro role-playing game experience, and that won't be to every RPG gamer's taste. I personally love it. You can write your own character bios and make a party that is truly unique. One negative review here mentions this as a drawback, that the characters you create have no real backstories and therefore are not memorable. Well I created four very unique characters withWasteland 2 is a retro role-playing game experience, and that won't be to every RPG gamer's taste. I personally love it. You can write your own character bios and make a party that is truly unique. One negative review here mentions this as a drawback, that the characters you create have no real backstories and therefore are not memorable. Well I created four very unique characters with awesome backstories that I wrote myself. Combine this with the option of importing custom portraits, and you have the tools needed to create some very cool post-apocalyptic badasses who will be memorable with a little creativity and imagination.

    Another aspect of Wasteland 2 that's cool and retro is the text descriptions of places you visit. Most games are satisfied with just visually revealing a new area for you to explore. Wasteland 2 also adds a paragraph or two of well written text descriptions that definitely add to the world immersion. Sure you can graphically see how a mysterious cave entrance looks when you encounter it, but to also read about the smell of stale air and the foreboding sense of dread it gives you just adds so much detail to an already interesting world.

    So that's just a couple of things that Wasteland 2 does that makes it so great and so retro. Newer gamers will no doubt find this game tedious and slow. Older gamers will find it refreshing. It's as simple as that. And please people, stop rating a game on how poorly it runs on your system. It's usually not the developer's fault, or at least it has nothing to do with the actual quality of the game. If it doesn't work on your system and you can't play it, then how can you rate it (I'm looking at you Chowda)?!? Of course it's frustrating to purchase software that you can't immediately play, but technical issues don't equate to a bad game.    … Expand
  7. Piolvs
    Mar 24, 2015
    9
    Great writing, decent visuals and sound. The character advancement and tactical combat systems are a bit shallow but nice nonetheless. Recommended for the veteran RPG player.
  8. Pablosdog
    Sep 19, 2014
    9
    Wasteland 2 has the dna of it's ancestor Wasteland 1. It pulls no punches, and it promises nothing else but delivering an old-school rpg(which to me is a real rpg but nonetheless) set in a dark and unforgiving universe. Minor bug aside,the game delivers on amazing content. That RwMW guy has no idea what he's taking about,and if you go in expecting a game like fallout 3, well, there's someWasteland 2 has the dna of it's ancestor Wasteland 1. It pulls no punches, and it promises nothing else but delivering an old-school rpg(which to me is a real rpg but nonetheless) set in a dark and unforgiving universe. Minor bug aside,the game delivers on amazing content. That RwMW guy has no idea what he's taking about,and if you go in expecting a game like fallout 3, well, there's some really awesome land I want to sell you.… Expand
  9. Oddzball
    Sep 19, 2014
    9
    Good game. I backed this early on, and then left it the hell alone until they were pretty much done with it. I find the gameplay and combat to be solid with good options and tactics. The game is a bit slow to start, and the story takes a bit of time to ramp up, but once it does, it definitely gets exciting.

    I would say the game is comparable to something like the new XCOM games, or    Good game. I backed this early on, and then left it the hell alone until they were pretty much done with it. I find the gameplay and combat to be solid with good options and tactics. The game is a bit slow to start, and the story takes a bit of time to ramp up, but once it does, it definitely gets exciting.

    I would say the game is comparable to something like the new XCOM games, or Fallout Tactics. So if you like those sorts of games, this is for you. LOT of options for character creation, and huge replay value as a lot of what you do can significant alter the plot of the game later on.

    I gave it a 9/10 for really only one reason. The character model graphics are awful. I mean really... really awful... I just don't understand why they couldn't have put a bit more effort into them. But then again, Gameplay>Graphics so, enjoy. Maybe someone will come out with a mod that makes the character models not suck.    … Expand
  10. rolandlaw
    Sep 20, 2014
    9
    Big step forward for CRPGs. Very difficult, but not frustratingly so. Once you get into the swing of it, switching between different party members and effectively using their skills is simple and fluid. The combat is fun and flows well, the cover system is very unobtrusive and intuitive, though sometimes game logic trumps actual logic (aka. missing with a shotgun from point blank rangeBig step forward for CRPGs. Very difficult, but not frustratingly so. Once you get into the swing of it, switching between different party members and effectively using their skills is simple and fluid. The combat is fun and flows well, the cover system is very unobtrusive and intuitive, though sometimes game logic trumps actual logic (aka. missing with a shotgun from point blank range because of low skill.)

