Wishlist: 10 for 2014....and BeyonD, Pt.2

On 02/11/2014 at 05:54 PM by Machocruz

Linked to Article Series: Blog a Day (BaD) 2014

This has been a long time coming. Well actually it's been no more than 2 years since Interplay founder and Fallout producer Brian Fargo announced the Kickstarter campaign for the sequel to the game that . In many ways, this is the big one. Because this was one of the first major KS game announcements, a surprising revival of a cult classic property, and one of the earliest big funding successes, it is the first major Kickstarter project that, if a good or great game comes out of it, many people feel will solidify crowd funding's legitmacy. There have already been a few successes in this arena, such as FTL and The Banner Saga. But those were quieter projects. I consider WL2 to be the first major salvo. And if it can attract a good number of players outside of those who have helped fund the game, this will also serve the benefit of proving their is still a market for this brand of game. I have faith that it will be a hit - it has high visibility among Kickstarters, a top tier roster of experienced RPG designers working on it, and post-apocalypses in games are hot right now.

Aside from the viability of working outside of the grip of publishers, and the health of the CRPG market, my stake in this game is because it's promising a combination several things that I enjoyed about pre-Xbox western RPGs that have either been abandoned or severely dumbed down in the aftermath of western developer exodus to consoles: tactical turn-based combat, quests with multiple solutions and multiple outcomes; high level of world and character reactivity; lots of skills, attritubtes, and other ways of building a a character; choices with impactful consequences. Fallout: New Vegas is the big, mainstream game that has come the closest to delivering, but I'm not fond of its combat implementation. That combat is housed within the frame of a FPS isn't the issue, it's that it's just not very good for what it is.

Crossing fingers that they pull it off. Visuals aren't too hot -there are much better looking crowd funded games out already. And the development time seems short for a game that promises to be this deep and complex. And though there will be influence from Fallout 1 and 2, I hope it has its own feel, a Wasteland feel.

transmet2033

02/11/2014 at 07:11 PM

I kickstarted this game, and am looking forward to when it finally releases. I agree that the development time seems short for what they are promising, but I have less doubts with this game that I did with Broken Age.

Machocruz

02/12/2014 at 12:37 AM

Good on ya for helping the cause. m/

I heard Broken Age was easy as shit. Good story, but puzzles are too simple for the dedicated adventure game crowd.

Matt Snee Staff Writer

02/11/2014 at 09:03 PM

I really really want to play this. I consider getting the early access version... but not yet. Soon.

02/12/2014 at 12:51 AM

I'm waiting until wide release. I can wait. I'll be busy with some of the other 9 games on my list anyway.

SanAndreas

02/11/2014 at 11:48 PM

When's this coming out? I was interested in this one. I also hope the new crowdfunded Tex Murphy game that Atlus is publishing is awesome.

02/12/2014 at 12:41 AM

To be determined. It got delayed. I know you liked the new Fallouts, so hope this one can compete with the admittedly grander production values and 1st person immersion of 3 and NV.

And I plan on going on a classic adventure game binge in the near future, with help from GoG.com. So many I haven't played, including the Tex Murphy games. Speading of GoG and adventure, I think you can still get Beneath a Steel Sky free. Check it out if you haven't.

02/13/2014 at 11:43 AM

The aspect of Fallout 1 and 2 I always had the biggest trouble with was the interface. Yeah, I know, I'm a wimp, but I'm used to gaming with a controller, and even on PC I've always preferred a control pad or WASD/arrow keys over skating a mouse around just to walk. The mouse interface drove me nuts. The actual gameplay aspects were interesting, but the interface kind of got in the way the whole time. If Wasteland 2 makes the interface a bit less cumbersome and allows you to use a keyboard in tandem with a mouse, I'm definitely in. Obsidian did a great job on NV, and I'm sure they'll do a good job on Wasteland 2.

Casey Curran Staff Writer

02/12/2014 at 12:27 AM

Looks pretty damn good. I'll probably pick it up during a Steam sale though, have a hard time justifying plopping down $60 on PC games when I'm less likely to play them than I am for consoles and portables. The setup I guess isn't for me but if the game's good enough, I'm still in. This year does look like a good revival of old school WRPGs though between this, Dead State, and Project Eternity.

02/12/2014 at 12:50 AM

For some reason I have a hunch that Wasteland 2 is coming out below $50, maybe even $39.99. But I kind of feel the same as you, seeing as I haven't bought a game for $60 in years.

From what I've seen so far, Obsidian have nailed the neo-Infinity Engine/Baldur's Gate aesthetic. I don't know much about Dead State, but I'm playing Project Zomboid right now, and if DS is going to have some of that kind of detailed survivalist action AND deep RPG mechanics, I may have to put it on the wishlist.

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/12/2014 at 01:27 AM

I don't enjoy RPGs much, so I don't think I'll play this, but it's cool to think what it might solidify for crowd-funded games.

I agree with your comment about Fallout's combat, even though I only ever played the third installment at a friend's for a short time. I thought the whole aiming for a body part thing slowed things down way too much and bored me to tears. That may not have been the flaw you meant to allude to, but it brought to my memory what I didn't like about the combat, personally.

02/12/2014 at 11:45 AM

My complaints with Nu-Fallout combat has to do with the handling. It doesn't feel tight, a little loose and sloppy, and the feedback isn't satisfying unless you're blowing up heads or limbs. That's the best way I can describe it without actually playing the game right now.

KnightDriver

02/14/2014 at 12:59 AM

Very cool game Wasteland. It goes on my wishlist.

PixlBit