West of Loathing
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Critic Reviews for West of Loathing
The turn-based combat isn't the best, but it's a delightfully written RPG absolutely packed with humor.
Asymmetric Then there's the lore. West of Loathing takes place after a major magical disaster: the Day the Cows Came Home. Portals to hell turned the cows demonic, and great darkness spread across the West. West of Loathing elicits this powerful emotional connection with stick figures. It bonds you to its world with nothing more than doodling and dialogue. There's a pretty good turn-based adventure game there, under the hood, but West of Loathing's many strengths are all personal: connections made between developer and player when you both laugh at the same time. Absurdism aside, there's something fundamentally human and direct baked into the game's whole design from aesthetic to script. On top of it, you can dunk your hand into a spittoon of caustic toxins to pull out an enchanted sword. That's the kind of player choice I didn't even know I wanted in a Western RPG.
Humor courses through West of Loathing's veins, making every minute of this RPG/adventure hybrid a delight.
West of Loathing is not your average RPG; in fact we'd go so far as to say you've probably never played anything quite like it in your life. Its combat won't blow you away but don't be lulled into believing that's what this game is about, as really the whole thing is an adventure in exploration and interaction with a bit of fighting sprinkled in. It can occasionally be a little bit difficult to decipher, but the satisfaction felt upon working out a problem totally makes up for it. The humour is as wonderfully dry as the desert you're traversing and the writing is some of the best you can find on the Switch. Unless you've not got a humorous bone in your body, this is one RPG you can't risk skipping.
If the thought of flinging fava beans instead of fireballs leaves you cold, then this isn't the game for you. But if you're smiling at the idea of a world where meateors crash into the earth and distribute bits of meat — then, hey, it's time to go west.
West of Loathing is one of the most memorable games I have played this year. It's unique simple-yet-detailed visuals and witty writing for everything from basic dialogue to item descriptions will keep fans of both westerns and RPGs very entertained. Unfortunately, once you hop into battle, the game's cracks start to show. While there is a great feeling of progression, West of Loathing's combat never did much to stand out from the systems in countless other turn-based RPGs. While I won't forget this Western romp anytime soon, I'll be remembering the witty dialogue exchanges and unique graphics more than its gameplay.
West of Loathing may not be perfect, but it never needed to be. What it gives us, instead, is one of the funniest goddamn games I've played all year. I may be a bit late to the party, but I'm really glad that I gave it a chance. Anything capable of making me smile this much is an absolute blessing. This is something truly special, and I can't wait to see what the developers at Asymmetric have in store for us next.
West of Loathing is a great value for its price and definitely entertaining for what it is. Unfortunately, the actual mechanics lack a lot of depth that keep it from being an experience for everyone. A deep RPG experience this is not. However, if you're looking for a few hours to kill on a game with funny writing and creative environments, this one is for you.
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