    So far the writing and voice acting has been fantastic, and the way dialog is handled in general is very unique and impressive. The keyword system adds a new dynamic to the game that rewards you for paying attention.    … Expand
  11. Timberwolf
    Sep 30, 2014
    9
    Combat is fun and engaging, the skill system is interesting and works well. The game is exceptionally well written and doesn't belittle its audience, as most games these days tend to. Only down side is that the graphics aren't the best when compared to other titles.

    Overall, Excellent game!
  12. Nightshade780
    Sep 23, 2014
    9
    Pure Awesomeness!! So I was very hesitant at first to get into this, and like most of you searched every where and read reviews and watched game play videos well let me not waste your time. If you liked x-com enemy unknown then you will love this. I am giving it a 9 because there are no jet packs or hooks to be able to place your snipers on high ground. So far at the time of writing thisPure Awesomeness!! So I was very hesitant at first to get into this, and like most of you searched every where and read reviews and watched game play videos well let me not waste your time. If you liked x-com enemy unknown then you will love this. I am giving it a 9 because there are no jet packs or hooks to be able to place your snipers on high ground. So far at the time of writing this review I have logged in 13.8 hours. (in past 2 days) like wow I am hooked.

    Game has lots of things for you to find and discover(Easter eggs) etc. and don't forget to Save, Save, Save LOL....    … Expand
  13. Bennrama
    Sep 24, 2014
    9
    Sophisticated storyline - which is rare in modern games - and an engaging fantasy world. Wasteland 2 is intelligently written, includes characters that seem real, and has depth to its gameplay and RPG elements that the modern fps and dungeon loot-fest clones can only dream about.

    This is a game for the thinkers, the appreciators of a great storyline, and the strategists. Those who    Sophisticated storyline - which is rare in modern games - and an engaging fantasy world. Wasteland 2 is intelligently written, includes characters that seem real, and has depth to its gameplay and RPG elements that the modern fps and dungeon loot-fest clones can only dream about.

    This is a game for the thinkers, the appreciators of a great storyline, and the strategists. Those who aren't afraid of difficult fights, and the permanence of loss. The graphics aren't special, and a lot of the character script is not voice acted, but the cost cutting in these cosmetic departments has allowed for more resources to be spent in making this game a long lasting adventure with great depth, role playing potential, and strategic options.

    No wonder Ken Levine praised this game. Thanks InExile! Worth every penny and more!    … Expand
  14. windpeoples
    Sep 24, 2014
    9
    While not perfect (there is no such thing as a perfect game), it is a worthy sequel to the original Wasteland. There is a hidden depth in character creation and game mechanics that many overlook, but I found refreshing. Not a game for everyone probably, but more than satisfied to have backed the project on Kickstarter.
  15. khaipur
    Sep 24, 2014
    9
    This is exactly what fans of the genre have been asking for since black isles was dissolved. On the whole a solid entry into the old crpg category. While it does not add much new it has a solid story, interesting characters and slightly generic but expected location and most important it does not mess anything up trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience at the cost of fans byThis is exactly what fans of the genre have been asking for since black isles was dissolved. On the whole a solid entry into the old crpg category. While it does not add much new it has a solid story, interesting characters and slightly generic but expected location and most important it does not mess anything up trying to appeal to the broadest possible audience at the cost of fans by turning it into a shooter.

    Needs more random encounter variance rather then an endless stream of raiders/wild animals. And some minor tweaks to some of the mission instructions.    … Expand
  16. mackdaddy
    Sep 28, 2014
    9
    Graphics aren't pretty, combat could be deeper and there's a few bugs. That's the bad out of the way. The combat is actually fun in my opinion, the only thing it lacks from Fallout 1/2 is aimed shots, but it makes up for this with the cover system and ambushing. The writing is great, and the voice acting is usually decent (there's some dodgy examples). The story starts off a bit slow butGraphics aren't pretty, combat could be deeper and there's a few bugs. That's the bad out of the way. The combat is actually fun in my opinion, the only thing it lacks from Fallout 1/2 is aimed shots, but it makes up for this with the cover system and ambushing. The writing is great, and the voice acting is usually decent (there's some dodgy examples). The story starts off a bit slow but by half way is really quite engaging. There's some very memorable characters, and your followers often have interesting things to say about the environment and your decisions.

