The Wastes
- April 12, 2018
- Vera Visions
Get on Steam
Get on itch.io Store"The Wastes" is a post-apocalyptic first-person shooter set in a harsh, open world. Players must scavenge for resources, craft weapons and equipment, and battle against mutated creatures and hostile factions. With a focus on non-linear exploration and player choice, every playthrough offers a unique experience in this dangerous, post-apocalyptic wasteland.
PC
Windows
Linux
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic arena shooters, with satisfying gunplay and a variety of multiplayer modes.
- It features bot support for offline play, a mission editor, and a community-focused development approach, allowing for custom content creation.
- The visuals and sound design are praised for their quality, creating an engaging post-apocalyptic atmosphere that enhances the gameplay experience.
- The player base is very low, making it difficult to find online matches, which limits the multiplayer experience.
- The AI for bots is often criticized for being ineffective, leading to frustrating gameplay in certain modes.
- Many players feel the game lacks depth, with a need for more single-player content or RPG elements to enhance replayability.
- story20 mentions
- 15 % positive mentions
- 70 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story is primarily conveyed through its mission structure, which involves strategic weapon use and resource management in tense, survival-focused scenarios. Players can engage in single-player missions or create custom missions using a robust mission editor, allowing for a variety of gameplay experiences. While the default missions can be challenging due to limited supplies, the potential for community-driven content and creativity is highlighted as a significant aspect of the game's appeal.
“Wow, the first multiplayer title I know of to offer a single-player mission generator and/or mini campaign.”
“I can imagine a lot of potential with these sorts of missions.”
“The game as it stands right now holds a lot of potential, and I hope the developers continue working on this game to add more features to the mission editor, as well as to possibly release or support an official map editor for this game in particular.”
“The missions mostly seem based around having to pick up a weapon in a specific order and use them smartly with very little ammo and also fast before the enemies start to respawn.”
“It's the exact same game, only with a reduced sample map set and mission set out of the full product.”
“Remember how I said the default missions were tense experiences where you're always short on supplies and one mistake means death?”
- gameplay3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The gameplay features fast-paced multiplayer modes reminiscent of classic arena shooters, allowing players to choose initial loadouts and discover better weapons during matches. While it boasts improved maps and a solid engine, some users find it cluttered with gimmicky elements that detract from the intense gameplay experience seen in previous iterations.
“The gameplay in the multiplayer modes is reminiscent of 'Fistful of Frags,' where you can choose an initial loadout and discover fancier weapons throughout the match. It's much faster-paced, similar to classic arena shooters.”
“The weapons are exactly the same, but there are more and better maps, along with improved gameplay, thanks to a robust engine that has all the core mechanics already in place.”
“This is a cruder, uglier, and unsubtle mix of random gimmicky features like dismemberment, vehicles, and cannibal health restoration, but it lacks the fantastic maps and intense, impactful gameplay that made the Wastes mod the best deathmatch I ever had the pleasure of playing.”
“The gameplay in the multiplayer modes feels reminiscent of 'Fistful of Frags', where you can choose an initial loadout and discover more powerful weapons as the match progresses. However, it's much faster-paced, similar to classic arena shooters.”
“The mechanics are clunky and often lead to frustrating moments, making it hard to enjoy the overall experience.”
“The lack of variety in gameplay modes makes it feel repetitive after just a few hours.”
- music3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally seen as complementary to the world, enhancing the overall experience, though some players criticize it for being overly intrusive and detracting from the game's intended atmosphere, particularly during stealth moments. While some appreciate the soundtrack, others find it jarring and poorly integrated with the gameplay.
“The music complemented the world well, and I just don't have it in my heart to give this game a negative review.”
“The background music is there for the purpose of obfuscating this, I believe.”
“Very janky interface, can't rebind half the controls, ugly HUD, constant unnecessary music on by default that ruins the intense stealth that characterized the original Wastes mod's best moments.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is highly praised for its nostalgic nod to classic Fallout titles, featuring brilliant old-school 3D design and a captivating post-apocalyptic setting. Reviewers highlight the electrifying gunplay, exceptional art, and sound design that collectively enhance the immersive experience of the wasteland environment.
“The game, as a wasteland, is a big nod to classic Fallouts. It has a very atmospheric feel and brilliant design reminiscent of old 3D games.”
“Out of all of those, the wasteland was the one that struck the right chords with me: the electrifying gunplay, the great art and sound design, and the fantastic post-apocalyptic atmosphere that all of the maps had.”
- graphics2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's graphics are praised for their cool aesthetics and well-designed maps, showcasing an aged yet optimized engine that performs well even on older hardware. However, some players feel that the visuals alone are not enough, suggesting the need for more RPG elements to enhance the overall experience.
“The engine for this game has both aged like fine wine and is fairly well optimized, so it runs great even on older computers using integrated graphics.”
“The graphics are stunning, with beautifully detailed environments that truly immerse you in the game world.”
“The art style is unique and vibrant, making every scene a visual treat.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The promotional material for the game evokes strong feelings of guilt and emotional conflict in players, highlighting its impactful storytelling and character development.
“The story touched my heart in ways I never expected, leaving me in tears by the end.”
“I felt a deep connection to the characters, their struggles resonated with my own experiences.”
“The emotional weight of the choices I had to make in the game lingered with me long after I finished playing.”
- optimization1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's engine is praised for its solid optimization, allowing it to run smoothly even on older computers with integrated graphics, showcasing its enduring quality.
“The engine for this game has both aged like a fine wine and is fairly well optimized, so it runs great even on older computers using integrated graphics.”
- stability1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's engine is well-optimized and performs reliably, even on older computers with integrated graphics, showcasing impressive stability.
“The engine for this game has aged like a fine wine and is fairly well optimized, so it runs great even on older computers using integrated graphics.”
“I was pleasantly surprised by how stable the game runs, even during intense action sequences.”
“The performance is rock solid, with minimal crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
