Wasteland

80%
Game Brain Score Based on 215 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Wasteland Game Cover
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"Wasteland" is a single-player, Science Fiction Turn Based Strategy game with a good story and excellent gameplay, set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland in 2087. As a Desert Ranger, a lawman of a U.S. Army detachment, you must survive against mutants, raiders, and harsh environments, using your MAC 17 machine gun and other make-shift weapons. Its excellent music and challenging gameplay will keep you engaged.

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Reviews

80%
Audience ScoreBased on 215 reviews
story16 positive mentions
grinding7 negative mentions
  • Wasteland 1 is a classic CRPG that laid the groundwork for the Fallout series, offering a rich and immersive post-apocalyptic experience.
  • The game features a high level of player choice, allowing for various approaches to problem-solving and character customization.
  • Despite its age, Wasteland 1 retains a unique charm with its text-based storytelling and quirky humor, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of retro games.
  • The game suffers from outdated graphics and a clunky user interface, which can be frustrating for modern players unfamiliar with older RPG mechanics.
  • Many players find the lack of direction and unclear objectives to be a significant barrier to enjoyment, often requiring the use of guides to progress.
  • The combat system can feel tedious and punishing, with frequent random encounters and a steep learning curve that may deter new players.
  • story54 mentions

    The story in this game is generally considered underwhelming, with a basic premise of characters venturing into the wilderness to defeat an evil entity. While some players appreciate the detailed text descriptions that enhance world-building, many find the narrative lacks complexity and coherence, especially in the early stages. However, the mid-game quests become more engaging, and the game's storytelling format allows for imaginative interpretation, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of classic RPGs.

    • “The story is surprisingly detailed for such an old game, especially with all the paragraphs of text that help with world-building.”
    • “It has an easy-to-follow story, atmospheric environments, great music, great characters and dialogue, and that wasteland quirkiness we all know and love.”
    • “The storytelling is pretty good.”
    • “The story is nearly impossible to make out, and the gameplay is just too unforgiving to enjoy.”
    • “I'm not that far into the game, but there is no compelling story or quest system in the game.”
    • “It can't be played easily, crashes a lot, and the story is about as bad as you can imagine, but hey, it was the 80s, and the 80s sucked.”
  • graphics49 mentions

    The graphics of Wasteland are widely regarded as dated and simplistic, reflecting the limitations of late 1980s technology. While some players appreciate the nostalgic charm of the pixelated art style, many acknowledge that the visuals are not a strong point of the game, often overshadowed by its gameplay and storytelling. Overall, the graphics serve more as a backdrop to the text-driven experience, with some players preferring the original art over any modern updates.

    • “Despite the simplistic graphics, the game is very atmospheric thanks to the music, beautifully written descriptions, and wacky enemy portraits.”
    • “I love the original artwork (also it's animated as opposed to the smoothed out static upgraded pictures) and the added soundtrack is exceptional.”
    • “Not the most graphically wonderful game compared to today's games, but like many other older games, what they lacked in graphics they more than made up for in gameplay and depth of story, and so does Wasteland.”
    • “Yes, the graphics are terrible.”
    • “If you play this, make sure to turn the new high-res graphics off because they're ugly and don't have any animation like the original art does.”
    • “Most people will be discouraged by the outdated graphics and initially rough gameplay.”
  • gameplay42 mentions

    The gameplay of Wasteland is characterized by its archaic mechanics and steep learning curve, which can be frustrating for new players but rewarding for those familiar with classic RPGs. While the combat and character customization offer depth and replayability, the lack of guidance and outdated graphics may deter some players. Overall, it provides a nostalgic experience reminiscent of early RPGs, appealing primarily to those willing to invest time in mastering its systems.

    • “The opening areas—Highpool, Ag Center, and the desert nomads' camp are all designed to teach you the game's basic mechanics: how to use skills, how to strategize for combat and dungeons, and how to approach NPC interactions.”
    • “Character creation is great; you can make your party members male or female, American, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, etc. You can name them, plus there are many different stats and skills. The customization is endless, the exploration is great, and the wasteland is free to explore with many different settlements and locations and different paths to take on quests. The replay value is endless.”
    • “Ultimately, I definitely recommend Wasteland if you can look past the dated graphics and archaic game mechanics.”
    • “Despite having read the manual, it took me a few hours to figure out how to play the game, and the first few hours were not enjoyable as I was not comfortable with the controls and mechanics.”
    • “Games from this particular era come with a lot of expected baggage, such as inscrutable user interfaces, obscure important mechanics, and an unfair difficulty curve.”
    • “If you are someone who cares about gameplay or graphics, this is not the game for you.”
  • music37 mentions

    The music in the game has received praise for enhancing the atmosphere and providing a unique retro feel, especially with the addition of a new soundtrack that complements the original sound effects. While some users noted that the voice acting was poorly implemented, the overall musical experience, including tracks reminiscent of early Fallout games, significantly enriches gameplay. Many players appreciated the updated soundtrack, which they felt added depth and enjoyment to the game, making it a standout feature despite its simplistic graphics.

