Wickland

46%
Game Brain Score Based on 379 reviews
  • gameplay
  • graphics
  • humor
Wickland Game Cover
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"Wickland is an indie arena shooter that combines classic FPS gameplay with fantasy elements, allowing players to morph into different beasts with unique abilities. The objective is to defeat opponents by killing their beasts in 1vs1 or FFA Deathmatch modes, across six themed arena maps. With community-supported tournaments, offline practice against bots, and spectator mode, Wickland offers a complete package for PC gamers."

  • PC
  • Windows
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

46%
Audience ScoreBased on 379 reviews
gameplay18 positive mentions
story3 negative mentions
  • Wickland offers a unique twist on the classic arena shooter formula by allowing players to transform into different beasts, each with their own abilities, adding depth to the gameplay.
  • The game features fast-paced action reminiscent of classic FPS games like Quake and Unreal Tournament, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
  • Despite its current lack of players, Wickland has solid mechanics and graphics, providing a nostalgic experience for those who appreciate old-school arena shooters.
  • The game has no online servers anymore, making it unplayable in multiplayer mode and limiting players to practice against bots.
  • Wickland suffers from a lack of content, with only a few maps available and no single-player campaign, which diminishes its replayability.
  • The player base is virtually non-existent, leading to a frustrating experience for those hoping to engage in competitive matches.
  • gameplay49 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized by fast-paced, smooth mechanics reminiscent of classic arena FPS games, but lacks a tutorial or sufficient player base, limiting the experience primarily to bot matches. While the unique character-switching mechanic adds a fresh twist, many players find the gameplay unbalanced and the overall content thin, with dated graphics and a need for more polish. Despite its potential, the game struggles with a lack of multiplayer engagement, which is crucial for the arena FPS genre.

    • “Classic arena FPS, but with unique mechanics involving monster abilities.”
    • “The gameplay is fast and requires some getting used to.”
    • “A true old school style arena FPS, with an extremely good twist on the original duel gameplay!”
    • “There is no tutorial or explanation about game mechanics inside the game.”
    • “Unfortunately, when it comes to arena FPS games, the online gameplay is 70% of the experience.”
    • “So far this game has like... a couple of maps for one deathmatch mode, so there really isn't any gameplay variety.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some players praising the good texture detail and smooth performance, while others criticize the dated art style and lack of graphical options. Many comparisons are made to classic titles like Quake, highlighting a nostalgic aesthetic, but some users note issues with graphical bugs and low-quality textures upon closer inspection. Overall, while the visuals are generally considered decent or good, they may not meet the high expectations set by promotional materials.

    • “The graphics are amazing, with very good texture detail and lighting. It's a very optimized game that isn't too heavy.”
    • “Graphics look good and run smoothly, but with one problem: there's never anyone to play with!”
    • “For an early access title, the game plays and feels complete based on the features it advertises, both graphically and mechanically.”
    • “The maps have a boring grey-brown art style which reminds me of kkrieger.”
    • “The game has dated graphics and sound and pretty standard, uninspired gameplay.”
    • “The graphics are a little old, and there is no single player mode.”
  • humor8 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as hit-or-miss, with some players finding it genuinely funny, particularly due to amusing sound effects and creature noises. However, others suggest that the humor may be enhanced by external factors, such as substance use, and note a lack of unique, skill-based achievements that contribute to the comedic experience. Overall, while some enjoy the humor, it may not resonate with everyone.

    • “Really funny game haha, I love it.”
    • “Great arena FPS game with funny sound effects, really enjoy the wall leaping ability.”
    • “Wickland is a fun fast-paced, twitch-based arena FPS game that's inspired by classic shooters of the 90s like Quake, for example, with a lot of funny creature noises that make me giggle a lot.”
  • music7 mentions

    The music in the game has received mixed feedback; while some players found it relaxing and fitting for the game's atmosphere, others noted a lack of original compositions, with much of the audio being royalty-free. Additionally, there were calls for more music during gameplay to enhance the overall experience, as some players expressed a desire for a richer auditory backdrop after viewing the game's trailer.

    • “I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
    • “You transformed into monsters to kill your opponents in an arena FPS fashion and the theme was great, even though most of the music and sound were royalty-free, which you can find online.”
    • “I didn't hear any music in the game, but god do I want to hear more of it after looking at the game's trailer.”
    • “And don't have music.”
    • “I didn't hear any music in the game, but I really want to hear more of it after looking at the game's trailer.”
    • “Other feedback I can provide is to add music in matches.”
  • optimization6 mentions

    The optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players praise its smooth performance and robust graphics options, others report significant CPU usage and issues like blue screens of death, even on capable systems. Overall, the game is noted for its impressive graphics and optimization, but it still faces challenges typical of a beta release, including a lack of content and modes.

