Wanderlust: Rebirth
- July 27, 2012
- Yeti Trunk
- 7h median play time
Get on Steam"Wanderlust: Rebirth" is a Role Playing Game set in the fantasy world of Valandria, with good graphics and options for 2-player local cooperative, single-player, and online multi-player. Players are summoned to Westhaven Arena and must band together to save mankind from an impending doom, uncovering a more complex plot along the way. There is a significant amount of grinding involved. The game features arcade-style action and four-player co-op mode.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game offers a nostalgic experience reminiscent of classic RPGs, appealing to fans of retro graphics and gameplay.
- Multiplayer mode enhances the experience, allowing for cooperative play that can make the game more enjoyable with friends.
- The character classes are diverse, each with unique abilities, providing different playstyles and strategies.
- The game suffers from significant technical issues, including lag, unresponsive controls, and AI companions that are often unhelpful.
- The grind for leveling up and crafting can feel excessive and tedious, detracting from the overall enjoyment of the game.
- The story and world-building are weak, with a lack of engaging content and exploration, making the gameplay feel repetitive.
- story65 mentions
- 18 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The game's story has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it generic, predictable, and lacking depth. While some appreciate the fantasy elements and occasional humor, others criticize the storytelling as underwhelming and poorly integrated into the gameplay. Overall, the narrative is often described as short and clichéd, failing to engage players meaningfully.
“Wonderful story, well-made fantasy game.”
“The story, the music, everything!”
“The story is captivating, and overall rewarding to see all the way through.”
“The story isn't interesting, and the game doesn't start having a story until it's too late for you to care anyway.”
“The storyline isn't original, and there is little depth in what you are trying to accomplish.”
“The story is laughable, the gamepad support controls are poor, it's extremely difficult to tell what's occurring in combat, and the point system for completing a chapter is opaque and obtuse.”
- gameplay51 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
The gameplay of this title has received mixed reviews, with many players criticizing its lack of fluidity, clunky controls, and overall design, particularly for solo play. While some appreciate the character classes and cooperative mechanics, others find the gameplay tedious and unengaging, often feeling lost or overwhelmed during combat. Overall, the game seems to rely heavily on multiplayer interaction, which detracts from the experience for those playing alone.
“The character classes are nicely done and gameplay is simple to pick up and play, but it was entertaining.”
“Challenging gameplay with many moves to smite your opponents to smithereens while you grind for hours to get better at the game and win some epic loot in the process.”
“Great gameplay mechanics that break away from the norm with an emphasis on multiplayer co-op.”
“Not at all intended for single player, but the gameplay is just not great either.”
“The gameplay wasn't that great; most of the time I had no idea what I was doing and was just spamming the attack button.”
“On top of that, the clunky combat and unpolished gameplay seems like it skipped its beta stage.”
- graphics39 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the charming retro pixel art style reminiscent of the 16-bit era, while others criticize it as poorly executed and lacking depth. Many users note that despite the nostalgic appeal, the visuals often feel clunky and unpolished, with some even comparing them unfavorably to RPG Maker games. Overall, while the graphics may resonate with fans of classic gaming, they are generally considered a weak point in the game's design.
“I like the graphics and I liked the game enough to buy the sequel, but if you are interested in the game, buy the sequel since it's better.”
“The graphics are unique, the music is awesome, and it has a very old-school feel to it.”
“I love the SNES-like graphics and feel to the game.”
“The game includes a graphical quality setting, as if it needed one, but the joke is that the setting doesn't actually do anything when you change it.”
“Graphically, Wanderlust: Rebirth wouldn't fly as a DOS-era game, let alone today.”
“The graphics don't seem to be retro-styled as much as just poorly drawn; the world consistently shows you oddly colored and out-of-place objects that you just can't interact with or even investigate.”
- grinding22 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- -9 % neutral mentions
- 95 % negative mentions
The grinding aspect of the game is widely criticized for being excessively tedious and unbalanced, requiring players to invest significant time in repetitive tasks to gather items and level up. Many reviewers note that the grind feels uninspired and serves primarily to raise numbers rather than enhance gameplay, leading to frustration, especially in single-player mode. Overall, the game is recommended only for those who enjoy extensive grinding, while others are advised to avoid it.
“At the beginning, it's pretty simple, and it isn't until mid-game where you start feeling the weight of not grinding the previous chapters relentlessly to collect items and crafting materials for recipes.”
“The grinding aspect of the game really pays off, as it allows you to unlock powerful abilities and gear that enhance your overall experience.”
“I love how grinding in this game feels rewarding; every hour spent farming resources leads to significant upgrades and progress.”