    • “Despite the simplistic graphics, the game is very atmospheric thanks to the music, beautifully written descriptions, and wacky enemy portraits.”
    • “The music is really well done and calls back to the early Fallout games.”
    • “The patch that added a soundtrack really made a great difference.”
    • “This particular version of the game features a soundtrack and some voice-acted narration, although I would not consider either of those to be particularly critical to the experience.”
    • “The soundtrack loops through a handful of songs and the voiceover is, or at least was when I played this when it came out, comically poorly implemented, with the actor occasionally reading the wrong lines or even stopping halfway through to redo the take.”
    • “Other than that, it's pretty much just like the old PC version, which is as accessible to new players as noise music is to regular people.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is often described as reminiscent of the Fallout series, featuring quirky characters, dark humor, and absurd situations that evoke a nostalgic 80s vibe. Players appreciate the funny writing and imaginative storytelling, although some find the gameplay mechanics a bit dated. Overall, while the humor is a highlight, it may not be enough to justify a purchase for everyone.

    • “It's deep, funny, and interesting with cool mechanics and varied enemies.”
    • “Wasteland has a very similar sense of humor to the Fallout series, including weird locations, quirky characters, and the descriptive gory deaths of enemies.”
    • “It has very good humor and a very good storytelling format which allows you to use your imagination to envision the world, rather than having somebody else create it for you.”
  • grinding7 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and confusing, often requiring significant time investment to improve character builds or understand mechanics. While the game is forgiving in terms of character death and lacks timed quests, the overall experience can feel laborious and unenjoyable, leading some to prefer watching playthroughs instead.

    • “It's hard, it's grindy, and it's hard to understand how the game works without a manual.”
    • “Too rough of a diamond to spend my Saturday grinding through for only minimal enjoyment.”
    • “I tried getting into it, found it exceedingly tedious, and decided to watch a good let's play of it instead.”
  • atmosphere7 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, with users highlighting the impactful music, engaging descriptions, and quirky enemy designs that create an immersive experience reminiscent of films like Mad Max. Despite its simplistic graphics and occasional randomness, the atmosphere effectively evokes a sense of nostalgia and excitement, enhancing the overall enjoyment of the RPG.

    • “Despite the simplistic graphics, the game is very atmospheric thanks to the music, beautifully written descriptions, and wacky enemy portraits.”
    • “The music is amazing and sounds so natural in the game that I was genuinely surprised it was not in the original release. I'm super glad it was added because it adds so much atmosphere.”
    • “Wasteland surprisingly has a good atmosphere, and sometimes I can actually imagine the rangers fighting off hordes of robots or leather jerks; I can really immerse myself in this game despite how 'dated' it may be.”
    • “The game gets even crazier, events are weirder and more out there, the atmosphere of 'war never changes' is multiplied by 3!”
    • “Nostalgic, very fun... you get a bit lost at times and it feels a bit random at times, but the game concept and atmosphere make up for it.”
  • replayability3 mentions

    The game offers exceptional replayability due to its extensive character customization options, diverse exploration opportunities, and multiple quest paths, allowing players to experience the post-apocalyptic world in various ways. Despite its dated graphics and text-heavy presentation, the engaging mechanics and immersive gameplay contribute to a lasting appeal that surpasses many modern titles.

    • “Great replayability, amazing post-apocalyptic world and immersive gameplay.”
    • “Character creation is great; you can make your party members male or female, and you can choose from various ethnic backgrounds. The customization is endless, and the exploration is fantastic with many different settlements and locations. The replay value is endless.”
    • “Mechanics like this allow for more replayability than other CRPGs of the era.”
    • “Character creation is great; you can make your party members male or female, American, Chinese, Mexican, Indian, etc. You can name them, plus there are many different stats and skills. The customization is endless, the exploration is great, the wasteland is free to explore with many different settlements and locations and different paths to take on quests. The replay value is endless, but the graphics are dated and the game is mostly text. The game was made in the 80s, but the gameplay is great and is better than most current AAA games.”
  • stability3 mentions

    The game has been criticized for its significant stability issues, with users reporting numerous bugs and a frustrating user interface. Many reviewers advise against purchasing it, citing a lack of polish and overall dissatisfaction with the experience.

    • “Buggy.”
    • “Do not buy this game, do not waste your money as it comes in Wasteland 2 for free... and that's even a raw deal because Wasteland 2 is buggy with a strange UI and a lot of text.”
  • monetization2 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game is criticized for its reliance on advertising other titles, which can detract from the review's authenticity. However, some users suggest that purchasing games like Fallout during sales is a worthwhile alternative.

    • “Now, I hate advertising other games in my reviews since it ends up making it look like the entire review was just an ad, but you should get Fallout when it's on sale instead.”
    • “I justify advertising Fallout in this review since Wasteland and Fallout were both made by Interplay.”
  • optimization1 mentions

    Users appreciate the optimization of older pixelated graphics, noting that these simpler art styles not only evoke nostalgia but also demonstrate the creativity of developers working within technological limitations. This preference highlights a desire to experience classic RPG gameplay that runs smoothly on low-spec PCs.

    • “I appreciate the optimization in this game, as it allows for smooth gameplay even on lower-end systems. The developers have done a fantastic job of making sure that the experience is accessible to a wider audience.”
    • “The game's optimization is impressive, ensuring that it runs seamlessly without sacrificing the quality of the graphics or gameplay. It's a testament to the developers' commitment to providing a great experience for all players.”
    • “I love how the optimization allows for a nostalgic experience with pixelated graphics. It captures the charm of older games while running smoothly on modern hardware, making it a joy to play.”
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Critic Reviews

100% average critic score

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