Wasteland 2 (Collector’s Edition)

Wasteland 2 (Collector’s Edition) is a post-apocalyptic role-playing game and sequel to the 1988 classic, set in an alternate history where nuclear war devastated Earth in 1998. Players lead a squad of customizable Desert Rangers in the American Southwest, investigating the mysterious death of a veteran ranger while combating mutated threats and navigating faction conflicts. The Collector’s Edition, exclusive to crowdfunding backers, includes the base game, a Ranger figurine, embroidered badge, field manual, metal case, and a map of Arizona and Los Angeles. Featuring turn-based tactical combat and branching narrative choices, the game emphasizes party customization with seven-character squads and NPCs possessing unique personalities and agendas.

Wasteland 2 (Collector’s Edition): Review

Wasteland 2, the long-awaited sequel to the classic 1988 post-apocalyptic RPG, is a triumphant return to the genre that inspired the Fallout series. Developed by inXile Entertainment and published by Deep Silver, this game is a testament to the enduring appeal of old-school role-playing games, blending nostalgic gameplay mechanics with modern storytelling and design. The Collector’s Edition, exclusive to crowdfunding backers, includes a plethora of physical extras that enhance the overall experience, making it a must-have for fans of the genre.

Development History & Context

The journey of Wasteland 2 began in 2003 when Brian Fargo, the producer and co-designer of the original Wasteland, acquired the rights to the franchise from Electronic Arts. The idea of reviving the series gained traction in 2007 when Fargo hinted at the possibility of a sequel. However, it wasn’t until 2012 that inXile Entertainment launched a Kickstarter campaign to fund the development of Wasteland 2. The campaign was a resounding success, raising nearly $3 million from over 61,000 backers, making it one of the most successful crowdfunding projects in video game history.

The development team included key members from the original Wasteland and Fallout series, such as Alan Pavlish, Michael A. Stackpole, Ken St. Andre, and Liz Danforth. The game was built on the Unity Engine, which allowed for a balance between visual fidelity and deep gameplay mechanics. The technological constraints of the era meant that the team had to prioritize gameplay over graphics, a decision that paid off in the game’s tactical depth and reactive storytelling.

Narrative & Thematic Deep Dive

Wasteland 2 is set in an alternate history timeline where a nuclear war between the United States and the Soviet Union took place in 1998. The story follows a squad of Desert Rangers, a militia struggling to maintain order in the American Southwest. The narrative is rich with faction politics, environmental decay, and existential threats, such as the sentient AI Cochise. The game’s writing shines in its refusal to sanitize the apocalypse, offering quests laden with ethical dilemmas and moral ambiguity.

The characters in Wasteland 2 are complex and flawed, reflecting the harsh realities of their world. NPCs like Lexcanium, a soldier suffering from PTSD, and Rose, a pragmatic smuggler, defy archetypes and offer quests that challenge the player’s moral compass. The game’s dialogue system is reactive, with skill checks that ensure no two playthroughs feel identical. A sniper with the Survival skill might bypass a desert ambush, while a Tech Whisperer could reprogram enemy robots, adding a level of systemic reactivity rarely seen since Planescape: Torment.

Gameplay Mechanics & Systems

Wasteland 2 features a semi-overhead view with a rotatable camera, providing a tactical perspective on the game’s turn-based combat. The player controls a party of seven characters, including four player-designed characters and up to three NPCs. Each character is highly customizable, with a choice of statistics, skills, and appearance that gives them an individualized personality.

The combat system is a highlight of the game, channeling the precision of X-COM. Positioning, cover, and weapon modding are critical, with environmental hazards and enemy AI adding layers of strategy. The Director’s Cut introduced perks and traits, adding depth to the classless progression system. However, the game’s difficulty spikes, particularly in early encounters with robotic enemies, highlight balancing issues.

Character progression is handled through a skill system with over 30 skills, each affecting gameplay in unique ways. The synergy between builds is paramount, with a Demolitions expert clearing obstacles for a melee brawler, and a Surgeon stabilizing allies mid-fight. However, the sheer breadth of skills can overwhelm newcomers, and certain abilities feel underutilized.

The UI in the original release was cluttered, but the Director’s Cut streamlined inventory management and added quest markers. Still, the absence of a proper tutorial for systems like weapon condition or radiation poisoning remains a barrier.

World-Building, Art & Sound

Wasteland 2’s environments are desolate and atmospheric, from the irradiated ruins of Los Angeles to the cult-infested canyons of Arizona. Hand-painted backdrops and jagged terrain reinforce the brutality of survival. The art style marries retro-futurism with punk aesthetics, featuring rusted robot husks and makeshift armor cobbled from street signs.

The sound design is haunting, with a synth-driven score by Mark Morgan that juxtaposes melancholy melodies with industrial clangs. Ambient sounds, such as howling winds and distant gunfire, sell the isolation. Voice acting, added in the Director’s Cut, is uneven but serviceable, with standout performances from John Kassir as the sardonic radio host Love Machine.

Reception & Legacy

Wasteland 2 received generally positive reviews from critics, holding an aggregate score of 80.70% on GameRankings and 81/100 on Metacritic. The game generated a revenue of $1.5 million in its first four days of release and sold roughly 350,000 copies by May 2015. By September 2016, inXile had earned $12 million from sales of the game.

Critics praised the game’s story writing, branching storyline, and tactical gameplay. Leif Johnson of IGN lauded its rich lore and meaningful choices, while Daniel Starkey of GameSpot praised its environmental graphics. Alasdair Duncan of Destructoid wrote that it “delivers exactly what was expected,” and Richard Cobbett of Eurogamer stated, “it’s very clearly made with love to be true to the original game while still learning from the games that followed.”

The game’s success galvanized the CRPG revival, paving the way for Divinity: Original Sin, Pillars of Eternity, and Wasteland 3. Its crowdfunding model inspired classics like Undertale and Shovel Knight, demonstrating that player-driven development could coexist with AAA excess.

Conclusion

Wasteland 2 is a triumph of ambition over polish, a flawed masterpiece that resurrected a dormant genre. It honors its predecessor’s legacy while innovating in reactivity and tactical combat. While its rough edges may deter casual players, its uncompromising vision cements it as a cornerstone of RPG history. For those willing to brave its irradiated wastes, Wasteland 2 offers a rare gift: the unbridled freedom to carve a legend from the ashes.

Final Verdict: A foundational text in the CRPG renaissance—uneven but indispensable.