Better than Fallout, the return of a brilliant post-apocalyptic western

While some wait impatiently for Fallout 4, the creator of the first two episodes has returned to give us Wasteland 2. Sequel to the 1988 game that inspired the Fallout series, Wasteland 2 is a role playing game for PC that highlights a rich and coherent universe, accompanied in turn by a pronounced character development and tactical combat system.

Somewhere between heat and radiation, welcome to post-apocalyptic Arizona

Wasteland 2 captures the spirit of the series with the post-nuclear Arizona desert setting. Humanity is painfully trying to recover from disaster, while chaos reigns supreme in a devastated world in which only the strongest impose their rules. It is in this universe that you start your adventure by choosing a team of 4 people.

All your characters are highly customizable, either physically or through skills. Numerous skills are available, only a small part are related to combat, ranging from explosives to computer skills, passing through surgery, survival, flattery, or haggling along the way. Wasteland 2’s character customization is reflected all the time in the game: there is never just one way to solve the problems facing you and your many talents will always be involved.

Choice is also omnipresent in the world of Wasteland 2; you can influence your adventure in many ways. An exciting, high color epic amidst a devastated humanity populated by strange characters and factions. The world created by InXile is unique and brilliant: you never cease to be amazed by the incredible care given to the game universe and dialogs.

Gameplay and fighting old for this game PC rol

Wasteland 2 is a game world where the thrill of discovery is all around you. But it is also an excellent, old school game the likes of which we haven’t seen on PC for years. Fans of Baldur’s Gate and Fallout 1 and 2 will jump for joy at this very subtle system of tactical combat. With a cover system (which recalls the great Xcom: Enemy Unknown) and characters with various skills, these turn-by-turn clashes give you something to think about. 

But the fighting is only a small part of a huge game. The dialog choices (always influenced by your character’s skills), exploring new environments, all serve to remind us that Wasteland 2 is primarily a brilliant RPG, as customizing your protagonists has more impact than ever. Playability is, however, not free from bugs, and it’s unfortunate that there’s rigidity in controls during the phases of exploration; handling of the mouse could certainly be made more fluid.

An extraordinary ambiance

From the start of Wasteland 2, the tone is set: it’s all about becoming immersed in a unique world, and all aspects of the game are there to help us achieve this. The music is excellent; oscillating between compositions, at their hovering and oppressive best. The graphics are very subtle (based on the famous Unity engine): the attention to 3D scenery is amazing, even though we would have liked it if the characters had received the same treatment (an unfortunate gap that reminds us of Shadowrun Returns). This graphic quality, however, means that you may lag a bit on certain machines, even in the menus. Don’t hesitate to drop the resolution if you feel that your computer is struggling.

Our verdict: an incomplete beta but already brilliant

Wasteland 2 isn’t finished yet, and a large portion of the adventure is still missing. But it’s impossible not to see the future masterpiece that’s already within our reach. With its brilliant narration and non-Manichean universe, Wasteland 2 is a true role playing game, with its myriad possibilities, which manage to touch on the experience provided by role-playing games of old. Funny, tragic, amazing, epic, the game developed by InXile never ceases to amaze as it leads us into a world which is far from perfect. 

Be careful though, because Wasteland 2 continues to expand, and some might be frustrated if they get into a game where much of the content is yet to be implemented. As great as it is, we strongly recommend that you wait for a more advanced version before you lose yourself in this truly amazing universe.