Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

As a seasoned gamer with over two decades of gaming under my belt, I can confidently say that Wild Bastards is a game that has left me both exhilarated and frustrated in equal measure. The sheer intensity of its combat mechanics is something that I’ve not encountered in a while, and it’s a testament to the developers at Blue Manchu for creating such an engaging and challenging experience.


After checking out Wild Bastards a few months back, one key observation I made was that it was intense. Upon investing more time into the game, which is developed by Blue Manchu, the creators of Void Bastards, I still maintain that sentiment. While not a Boomer Shooter, Wild Bastards is undeniably an action-packed game that demands your full concentration and stamina just to stay alive. The game offers some flexibility for players of varying skill levels to progress through the story and encounter the quirky characters, but at its core, Wild Bastards is as challenging as it gets – almost painfully so.

Buckets of bolts and bullets

Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

Frankly speaking, Wild Bastards doesn’t provide much time for taking breaths between intense moments; it’s a game where enemies are exceptionally skilled, making it challenging to keep up unless you’re an avid FPS player. Most games today seem like roguelikes, but this one falls into the “die quickly, die often” category, leaving little room for exploring its intricacies and complexities. On default settings, I found myself rushing to find cover, firing shots, and focusing solely on combat rather than exploring other aspects of the game. Running was more about being first than utilizing maneuvers like strafing or jumping. Boy, it’s intense!

After toning things down a bit, I was able to truly appreciate what Wild Bastards aimed for, beyond being rude. Allowing enemies to miss occasionally created a vast space for a full-fledged game experience! It turns out there are numerous unique powers, abilities, equipment, and board events to manipulate, and by scaling back the intensity slightly, those elements became more noticeable and impactful. Remarkably, this adjustment didn’t diminish the challenge, which felt fairer and more balanced on easy mode. Feel free to label me a novice; there are many points to consider when it comes to games that focus on an enticing, repetitive loop.

Roguelike repeater

Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

In Wild Bastards, there’s a noticeable repetition in gameplay structure. Essentially, it’s a blend of a timed board game and action-adventure, where your ship, The Drifter, travels to various destinations. Each stop provides you with a limited number of turns to accomplish tasks before a boss attack disrupts your progress.

Battles are swift and action-packed, featuring a predetermined number of adversaries attacking you within confined battlegrounds. You’re aware of their count, and you can hear them scurrying about and humorously taunting you from hiding spots. If you’re playing on the standard or harder settings, these encounters are grueling survival missions where even common enemies can knock you out in just a few hits. The types of adversaries can be quite diverse, and that leads us to another significant aspect of Wild Bastards – the Bastards themselves.

An ensemble cast

Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

The core of this game revolves around gathering an eclectic band of rebellious robots and outlaws. Each character possesses distinctive weapons, special abilities, and skill sets that resemble various tools found in a standard first-person shooter (FPS). You’ll find characters like snipers or shotgun users, for instance. However, some characters may be less conventional, such as one who wields a laser lasso. The key aspect is that the main weapons remain consistent. Therefore, you’re tasked with deciding which characters to bring along on your missions, and then strategizing how to deploy them against enemies. The rest of the gameplay is an added bonus, but I found myself particularly drawn to the shotgun-wielding robot who could eliminate a random enemy on the map with a specific power-up by simply pressing a button. Why not, indeed!

In essence, Wild Bastards offers an enjoyable experience centered around bonding with a quirky group of characters and competing against them in miniature action arenas. The thrill lies in finding your preferred companions and enhancing their abilities through upgrades. However, the core gameplay is repetitive as it primarily consists of this loop, without much depth or variation. At first glance, the multitude of moving parts may give the impression of complexity, but upon closer inspection, the intricacies are limited. Features like the “feud” system where characters form friendships or rivalries at random (which can be quickly resolved with a pickup) appear shallow over time. Essentially, it’s about reaching your destination, dealing with inevitable conflicts, and then strategically retreating before a menacing figure arrives.

Wild Bastards review: Getting the Bastards back together

The game “Wild Bastards” boasts an appealing allure with its unique charm and style, making it hard to resist diving in and exploring its offerings. The varied cast of characters serves as a captivating factor, encouraging continued play. Once you’ve built up your roster and mastered the combat system, however, the game’s depth begins to plateau, particularly within the context of its sci-fi western setting. It offers a turbulent and testing experience, promising intricate layers and subtlety that appear abundant initially, but may lose some steam over time. The game is held back most by balancing issues, although my observation could also be influenced by a touch of genre fatigue. On its own terms, “Wild Bastards” is both ambitious and energetic, certain to challenge fans of FPS games.

The game titled ‘Wild Bastards’ will be released on September 12, 2024, for PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We received a PC code from the publisher for a review.

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2024-09-12 10:27