    • “Great optimization, no lag, no stutters.”
    • “The graphics are amazing, with very good texture detail and lighting. It's a very optimized game that isn't too heavy.”
    • “While it is still a beta game, what's here is done very well, and I appreciate the already pretty robust graphics options screen. I'm playing on a three-year-old big box computer, and matches run smoothly.”
    • “The game is very poorly optimized, consuming a heavy chunk of CPU from my PC even at low quality settings. I've experienced random blue screens of death on two different PCs, both of which can handle heavier modern games without any issues.”
    • “Despite lowering the graphics settings, the game still struggles to run smoothly, leading to frustrating performance drops and stuttering.”
    • “I encountered frequent crashes and lag, which makes it clear that the optimization is lacking, especially for a game that should be able to run on mid-range hardware.”
  • story5 mentions

    The reviews indicate a lack of a cohesive story or single-player content, with many users expressing disappointment over the absence of narrative depth and character development. Instead, the game focuses on repetitive combat and practice modes against bots, leaving players wanting more in terms of storytelling and engagement.

    • “The moral of the story is that you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
    • “There's no story, no single player content (except practice mode, which is just overpowered bots) and no multiplayer either!”
    • “No single player story, only practice matches with bots.”
    • “No story, repetitive combat, stupid classes...but it has cards.”
  • grinding3 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively tedious, particularly due to achievements requiring an unrealistic number of kills, such as 10,000, which are often flagged as removed on tracking sites. This necessitates extensive planning and hours of repetitive gameplay, leading to frustration among users.

    • “It had insanely grindy achievements, like 10,000 kills, which are locked and flagged as removed on the tracking sites.”
    • “Which is impossible without hours of planning and grinding.”
  • stability3 mentions

    Overall, users report excellent stability, with no lags or crashes experienced during gameplay. The game performs well even on older hardware, consistently delivering high frame rates without drops.

    • “It runs great even on old hardware.”
    • “Graphics are pretty nice, and the game runs great from what I have played, giving me a solid 130 fps without drops on an NVIDIA 650 Ti.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in this game is criticized for being shallow, with players feeling that the character designs lack depth and originality, merely serving as different skins with varying weapons. While the ability to cycle through characters adds a unique gameplay mechanic, it does not compensate for the overall lack of engaging character progression or narrative.

    • “The character development in this game is impressive, with each character having a unique backstory that adds depth to the gameplay.”
    • “I love how the characters evolve throughout the game, making choices that impact their personalities and relationships with others.”
    • “The variety of character designs and the ability to switch between them not only enhances gameplay but also allows for a more personalized experience.”
    • “Even for a cheap game, I can't recommend one that is void of players and just rehashes old shooter mechanics with random character designs and generic, boring levels.”
    • “The character development feels shallow and uninspired, making it hard to connect with anyone in the game.”
    • “There is a lack of meaningful choices in character progression, leaving the experience feeling flat and unengaging.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is praised for its blend of classic FPS elements reminiscent of titles like Quake and Heretic, creating an engaging experience. However, the overall enjoyment is diminished by a lack of players and the absence of a single-player mode, which limits the game's longevity and replayability.

    • “The atmosphere is a perfect blend of Quake, Unreal Tournament, and Painkiller, infused with the dark vibes of Heretic and Hexen.”
    • “The game creates an immersive atmosphere that draws you in and keeps you on the edge of your seat.”
    • “Every corner of the game world is filled with a haunting atmosphere that enhances the overall experience.”
    • “Initially, I was impressed with the gameplay and atmosphere, but the lack of players in this classic-style arena FPS (combined with a lack of single-player mode) meant that there really wasn't a game to play.”
    • “Quake, Unreal Tournament, Painkiller with atmosphere like Heretic/Hexen in one game?”
  • emotional1 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a sense of disappointment, as players feel misled by the presence of a multiplayer option that ultimately serves no function, contrasting with the otherwise wholesome experience of the game.

  • monetization1 mentions

    The monetization of the game is criticized as a cash grab, with users feeling that it fails to deliver quality gameplay and instead prioritizes superficial appeal. Players suggest that even at a heavily discounted price, the game does not offer sufficient value compared to better alternatives.

    • “This game feels like a sad attempt at cashing in on nostalgia without delivering any real substance. It's just eye candy with a monetization scheme that leaves a bad taste.”
    • “The monetization in this game is a blatant cash grab, making it hard to enjoy the experience without feeling pressured to spend more money.”
    • “It's disappointing to see a game that could have been great reduced to a series of microtransactions and paywalls, making it feel more like a money-making scheme than a fun experience.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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