    Yeah, the game is a bit divisive - I think some people expected Xcom, and others Fallout 1/2, all games with much higher budgets than this. Even Divinity: Original Sin had a budget of around 10-12 million USD (the Kickstarter was for a product to show investors) unlike Wasteland 2's 6 million (including Early Access sales). But a lot of love went into the game.

    The skill system is a bit much at first, and some skills could probably be rolled together to streamline, but it's cool having a bunch of different specialists in your team. The attributes could also probably have more of an effect on your skills, but the current system allows for more open roleplaying (e.g. a guy with no charisma still being a kiss ass, it's possible).

    Overall, it's a great CRPG in the vein of WL1 and the original Fallouts. It probably still needs a bit of work patch-wise, and some design decisions may not appeal to everyone, but I think if you're into the older CRPGs you're in for a great time.    … Expand
  17. Sadlyborn
    Sep 28, 2014
    9
    So far I am really enjoying Wasteland 2. This is a nostalgic CRPG which can be compared by titles as the first Fallout series, Baldur´s Gate and Divinity Original Sin. The post-apocalyptic setting is atmospheric which is strengthen by nicely done story telling, voice acting and music. Also there is some criticism to mention. The User Interface is very cumbersome. It is often necessary toSo far I am really enjoying Wasteland 2. This is a nostalgic CRPG which can be compared by titles as the first Fallout series, Baldur´s Gate and Divinity Original Sin. The post-apocalyptic setting is atmospheric which is strengthen by nicely done story telling, voice acting and music. Also there is some criticism to mention. The User Interface is very cumbersome. It is often necessary to move an item to a character with a particular skill and then again to switch back that item. Sometimes equipped items are not longer equipped, which signifies a bug. It is annoying equip the item again on the character. Skills like Demolition, Alarm Disarming are a risk to use and will require a lot of save-load sequences in order to handle the situation well. Those loading screens takes a long time compared to other games of this generation. However the shortcomings does not outweigh the pleasure that this game has to offer. Must buy for the CRPG fans!… Expand
  18. softpsyche
    Oct 17, 2014
    9
    If you liked Baldurs gate icewind dale fallout 1 and 2, just buy this game. Do not pass Go, do not collect 200 dollars just go straight to steam and buy the $#$@ out of this game! The only reason it did not get a resounding 10 is because the pretty bad bugs towards the end of the game. In fact, the bugs are pretty bad and storylines break ( had to restart because my Cali quests got broken.If you liked Baldurs gate icewind dale fallout 1 and 2, just buy this game. Do not pass Go, do not collect 200 dollars just go straight to steam and buy the $#$@ out of this game! The only reason it did not get a resounding 10 is because the pretty bad bugs towards the end of the game. In fact, the bugs are pretty bad and storylines break ( had to restart because my Cali quests got broken. Normally this would warrant a 5 but thats how overdue a game like this is. It will take you back to those days of old and remind you that great games do exist - it is not just nostalgia. Too bad the game is as buggy as the they were back then too.… Expand
  19. gashsha
    Oct 21, 2014
    9
    If you played (and liked) Wasteland, Fallout 1, 2 and Tactics you're gonna love this game. Wasteland 2 is the best approach to the question "What if Interplay made Fallout 3?".

    Deep, dark and mature storyline and setting, nice combat system (if you're into isometric, turn-based RPGs) and an amazing experience if you don't mind to read a lot while playing.
  20. Matshock
    Nov 6, 2014
    9
    This is a solid 9/10 title as of patch 3.

    It plays like someone picked up where the late 90's left off and created the next generation of story driven RPGs that went missing with the advent of MMO's. With that in mind the UI is a familiar but streamlined version from that generation. The visuals are about a generation behind the current but that was normal the last time this category    This is a solid 9/10 title as of patch 3.

    It plays like someone picked up where the late 90's left off and created the next generation of story driven RPGs that went missing with the advent of MMO's. With that in mind the UI is a familiar but streamlined version from that generation. The visuals are about a generation behind the current but that was normal the last time this category was popular. The audio effects are the only area where I get the impression of indie production values. I weighed all that against the fact that this is a USD $40 new release and USD $60 is now the norm for AAA productions in determining my score.