“On top of that, the level-up system doesn't really give you a means to get more powerful, and the way to become more powerful in general is ridiculously grindy, making you collect random items in an already super tiny inventory space.”
“Let me elaborate: it's a pixelated hack-and-slash RPG, extremely linear and grindy... except the grinding aspect is dull as hell.”
“You will need to spend hours grinding the gear you need to actually beat the game... this is just the grind for gear, not counting actual level progression.”
- music21 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some players appreciating its charm and nostalgic feel, while others criticize it for being limited in tracks and poorly integrated with gameplay. Several users noted issues with audio controls, including loud volumes and sound bugs, which detracted from the overall experience. Despite these drawbacks, a few players highlighted the soundtrack as a standout feature, comparing it favorably to classic titles.
“I liked the music, and the graphics, and the story, and the random dumb humor thrown in.”
“On the good side, the graphics are charming and fairly well done, and there are some pretty decent musical tracks throughout the game, as well.”
“The graphics are unique, the music is awesome, and it has a very old-school feel to it.”
“The tutorial is confusing, the GUI is bare, the music is painful, the chat system archaic, controller support awkward, and most of the features go unexplained.”
“I sadly cannot recommend this game; the controls are awkward and clumsy, the areas are tiny and constantly having to load the next area, the music starts and stops with pauses... nope, sorry, not for me.”
“Broken audio controls, meaning you can't even turn down the earsplittingly loud music.”
- stability11 mentions
- 27 % positive mentions
- -18 % neutral mentions
- 91 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its significant stability issues, including frequent bugs, lag, and game-breaking glitches that persist even on high-end systems. Players report frustrating gameplay experiences due to unresponsive controls, balance problems, and a poorly functioning multiplayer mode. While some users find enjoyment in the game, the overall consensus highlights that its stability problems severely detract from the experience.
“A simple RPG that runs great on low-end computers.”
“The game maintains a steady frame rate, even during intense battles.”
“I've experienced no crashes or bugs, making for a smooth gaming experience.”
“It was buggy from day 1, and drops to 5 fps, even on a brand new computer that can run Skyrim.”
“However, it is a buggy game, with balance issues, and the online is dead.”
“It's extremely buggy and very poorly designed.”
- optimization4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting significant performance issues, including stuttering screens and poor pacing. These technical shortcomings detract from the overall experience, overshadowing the potential of its diverse classes and gameplay styles. Frequent interruptions from poorly directed story segments and loading screens further diminish the enjoyment.
“Earning CP (skill points) based on your performance rank in each level adds a rewarding layer of optimization to the gameplay.”
“The optimization of skill point allocation encourages players to improve their performance and strategize their approach to each level.”
“I love how the game rewards you with CP based on your rank, making every playthrough feel meaningful and optimized for growth.”
“A terrible UI, terrible pacing, and terrible performance optimization bring down what seems like a core game with great potential.”
“Each class possesses different skills and drastically different styles of play, but the actual game is so often interrupted by poorly directed story segments, performance issues, or loading screens that it simply isn't worth the trouble.”
“But greeted by a stuttering screen.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -25 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is mixed; while some players find it enjoyable and worth revisiting, especially for character improvement and achievements, others feel that replaying can become tedious. The potential for a great experience is noted, particularly when playing with others, but the enjoyment may vary significantly based on individual preferences.
“A short action RPG with great replay value and a fantastic experience, especially if you find people to play with.”
“This could really be a very nice idea and add great replayability.”
“Replayability: there's enough to keep you coming back for more if you want to improve your character's skills and/or equipment or go for achievements.”
“Replayability: 6/10 (replaying is a chore)”
“Replayability: there's enough to keep you coming back for more if you want to improve your character's skills and/or equipment or want to go for achievements.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is appreciated for its randomness and nostalgic elements, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience. Players find it both funny and charming, enhancing their connection to the game.
“I liked the music, the graphics, the story, and the random dumb humor thrown in.”
“A very great game, with a nice taste of humor and a lot of nostalgic feel behind it.”
“But that's why it's hilarious the first time you see it.”
- character development1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is criticized for being shallow, with characters described as one-dimensional and expendable. Protagonists are portrayed as mechanical vessels, lacking depth and primarily motivated by external rewards rather than personal growth or meaningful narratives.
“Character development: characters are one-dimensional and expendable; protagonists are mechanical vessels who only strive for the next piece of bait dangled in front of them.”
“The lack of depth in character development makes it hard to care about the protagonists or their journeys.”
“Characters feel like mere plot devices rather than fully realized individuals, leading to a disconnection from the story.”
