Wasteland 2: Director's Cut Reviews
All in all, it is a fun, complex, comprehensive RPG, even on the PS4, warts and all- just know what you are getting into, and scale your expectations accordingly.
The varied and meaningful skill tree system is the best part of Wasteland 2, as it pushes you to create a very defined set of characters. Assigning skill points is consequential, and while that level of permanence is not felt in the narratives decision making, the combat and unique factions you come across will be enough to push you forward. Wasteland 2 is a great CRPG ported to consoles, and while you may find some technical hiccups, the overall experience is well worth it.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is an old-school roleplaying game full of strategic combat, multiple quests, replayability and an intriguing post-apocalyptic world full of great writing and dark humour. While not for everyone, if you're craving a hardcore RPG, this is a definite recommendation.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is the perfect game for someone who's played it all and seen it all - it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane. It's rough around the edges and some of its mechanics seem dated, but... that's the whole point. It's an old school roleplaying that isn't afraid to just throw you into the fray, and although it may not be a perfect game, it's definitely good enough to recommend to any fan of Western RPG's and tactical shooters alike. Considering the budget price point, you get so much bang for the buck that there's really no reason not to get it and see for yourself if you'd make a good Desert Ranger.
The game places trust in the moral, philosophical, and intellectual response of the audience.
InXile's classical RPG translates beautifully to console, and should be picked up by RPG fans – even those neck deep in that other big post-apocalyptic title.
There are minor nit-picks about the combat initiation leaving you exposed to attacks and the RNG being frustrating at times, but it does not impact or hamper the combat too much. Not something a quick reload can fix anyway. Wasteland 2 is a pleasant mix of genres when you combine a game like Baldur's Gate feel for adventure and XCOM's combat it goes together surprisingly well. If you are a fan of the old school genre of RPG games and you miss the intricacies of classic RPG's and you are in the market for a bit more depth in your game than the more contemporary RPGs released today then you should definitely check out Wasteland 2 Director's Cut on Playstation 4. With more than 80 hours of gameplay, Wastelands 2: The Director's cut is a challenging but ultimately rewarding adventure you don't want to miss out on.
Wasteland 2 is right in line with some of the more recent "Classic RPGs" we've seen making a comeback. If you enjoy the likes of Divinity: Original Sin and adore the idea of that sort of game in a post-apocalyptic world, then this one's for you. It's loaded with content, has a ton of replay value, and unlike many modern RPGs, it really lets you customize your entire experience. Recommended.
Wasteland 2 is quickly becoming a modern classic – and deservedly so. If you have not played this game, you really owe it to yourself to give it a shot. But some usability issues on the Switch might not make it the best choice for newcomers to a game that some already find difficult to parse. This version of Wasteland 2 is serviceable, but not ideal.
All in all, while Wasteland 2: Director's Cut for the Nintendo Switch gives you a new way to experience the post-apocalyptic desert, it's far from the best option thanks to its poor presentation.
Wasteland 2 is a slight struggle on the Switch, but it's still worth your time
Wasteland 2 is a slam-dunk in almost every way for lovers of immersive RPGs with a nostalgic, old-school feel. In the hours and hours I logged before writing this review, I felt that I barely skimmed the surface of what this massive game has to offer.
A healthy amount of patience and a reasonable amount of stress toleration will be needed but ultimately it will be worth it. If your spirit hasn't been broken by a frustrating camera or delayed inputs then the daily game crash right before you've saved your progress may be the final straw. As frustrated as I may have been at times, the highs certainly outweigh the lows, and came away with the feeling that any version Wasteland 2 is with playing.
The story is fantastically tropey when it comes to the post-apocalyptic genre, which is admittedly getting a bit over-saturated in the contemporary pop culture market. But it is still a lot of fun and the thirty year anniversary of the inspiration behind it is definitely worth celebrating.
Despite a bevy of performance issues on the Switch, Wasteland 2 continues to be an excellent RPG with its terrific writing and world building.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut on Switch is a missed opportunity. While the underlying systems and crunchy combat are enjoyable – and it just about works as a portable experience – a steady list of irritations make an unqualified recommendation impossible. There's a solid foundation of gritty turn-based combat with some great writing, but a stubborn camera, disappointing performance and a lack of quality-of-life enhancements means the PC ‘master race' take this round.
What it comes down to in the end is that Wasteland 2 is an excellent RPG that plays completely differently than anything else on the system. The degree of control you have over dictating the skills and perks tied to each of your squad members goes far beyond what can be done in other titles and though this can be overwhelming it also guarantees that nobody is likely to experience the game in quite the same way. Just understand that this is a bit of a compromised experience, and while the developers have done an admirable job of trying to make it as viable as possible on the Switch the interface can be cumbersome at times and even aggravating. However, if you thirst to explore a post-Apocalyptic world and all of the challenges and violence that can entail it’s still well worth checking out.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut places a tremendous emphasis on your choices and offers a thrilling adventure set in a completely unjust world. When it comes to the Nintendo Switch version, there are technical issues, ranging from the load times to the frame rate, that it is not the smoothest experience out of all the platforms.
Wasteland 2 gets the Switch port treatment, bringing a deep, involved RPG to Nintendo's hybrid console.
Hardcore strategy RPG fans might find something to like here, but chances are you own a PC and have already checked out Wasteland 2. A frustratingly unfair combat system and gaudy graphics leave much to be desired.