    My only sage advice: have a strategy going into the game re: character development, trying to develop one as you go will lead to longer grinds for experience and take away from the pacing.    … Expand
  21. matt79
    Jan 27, 2015
    9
    Is it as good as original Fallouts or Planescape Torment? No, it is not. But it still was my top RPG of 2014 and makes it to my personal top 10 RPGs of all time. I'm really looking forward to other inXile creations.
  22. Mayaexplorer
    Jan 2, 2015
    9
    I`m a huge fan of old Fallout series. Wasteland 2 gives me felling of that word which i love in Fallout. Music of Mark Morgan hit me again. Battle are similar to Fallout Tactics. The only negative is going to graphic design. In some places it`s erratic and low budget. But after all its not a big problem.
  23. Razhomon
    Jan 11, 2015
    9
    A very good game despite its bugs when it first came out. I finished the game and that is huge coming from me who gets bored easily with games nowadays.
  24. Sammael
    Feb 21, 2015
    9
    There's so much wrong in the reviews I'm seeing here. You have to realize this is a game made by a mid size studio made with just 3 million dollars. It's amazing for what it is. Excellent writing and atmosphere. Yes, the character creator is not amazing, the battle is not perfect but it is a really solid game with lots of choices, which is more than you can say about most RPGs these daysThere's so much wrong in the reviews I'm seeing here. You have to realize this is a game made by a mid size studio made with just 3 million dollars. It's amazing for what it is. Excellent writing and atmosphere. Yes, the character creator is not amazing, the battle is not perfect but it is a really solid game with lots of choices, which is more than you can say about most RPGs these days where they just focus on graphics. To me it is a solid 9 and I can't wait for a potential sequel.

    PS: Stop mentioning Fallout. This isn't Fallout, it's Wasteland. If you want Fallout go play that first person shooter turd Bethesda made or play the originals.    … Expand
  25. Smilingcookie
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    While it's not as good as the classics like Fallout or Baldur's Gate II, it does manage to bring back that type of feeling. I backed it in kickstarter and am happy with the result. I would rate it 8.5/10.

    The wasteland is an interesting place to discover, full of both dilemma's and humor. You have to make difficult, morally ambiguous decisions and those can have consequences immediately    While it's not as good as the classics like Fallout or Baldur's Gate II, it does manage to bring back that type of feeling. I backed it in kickstarter and am happy with the result. I would rate it 8.5/10.

    The wasteland is an interesting place to discover, full of both dilemma's and humor. You have to make difficult, morally ambiguous decisions and those can have consequences immediately or much later in the game.

    You start out with a party of 4 rangers you create from scratch and you can recruit up to 3 additional NPC companions (or more if you dump a ranger or one gets killed). Character creation is fantastic. You get a lot of different options and each can be useful for solving different situations. You can create a balanced unit or create 4 elite soldiers all specialized in assault rifles, pistols, ... and rely on recruitable NPC's for other skills.

    These choices influence your possibilities during the squad based tactical combat. There are different weapon, armor and ammo types, there is strategic positioning, ... The only thing they should have added was the targeting of individual body parts (fallout style).

    Wasteland 2 has got it's own style and feeling and that's good. InExile did a great job in my view!    … Expand
  26. Ambient
    Oct 4, 2015
    9
    Is it perfect? No. Should you buy it? YES. You'll be sending publishers a message.

    Wasteland 2 delivers wholeheartedly. The Wasteland universe stands on its own as separate from the Fallout games that it spawned. The game is designed to be played SLOWLY, taking in the atmosphere and story. And if you have that kind of patience, this game delivers in treasure troves of immersive    Is it perfect? No. Should you buy it? YES. You'll be sending publishers a message.

    Wasteland 2 delivers wholeheartedly. The Wasteland universe stands on its own as separate from the Fallout games that it spawned. The game is designed to be played SLOWLY, taking in the atmosphere and story. And if you have that kind of patience, this game delivers in treasure troves of immersive atmosphere and storytelling. And that is in spite of the "shortcuts" such as re-used character portraits and some very similar environments. This is therefore quite an accomplishment indeed.

    Looking forward to a replay for the Director's Cut.

    IneXile has delivered on its Kickstarter and I have high hopes for Torment: Tides of Numenera. Here's hoping for Wasteland 3!

