Some scenes start with a bang, while others freeze the action in time. The sci-fi roguelike shooter Wild Bastards doesn’t quite hit the ground running with its most compelling material. You could suddenly find yourself at the epicentre of a galactic pursuit, where you would swiftly have to learn the ins and outs. As the game’s early hours unfold, the arsenal appears underwhelming, the environments starkly lacking in character, and the rewards uninspired, while the repetitive cycle of beaming down to a planet and engaging in small-scale showdowns risks devolving into monotony within the initial 60 minutes. Instead, you inevitably encounter a reformed outlaw acquaintance who offers a fresh perspective on eliminating nefarious characters. Then one other fellow bandit. And one other. As your spaceship rapidly fills with a diverse assortment of individuals loudly debating and arguing with each other, it becomes increasingly clear what the true nature of this peculiar game is slowly beginning to reveal itself. There isn’t much of a marketing campaign going on here, and this game’s speed doesn’t quite live up to the standards of modern first-person shooters or even your average roguelike experience. In this action-packed shooter, Western-inspired towns are ravaged by tumbleweeds as players savor the thrill of anticipating each intense showdown.
Watch on YouTube
It stands out in several distinct ways.
A comprehensive branching map guides you through a galaxy of possibilities, each planet featuring an intricate planetary floor map teeming with nodes and complex route networks that converge on a singular destination: a specific beacon waiting to be reached. Encountering your path are formidable foes, triggering intense one-on-one confrontations. Brief, randomly-generated gunfights take place in a variety of environments, including urban areas, murky swamps, and rugged mining quarries. While crucial choices are made on the planetary map, it’s the immersive ground battles where these decisions ultimately pay off.
As visitors wander through these abandoned spaces, they’re enveloped in a hauntingly powerful “ghost city” ambiance. A rogue household of bigots has resolved to imprison your group of mutants and robots at their mercy. These stealthy foes and their loyal companions conceal themselves amongst the numerous shacks, boulders, rooftops, and outbuildings, often lying in wait to ambush unsuspecting adventurers. As they confer, they inadvertently reveal their positions through lively discussions that burst forth in audible, animated conversations, often accompanied by vibrant gestures and energetic posturing from the direction where they’re standing.
As I grasped the game’s rhythm, it clicked into place. Here is the rewritten text:
The visible indicators serve as a thematic replacement for the ubiquitous “view through partitions” feature common in video games, which keeps players informed about enemy locations. This innovative feature invites you to pause and focus, allowing you to observe life’s subtle nuances without compromising other visual elements on the screen by applying a calming blue tint.
It’s not just another take on shooting dudes. As a dynamic duo, your heroes face off against each other on the battlefield, their partnership taking shape in a unique and thrilling way – not necessarily aligned beside one another. You adjust seamlessly as needed, effortlessly transitioning between roles without disrupting the narrative flow. The unique abilities of that stated weapon are what set it apart from other arms, further enhanced by a personal well-being gauge that monitors its overall health. Thriving on a hostile planet demands maximizing one’s well-being in between intense confrontations. This isn’t a frantic, high-octane game where you frantically navigate around obstacles or rush between intense action sequences. It’s extra cautious than that?
As I faced off against an unexpected horde of rocket-wielding grizzlies camouflaged among swampy vegetation, the intensity was palpable, much like when I found myself under siege by relentless waves of rooftop bombers showering me with unrelenting cluster munitions. It’s unusually slow-paced most of the time. Tense, even. As I navigate through the terrain, I move stealthily around each bend, my ears attuned to detect the distinctive gurgling sounds emanating from those pesky “porcupines”. As you cautiously enter the ravaged settlement, you’re confronted by three heavily armed bushwhackers, who seem unwilling to budge from their standoff position.
In this moment, Wild Bastards embodies its most evocative essence, wholeheartedly surrendering to the serene yet intense allure of a classic cowboy standoff. Environmental hazards up the problem. A swampy exoplanet features treacherous aquatic habitats teeming with toxic waters, necessitating caution and vigilance; conversely, a frigid celestial body is encrusted with layers of snow that imperceptibly impede forward progress as one navigates its icy terrain. As tempests ravage the alien landscape, crackling bolts of electricity pursue you relentlessly, prompting both you and your adversary to seek refuge within the safety of translucent bubble domes, or dare to brave the exposed terrain with deliberate, measured steps. As daylight wanes, dusk typically sets in, dramatically reducing the visual range of every gunfighter involved.
In the vast expanse of the map world, numerous retailers actively promote a wide range of useful modifications, offering players an array of enhancements to elevate their gaming experience? We’re discussing boots that amplify your rooftop visibility, gun components that accelerate your reloading process, and a poncho offering 50% fire resistance. Most are atypical. When traversing vast distances between star systems, you risk losing access to your accumulated mods across entire planetary clusters. As a seasoned roguelike enthusiast, you might detest this. In line with traditional roguelike expectations, players are expected to accumulate rewards until their inevitable demise. Used to what? Here’s a different perspective: If you found the rusted armaments in The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild disconcerting, it’s probable that this game will also test your tolerance.
