Wasteland 2: Director's Cut Reviews
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I apologize for the delay, but we have rounded up a number of reviews that have been published for the Director's Cut of Wasteland 2. So far the reception seems positive but not enthusiastic. The console interface garnered mixed opinions from the critics, who also cited numerous technical issues in their reviews, but the additional mechanics, improved visuals and added voice acting are almost universally praised.
IGN, 8.5/10.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut presents much the same experience that impressed us last year, but here it's given a facelift that affects everything from its graphics to hours of new voiceover files. While echoes of the original release pacing problems remain, the Director's Cut does much to add variety to the experience with new features such as perks, quirks, and precision aiming. It's likely not enough to warrant a replay if you've already finished it, but if this is your first foray into inXile's bleak vision of the future, this is the best place to start off.
ZTGD, 9/10.
Wasteland 2 is a sequel to Wasteland which I never played and that fact didn't sour or ruin my experience whatsoever. The world crafted here is excellent and the vast amount of characters, story, and side content is enough to keep players busy for hours on end. It's not the most user-friendly game at the start, especially for those having never played the genre before, but if given the time, will grow on players immensely. There are new inclusions to the director's cut that I only knew about due to having read up on them. It seems these additions from enhanced visuals to new tactics, only goes to make an already great game even better. You'd be hard pressed to find a new next-gen console RPG that offers this much content and at the price point of $39.99, yet here we are. Wasteland 2 is for players looking to get lost in world that seems perfectly comfortable in giving the players all the options at their fingertips. The wasteland is a host to deadly enemies, characters, and vile world, one in which I take my very own created desert rangers, with their own personal stories, my stories, and try to live. to see another day.
PlayStation Universe, 8.5/10.
There's a certain something about the game that feels special. It may well be down to how unique it is in the realms of console games (at least until Divinity: Original Sin releases). Even with the adaptations for the PS4 it remains very much a PC game in design (and a delightfully old school one at that) and that contributes to the uniqueness of it. I found I could embrace Wasteland 2's quirks and flaws as part of its character, but there is absolutely no denying this won't be the case for others. As stressed before, this is already far removed from your usual console fare so further obstacles aren't going to help those curious to try a different style of RPG. That would be unfortunate, as the seedy hell that is the world of Wasteland 2 is easily one of the more interesting and intriguing ones to grace this generation.
God is a Geek, 8.5/10.
Graphically, it's a little too brown and drab at times, and the busy screen and uncooperative map are genuine issues, but the flip-side of the coin is a vast, immersive adventure filled with danger and adventure that mixes elements of Fallout with Baldur's Gate and XCOM. One thing that is clear is that there's nothing else like Wasteland 2 on the PS4 right now. It's an old school challenge, abyss-deep and sprawling, that rewards your continued efforts with a real sense of accomplishment and progression.
This is Xbox, 85%.
If you want a challenge and don't like your hand being held, then give Wasteland 2: Director's Cut a go it demands you pay it attention and be confident managing your squad through a set of menus. The achievements are tough to earn this is no mere waltz through the wasteland and you won't be earning GS just for completing missions. The strategic turn-based combat is superb and it more than makes up for an XCOM shaped hole missing from my Xbox One collection.
GameZone, scoreless.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is the best version of an already very good game. For console players that have missed out on the game over the last year, Director's Cut is a great opportunity to get a taste of a true C-RPG made to work with a controller. For PC players who already own the game, Director's Cut comes as a free upgrade, so everybody will be getting the best possible version of the game.
Wasteland 2 is an emblematic of the great things that can come from Crowdfunding and is a love letter to role-playing games of old. Even though it will soon be overshadowed by Bethesda's upcoming behemoth, Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is worth every role-playing fan's time.
Digital Chumps, 9.0/10.
In summary, while at the time of this writing I am still far from completing Wasteland 2 Director's Cut, I can see, hear, and feel enough changes and improvements from the original release that the Director's Cut is clearly the definitive way to play. There should be little surprise in that, though -- any game with what amounts to about an extra year of development time is bound to improve, but inXile, fueled by Producer Brian Fargo, have clearly not lost the passion for this game and it shows with the sheer volume and depth of changes they have incorporated here.
PlayStation LifeStyle, 7.5/10.
If you can get past the UI and control issues, then by all means, get Wasteland 2: Director's Cut on PlayStation 4. It offers up hours of engrossing and strategic gameplay, and is probably worth the $39.99 if you're a fan of old-school RPGs. However, if you have a decent PC, then I recommend getting it on there it'll be a better optimized experience.
Chalgyr's Game Room, 8.5/10.