    Is it the closest thing to an Interplay-made Fallout 3 we can ever hope for? Yes. BUY IT. You'll be sending a message to publishers that previously would never allow games like this to exist.    … Expand
  27. moseao
    Oct 1, 2014
    8
    I'm not even going to bother trying to avoid comparing it to the original Fallout games, or to the recent Divinity game, so on that note, it's maybe not quite as good as those, but still pretty close.

    Compared to the original Fallout games, I didn't feel like the story was as engaging, or the characters as memorable. The system is a little more modern, but often irritating as some    I'm not even going to bother trying to avoid comparing it to the original Fallout games, or to the recent Divinity game, so on that note, it's maybe not quite as good as those, but still pretty close.

    Compared to the original Fallout games, I didn't feel like the story was as engaging, or the characters as memorable. The system is a little more modern, but often irritating as some actions just waste the player's time for basically no reason. It'd also be nice to be able to enter turn based mode for certain actions, like if a character is bleeding out after a battle. I will say though, that skills in Wasteland 2 are more consistently useful than in the original Fallout games.

    Compared to Divinity, I personally like the atmosphere and game world in this one better, but the Divinity combat system wins hands down. Also, while I thought the crafting system in Divinity could use some work, there's almost no crafting to speak of here, even though I think it would make sense thematically.

    All told, Wasteland 2 is a solid game. Not perfect, but solid.    … Expand
  28. MustisTheCat
    Jul 9, 2015
    8
    Good game for common people, great game for Fallout fanatics, though still with lots of flaws. 146 hours for my walkthrough.For me this was the first game since Fallout Tactics which felt like the actual Fallout. Now Wasteland is not Fallout mind you, but they`re pretty close setting wise. Lots of good stuff and lots of bad stuff.
    GAMEPLAY/GRAPHICS
    The gameplay is good. There is    Good game for common people, great game for Fallout fanatics, though still with lots of flaws. 146 hours for my walkthrough.For me this was the first game since Fallout Tactics which felt like the actual Fallout. Now Wasteland is not Fallout mind you, but they`re pretty close setting wise. Lots of good stuff and lots of bad stuff.
    GAMEPLAY/GRAPHICS
    The gameplay is good. There is strategic fighting. People die in gruesome and satisfying ways. Objects get destroyed, explosions and energy charges look cool. Parts of environment can be destroyed.
    That said, there is no proning. There are no reaction buttons (like in Fallout Tactics). The covering system is outwright broken (no cover where should be, too easy to hit covered objects). Some guns don`t have burst mode when they should. I`d say that the gameplay in WL2 requires a rework because the combat is really a roulette even to a Fallout fan.I wanted to see WL/Fallout get more with the times. I wanted to see some ideas from say XCOM, nothing like that actually hapenned. The ally NPCs turn hostile everytime you hit them (friendly fire).Critical hits are not portrayed graphically in any form other than red figures.You cannot hit individual body parts other than head - which has no influence on sight anyhow.The effects such as bleeding, shock, concussion are painfully random.There are only 3 types of energy weapons. Also, the damage they do is nonsensical.There is no AP/JHP ammo.The close range aim penalty for Assault Rifles and Sniper Rifles is nonsensical.Why don`t some enemies drop loot when killed?!You kill a guy carrying a minigun but as soon as you get to his dead body he`s empty….???Tha Attritubes system heavily prefers Speed, Strenght and Awareness. Other attributes are of no real meaning to gameplay or story. You will not be able to choose special dialogue options even if you choose high Intelligence. You can be a great Surgeon/Field medic with 3 intelligence. You can have 4 NPCs with you even if you have 2 Charisma. And so on.Moreover, in conversations, once you said something you can`t return to certain themes.. The characters can choose their clothes but the armor they wear is not shown - so I wear Power Armor but still look like a light armed commando. Really made me scratch my head on this one. Why did the developpers think that I`d like my player to wear jeans more than Power Armor…someone ask them please.
    STORY
    I played Ranger difficulty. In every single map I was outgunned and outnumbered. Each and every type of enemy is better equipped and better trained than the Desert Rangers. No difference if you fight raiders, robbers, militia, the military commando or androids - all are big threat to your team every time. The animals such as badgers are enemies as fearsome as the Deathclaws in Fallout which is silly. Sometimes the quests broke because I did things out of the order - for example if I had a conversation with the quest giver AFTER I killed his enemy, he didn`t notice it or thank me nor could I tell him I did him a favor. No, you need to do the quests in a certain order or you`re in for a loss of your gaming time and XP.I cannot fathom why did the developpers think than boxes, crates and doors need to “level up” with the player. You can`t just get the skills to a certain level, you have to constantly work on them. It is not like a crate hiding a good assault rifle needs level 8 lockpicking to be opened. The difficulty depends sheerly on what level you are. So you open that box that required 10 lockpicking and you get 10 rounds of .45cal ammo…At the end of the game you need level 9 skills to open all but few doors/boxes or repair something. Again, who thought it was ok?
    MUSIC/FX
    Very good, climatic music to go through the whole story. There are few background sets that put you in that postapocalyptic mood. They don`t get in the way of good fun and match the extensive reading in this game. Personally I`d add 3-4 more of those, because IMO every town and settlement should have its own melody, not so in WL2.I really like the FX of the guns, splatters, shooting and hitting different surfaces. Interface sounds, reloading sounds etc. all done very well and add to the gameplay and story a great bit.
    CONCLUSION
    Overall, Wasteland 2 is a good game for me. It might feel a bit behind the times for a newcomer though. Some gameplay and story choises left me wondering but overall I enjoyed the game and felt bad that it finally ended. I also can`t help the feeling that a masterpiece could have been created but we just got a good game. Don`t get me wrong, for and indie game it is impressive but still it missed so many opportunities and few questionable design choices. It cost me the same as an AAA title so I grade it AAA-wise. So WL2 gets an 8 from me but it would take a LOT of reworking the game to get a 9 or even a 8,5.    … Expand
  29. mech
    Sep 20, 2014
    8
    This one is simple: if you are looking for a modern, cinematic RPG experience like Mass Effect or The Witcher, this is not the game you want.