The actual purpose is not the buildup of mods, however. As explorers reached the pinnacle of the star system, they stumbled upon an unassuming coffin, its lid slightly ajar, revealing a peculiar package: a freshly deceased, yet pleasantly pleasant outlaw, akin to a macabre treasure chest. The starting protagonists, the unassuming yet deadly Spider Rosa brandishing her pistol and the enigmatic Casino packing a powerful shotgun, are as ordinary as plain yogurt. Meet The Chosen One, a pioneering long-range sniper who revolutionizes combat with their unique aiming reticle – a mesmerizing game of holographic hangman. As you take down enemies, each successful hit adds a new line to the puzzle, culminating in an instant kill when the hangman is solved. Or the minigun-wielding Preach, who surprisingly heals herself as she unleashes a barrage of bullets on her enemies. Kaboom, a ghostly entity, has the uncanny ability to swiftly become invisible as effortlessly as one might toss sticks of dynamite. With a swift motion, Smoky summons a smoldering ember from the very palm of his hand, then methodically reloads it by carefully counting each individual finger.
Many voice actors take great pride in their cowboy portrayals, thoroughly immersing themselves in the linguistic nuances of the Old West’s distinctive dialects. Some enthusiasts revel in the mishmash of spit-and-polish science fiction. As the enemy unleashes their deadly laser gaze on The Choose, an outlaw intervenes, remarking, “That’s just not right, taking out someone with eye beams.” When The Choose is reborn, they’re advised to chill out, to stop getting worked up over everything. “I’m not rattled about Jack or anything else!” he bellows.
It’s not just the flavorful language either. Why do those individuals who consistently engage in unscrupulous behavior find themselves locked in bitter disputes, refusing to collaborate or compromise during crucial moments of confrontation, unlike upstanding members of society? To reorganize your team configurations and any other related aspects. It’s utterly tiring to maintain this colloquial tone. God rattle?) That’s an effective strategy. You’re in for a real treat when you find those cans of beans!
To ease any potentially divisive emotions among your group, consider utilizing these carefully prepared baked beans as a unifying force. Let’s reconnect with old buddies using their shared passion for beans. (All proper. A plethora of linguistic liberties were taken. I am tuckered out.)
There are instances where reviving an outlaw leads to unforeseen consequences: instead of gratitude, the individual’s true nature is revealed, spawning a complex web of vendettas and blood feuds. As I reflected on the moment, I couldn’t help but burst into uncontrollable giggles as the jagged lines of discontent suddenly materialized on the character chart in response. With the Federation’s advanced technology and heightened security measures, many rogue factions are increasingly hesitant to transport themselves down to the planet simultaneously. I didn’t mind because it was amusing.
Despite the comedic chemistry, certain characters’ abilities are surprisingly underwhelming. While wielding his lasso, the reptilian hero Hopalong can temporarily neutralize foes, albeit at the cost of his own speed, as he becomes significantly slowed during this immobilization process. Which advises tackling a single foe at a time, or risking elimination while attempting to lasso enemies. Unique personalities, reminiscent of the swift and agile Roswell’s plasma-blasting capabilities, exude adaptability and reliability in nearly every situation. Gamers fixated on success in every encounter tend to gravitate toward, likely, the most unexciting warriors.
On top of this, several final talents – such as Smoky’s “Cookout” or Casino’s “Roulette” – can mercilessly slaughter enemies from anywhere on the battlefield, regardless of whether you’re aware of their location or not, even if they’re out of sight and undetectable. That is helpful. I’d rather not experience the frustration of having a “kill on sight” button that I cannot observe. Seemingly, a reluctance to fully immerse oneself in the thrill of the game hinders the enjoyment of the intricate strategy involved in hunting and surveillance.
Together, Wild Bastards challenges conventional norms, effortlessly embracing certain traditions while thoughtfully questioning others. Willfully, the experience demands a captivating spin – deliberately paced shootouts, interchangeable protagonists, equipment degradation with every new celestial body explored. Typically, although, it is awkward. The default controller settings are notoriously rigid and unresponsive, requiring significant adjustments to achieve a satisfactory gaming experience. To rectify this, I successfully improved performance by disabling “acceleration” and fine-tuning the “look deadzone”. The intuitive design of the consumer interface is somewhat lacking, with a disjointed feel that can be attributed to the unconventional placement of certain features. Unforeseen events occasionally arise, prompting me to speculate that they may be glitches: twice, I’ve arrived at a battle only for it to automatically conclude, seemingly due to the introductory countdown expiring prematurely.
There’s much more occurring. Outlaws can become scattered upon arrival on a planet’s surface, potentially ending up in an unintended location when transported there. As characters develop, they can blossom into lifelong companions. You could potentially unleash a herd of enraged cattle on the planetary terrain, sending them charging across the map and trampling formidable foes in their path. Occasionally, this discipline appears to be an amorphous endeavour, attempting to cram disparate ideas into a haphazard mix, without much reflection on whether these concepts cohere or have any logical connection.
However, I’m struck by the desire for this sport to dictate its own pace, as if yearning to orchestrate an indulgent siesta in the midst of high-stakes competition. And I fairly appreciated that. As a roguelike, its idiosyncrasies will either charm you with their unpredictability or infuriate you with their maddening inconsistency. The unpredictable rhythm of battle, juxtaposed with moments of strategic calm, can indeed prove grueling for those preferring a more rapid-fire experience in roguelike games. While I thoroughly enjoyed the folksy charm of the cowboy dialogue, it might prove jarringly slow for those eager to propel the story towards its next pivotal confrontation. The slow-burning introduction lacks a clear indication of its purpose, making it difficult to grasp the narrative’s direction? While the experience of cooking beans over an open flame may be relatable to those who’ve attempted it, it’s worth noting that this method is often ineffective?
