The problem with releasing narrative content that fits into a certain point of the game, months after the game’s release, is placing the puzzle piece into an already completed puzzle. We’ve already tackled Wasteland 3’s family affair. Our party is geared up, they’ve seen it all. It’s an awkward situation Steel Town finds itself in, taking place before the end of Wasteland 3, but not quite near the beginning.
Wasteland 3: The Battle of Steeltown
Developer: inXile Entertainment
Price: $14 USD
Platform: PC (reviewed), PS4, Xbox One
MonsterVine was supplied with Steam code for review
It’s a strange task tackling this new cut of story, even more so with a party packing the best gear the game could offer. You enter the industrial zone under the impression you could be overdressed for the occasion. The Rangers have been sent by Saul Buchanan to investigate why there are no longer assets coming from Steel town, his once-reliable source. Upon arrival, you’ll soon find an effigy for real-world problems reflected in the most extreme.
CRPGs have always had a way of twisting genuine human issues into a tangible narrative experience, so Wasteland 3’s exploration into overworked, poorly treated staff versus the threat of automation and dehumanization shouldn’t come too much of a surprise. For the most part, it’s a good theatre for the mostly dark humour Wasteland has always been known for, even if the decisions aren’t quite as grey as they could have been. What used to be measuring up the moral good with the actual result has now become better vs bad. That’s not to say there aren’t a few surprises along the way, including a few choices that prey on your more open-minded sensibilities.
Problems arise with Steel Town early on, with characters lacking a sense of impact or weight, with most merely feeling like they exist to purely push you from point A to B. It’s a genuine shame given Wasteland 3’s core game is brimming with a cast of fantastic characters that enhanced every interaction.
Steel Town is filled with new gear and weapons, including a new sub-set of non-lethal weapons. Additional tools make for an extra layer of depth, with the non-lethal weapons falling between a gimmick and something that could have been something much greater. Neither tends to feel like they’re fully fleshed out or a meaningful addition to the Wasteland 3 world, at least in a post-completed experience…a problem that seems to pop up throughout Steel Towns’ few hours running time.
While more Wasteland 3 is a good thing, Steel Town feels like a good concept that never quite gets going. Ultimately, when all is said and done, there’s little to distinguish this as a new story to experience, feeling more like ideas and side quests bundled together as added fluff.
The Final Word
More Wasteland 3 is a good thing, even when it doesn’t quite hit the high-heights set by the original release.
– MonsterVine Rating: 3 out of 5 – Average