    What this is is pretty much Fallout 3 if it hadn't gone the "Oblivion with guns" way. If you like old RPGs like the original Fallouts or Baldur's Gate, you'll probably enjoy it.
  30. Dyalad
    Sep 22, 2014
    8
    I've enjoyed the game. Lot of attention put into describing areas, situations. Conversations are varied and rich. The game shows you early on that your choices have consequences.

    Combat system is ok. Reminiscent of the newer X-COM combat system. I can't say I've been overly impressed with the games graphics. My impression is that Shadowrun did a better job with graphics, however    I've enjoyed the game. Lot of attention put into describing areas, situations. Conversations are varied and rich. The game shows you early on that your choices have consequences.

    Combat system is ok. Reminiscent of the newer X-COM combat system. I can't say I've been overly impressed with the games graphics. My impression is that Shadowrun did a better job with graphics, however Wasteland 2 is full 3D, whereas Shadowrun Returns the camera can't rotate on itself.

    Wasteland 2 makes use of this rotating camera a lot, hiding boxes and treasures in nooks and crannies that you may miss if you aren't looking at the right angle. I liked that.

    Skill system is interesting. Rewards you for overspecializing, yet there are so many different skills that you can't overspecialize in everything. I've encountered lots of opportunities to use my skills. Most of the time, though, difficulty checks are high - so it's not a good idea to have a jack-of-all-trades kind of character. Best to spec in 3-4 skills at most (per character).

    The music is more like ambiance sound than music. It's not bad in itself, but sometimes it makes combat feel anticlimatic.

    Overall, I think the game is good. I believe it is true to Wasteland's spirit, it has a lot of funny and grim moments. It is a game, however, that is meant to be appreciated by taking the time to pay attention to details (through dialogue and description), otherwise, you miss out on the majority of the game.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

58
#58 Best PC Game of 2014
25
#25 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
24
#24 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
81

Generally favorable reviews - based on 65 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 53 out of 65
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 65
  3. Negative: 0 out of 65
  1. DarkStation
    Nov 25, 2014
    80
    Wasteland 2, for the most part, provides everything that its Kickstarter backers and fans of the genre are looking for.
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  2. RPGamer
    Nov 13, 2014
    60
    If you're a fan of this style of game and have played the best recent releases, look behind you. Because that's where Wasteland 2 is going to be.
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Nov 12, 2014
    100
    The epitome of old-school that doesn't reek of decay. There are a few bumps along the road, but oh, is it a road worth taking. [Issue#246]
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