For all of the things that Wasteland 2: Director's Cut gets right, there are a few optimization tweaks the title could have used. Similar to other games like Nobunaga's Ambition: Sphere of Influence, it feels as though this title was optimized for PC. PC screens sit closer to a user than a television usually does, so while the television is generally larger (52" in my living room, 42" in my den), the text felt a bit on the small side at times. And since this is a very text heavy game, long gameplay sessions could cause a bit of uncomfortable eye strain until I pulled my sofa up closer to the big screen. The UI is also a bit problematic, and though that is often case case for RPGs of this nature, it could have been tweaked and streamlined a bit better I believe. Like the font size, the UI just feels as though it was built for a keyboard and mouse.
Still, the progression game with its myriad of skills is an excellent gameplay loop that had me wanting to complete every mission I could get my grubby mitts on. The strategic combat is a lot of fun and many of my choices felt like they actually carried weight. It was my story, not just a story I was along for the ride on, and that helped to make Wasteland 2: Director's Cut a memorable experience.
GamesRadar, 3/5.
Unfortunately there's a mutated fly beast lying legs akimbo in the Wasteland 2 soup dish. The interface is about as smoothly implemented as a pineapple suppository. Its tiny fonts, muddy icons and awkward prompts make navigating the menus a huge chore. If you're going to bury a metric ton of complexity in menus intended for pad-based navigation you need some uniformity. Diablo III has it nailed, with radial menus which are mirrored across different areas of the UI. Whether picking through skills, weapons or your followers' abilities, each page required you to flick around a quickly familiar circle of options. In Wasteland 2 trying to find your way around each tab on your menu is like sticking your head into an assortment of beehives.
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Those aforementioned environments do vary, but none can be said to be impressive, or to entice in their design. It's a tough ask, to make a landscape as alluring as it is grim, but hey, that's what needs to happen if we're to plug our eyes into it for the full 60+ hours required to polish the game off. It's a factor which will see many people bounce straight off of Wasteland 2, which is a huge shame. Even as its progenitor did way back when, there's a unique blend of survival combat here which others could and should learn from.
Critically Sane, 5/5.
Consoles, in particular, are in need of a game like Wasteland 2: Directors Cut, and any fan of the genre or setting would be remiss for skipping this title. With such a beautifully desolate world to explore, and consequences to be had, Wasteland 2 is both an explorer's paradise and an emotional roller-coaster.
Metro, 7/10.
So while Wasteland 2 may look old fashioned, that's not the problem. In fact it's actually quite attractive-looking at times, and the Director's Cut has seen a subtle improvement beyond even the original. The issue though is that in its attempts to roll back the clock the game throws the baby out with the bathwater, refusing to accept more modern ways of doing things even when they'd clearly be to its advantage.
And yet even with this obstinacy it's still a hugely satisfying role-playing experience, and for console owners in particular the perfect segue into Fallout 4 itself.
The Sixth Axis, 7/10.
Wasteland 2 is an excellent game, but at the same time does nothing particularly new or ground-breaking within the RPG genre. It's easy to see why PC gamers have become so enamoured with it, yet it's hard to imagine Wasteland garnering the same appeal on consoles. Despite inXile's valiant effort in bringing the game to PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, it never feels quite at home.
GameRevolution, 4.0/5.
Wasteland 2: Director's Cut is a fantastic retro-styled CRPG with many modern upgrades. Sure, it has a few bugs and takes a while before it becomes truly interesting and fun, but that's par for the course for games with 50+ hours of gameplay. Despite some flaws, it's still a great game that offers a real challenge and isn't hindered by coddling. Fans of stat-heavy RPGs will surely love it's post-apocalyptic goodness!
WCCFTech, 7/10.
Wasteland 2 is an upsetting game, because it shouldn't be so much of a chore to play. Players of the PC version are vocal and happy with the experience. It is a challenge, a throwback to the true RPGs of yesteryear. It offers a competent story with some difficult choices, and a good sense of humor, with some stellar voice acting to really help immerse yourself into the life of a desert ranger. And all this is true for the console port as well, except that it just doesn't feel right. The controls are awkward, the systems unexplained and unclear and the combat wholeheartedly disappointing in its current state.
If you are looking for an RPG to sink your teeth into, I'd hold off on Wasteland 2 Director's Cut for now, just while the Desert Rangers gear up and prepare themselves properly for what the wasteland holds.
The developer himself said that it had been a challenge to port the game to consoles, and it's just one that isn't complete yet right now; hopefully, inXile will be able to fix these issues via patches, because there's nothing quite like this on consoles at least until Divinity: Original Sin Enhanced Edition hits later this month.
PSGamer, 8.0/10.
If you haven't played this game before, Wasteland 2 isn't just another post apocalyptic RPG and it isn't just filler until Fallout 4 arrives. It's a extensive, thought provoking and enjoyable romp through a twisted world. Sure, it has its issues but does enough to set itself apart from its many competitors.
