The Wasteland series has been at the heart of the lexicon of classic PC RPGs since its first entry back in 1988. Fast forward to 2014, and a good chunk of Kickstarter success later, and the series saw light in the modern industry. Where other classic PC series had faltered, becoming husks of themselves, Wasteland 2 proved that the old ways were still some of the best. Add to that the resurgence in classic party-based true RPGs (most notably Divinity: Original Sin) and we find ourselves with the coming release of Wasteland 3.
It feels strange to talk about a game during a time of Government enforced lockdowns and a global health crisis. Wasteland 3’s cold, dark, post-apocalyptic future may not be the best to enjoy during these times. Yet the chunk of hours featured in the most recent build manage to push any sense of unease to the sidelines. As I said, it’s an odd feeling…but maybe that’s what we all need right now, a feeling to replace the anxiety.
Those initial moments of booting up the game create an immeasurable sense of atmosphere. Greeted by the title screen, complete with a mechanical nasty overlooking a handful of strung-up corpses, it’s undoubtedly a Wasteland title. A fitting image to represent the move from the warmth of Arizona to the cold bite of Colorado. That harsh vibe of an unforgiving world sets the tone perfectly, a trait most modern games tend to take for granted. The real meat of Wasteland 3, the character creation and systems is just as delicious.
You’re given a duo of characters to work with. It’s a concept that can birth some amazing synergy, or if you like, sheer chaos. Similar to the formula found in Divinity: Original Sin, Wasteland 3’s duo system forms the core of the party, further enhanced by additional party members recruited or created. As expected, Wasteland 3 includes a full character sheet. Stats, perks, attributes, and quirks. If you lack an eye for detail, or just don’t feel comfortable with such elements, pre-set characters are available for selection, complete with bios and pre-set looks.
Pondering over a point spent here or an attribute there summons such a feeling of warmth. A true chance to stamp your authority and personality on the avatar before you. It helps that Wasteland’s cheeky dark comedic nature is ever present, even within the few hours of play offered in the current build. From quirks that promise bloodthirsty fury in the face of danger to mimes…miming. An odd juxtaposition, but one that encapsulates the nature of Wasteland and its characters.
Once the die has been rolled and characters created it’s time to put those points into practice. Wasteland 3’s initial opening smooths the path for newcomers while providing a refresher for its core principles. Combat is turned based, filled with various variables that you’d expect from RPGs from the Pen & Paper DNA pool. Action points, crit chance, hit, luck, all that good stuff. While Wasteland 3 does a fair job of explaining the mechanics of combat, there is a fair argument to be made that it may be overwhelming for those taking their first steps in this dance.
Thankfully, the tutorial offers a fair amount of room to experiment and fail without feeling too defeated.
Combat moves at a nice pace, allowing players to understand and learn with each encounter. That learning process does more than simply providing a stage to figure out which skill does what, but how each party members fit into which situation. Having the option to adapt to various types of enemies inhabiting the frozen future of Colorado is vital.
Wasteland 3 excels are ensuring every aspect at work feeds into each other. Interactions with characters can go in multiple directions depending on who is present in the party and what their character sheet looks like. The systems all gel together, creating a cohesive engine that purrs with excellence. Admittedly, it breeds a culture of ‘what if?’ as each battle and interaction climaxes, but that’s a good problem to have.
Upon reflection, Wasteland 3 suffers from a plethora of good problems. Too many options, too many builds, too much experimentation, synergy, and chaos. I find myself staring into an abyss of constantly replaying…but I’m excited? An odd sensation to have over a small slice of the game, but a welcome sensation nevertheless.
Exploring the various segments featured in the build constantly unearths little snippets of future promise. Narratives that flirt with conspiracies, oppression and the price of peace. Frustratingly, it teases perfectly, lightly cooking things that dance upon the tongue leaving you starving for more.
Ultimately, that’s where the preview of Wasteland 3 excels. Leaving you wanting, needing, more. Aside from the quality machinery at work under the hood, the presentation gleams. The art direction isn’t necessarily gritty or dirty, opting to take a comic centric style. Flush colours, bold lines and a hefty dose of character. Fused with the tone of the dialogue, the art direction is punchy and endearing. Which, funnily enough, is the best way to describe this entire experience.
Classic RPGs have made a comeback in the last eight or so years, partly due to the success of Wasteland 2. Throughout that period, they’ve progressed and grown, adding new concepts to the already agreed upon lexicon. Wasteland 3 is on course to be the next logical step. The accumulation of progress brought together to create a fresh experience that holds true to its DNA. There are enough changes from Wasteland 2 to appease veterans while being detached from the previous plot to be enjoyed standalone.
Wasteland 3’s robust, deep, punchy nature might just be 2020’s big hitter, albeit in a world closer to the plot than we’d like it to be.
