doops.
Member
- Jun 3, 2020
- 3,873
- Sep 12, 2024
- #1
Game Info
Developer: Blue Manchu
Publisher: Maximum Entertainment
Genre: FPS / Strategy / Roguelike
Platforms: PC (Steam, Epic Games Store), PS5, Xbox Series S|X, Switch
Price: $29.99, £29.99 €29.99 [Pricing varies by region and platforms.]
Release Date: September 12th, 2024
Game Length: ~12 hours for main campaign
But my overwhelming impression is of a game that wants to set its own pace, its own "high noon" rhythm. And I quite liked that. As a roguelike its quirks will either endear you to it or make you grimace in mild frustration. Its up-and-down pacing, both on and off the battlefield, makes it hard to recommend to people who like their roguelikes snappy. And while I thoroughly enjoyed the cowboy chatter, it might grate on anyone who wants to hurry up and hit the next showdown. It's a slow burn and the opening hour doesn't communicate the intention particularly well. But as anyone who has really tried cooking beans over a fire can testify, once they're warm, they're just fine.
The novelty of a 13-character cast is a solid hook for Wild Bastards, but a myriad of streamlined and sidelined elements compromise its potential to the point of becoming a trip to outer space that you won't remember for long after hitting credits.
Wild Bastards is good, but it didn't quite hit as hard as we'd hoped. That said, the studio's fantastic art direction and writing continue to shine through, enough to make this a title worth looking at.
https://www.shacknews.com/article/141375/wild-bastards-review-score
Wild Bastards has a lot of charm and style, and that's enough of a hook to want to dive in and see what the game has to offer. Using a sizable roster of characters who are the major differentiators for gameplay as the main motivator to keep going is effective as well. But once you've got the Bastards roster filled out and you have combat figured out well enough, that's about where the buck stops in this sci-fi western. It's a chaotic and challenging experience, but promises a lot of complexity and nuance that seems bountiful at first, but fizzles a bit given time. Some balancing issues hold it back the most from being truly fulfilling, but there's a little bit of genre fatigue talking on my part as well. On its own merits, Wild Bastards is ambitious and kinetic, and will definitely put FPS fans' skills to the test.
In an Autumn release schedule of sequels, hero shooters, and the latest slightly different iteration of a long-running franchise; the uniqueness of Wild Bastards resolutely stands out. This innovative, bonkers, daring, and entirely brilliant genre-hybrid absolutely demands your attention.
Taking everything learnt from Void Bastards, Wild Bastards is an inventive spiritual sequel, blending strategy and shooter perfectly within its space cowboy antics. It's a must play, no doubt.
I knew I was going to enjoy Wild Bastards, but I was consistently surprised by how much I did. It's incredibly engaging and fun, with a world so full of life and character that it practically begs to be played. It's the perfect pick-up-and-play game, especially suited to a handheld system like the Switch—but good luck putting it down once you start.
Bananastand
Member
- Oct 26, 2017
- 1,477
- Sep 12, 2024
- #2
Okay this sounds pretty good! Now I just need to wait for some Switch impressions.
KefkaPalazzo
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 1,620
- Sep 12, 2024
- #3
I really enjoyed Void Bastards, and reviews seem solid. I'll get this at some point.
SolidSnakeUS
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 10,840
- Sep 12, 2024
- #4
Hopefully the reviews stay solid in the 80s. I did like Void Bastards.
Menome
"This guy are sick"
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 6,690
- Sep 12, 2024
- #5
I didn't even realise this was a thing until I saw this thread. Instantly added to Wishlist.
Santar
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 5,967
- Norway
- Sep 12, 2024
- #6
Tried the demo of this, but didn't think it was great. You spend the majority of time in various menus and on the map screen. The fps segments are incredibly short (1 -2 mins often), simple and not that plentiful.
You spend so much time building up your staple of interesting characters with buffs and the like, but you hardly get to actually play as them.
People expecting something similar to Void Bastards will be disappointed as this is basically nothing like that, except for the visual style.
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SilentStorm
Member
- Apr 14, 2019
- 2,387
- Sep 12, 2024
- #7
Wary because of the RPS review, when it's a shooter roguelite, i do like my games to be snappy and fast, hearing about the downtime makes me want to get the game less.
OP
OP
doops.
Member
- Jun 3, 2020
- 3,873
- Sep 12, 2024
- #8
Incredibly positive review from PCGamer! (91/100)
Wild Bastards review
Blue Manchu's creative hybrid combines whip-fast shootouts with thoughtful cowboy management.
www.pcgamer.com
Messofanego
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 27,491
- UK
- Sep 12, 2024
- #9
Void Bastards was excellent, but it doesn't seem this is better although I'm still down for their take on FPSs and their comic book aesthetic is killer.
ninnyjams
Member
- Oct 27, 2017
- 3
- Sep 12, 2024
- #10
I enjoyed the demo ... I did wish the shooting segments were a little tighter and longer, but ultimately, I loved the first game so much and I think I'm going to disagree with the bulk of the negative reviews. Think I'll be grabbing this one shortly.
PaulloDEC
Visited by Knack
Member
- Oct 25, 2017
- 7,786
- Australia
- Sep 12, 2024
- #11
As someone who adored Void Bastards, the demo for this didn't really grab me. Reviews seem encouraging though, I ought to give it another try.
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