BigBoss
Your Local Scrub
General Information
------------------------------
Wasteland (1988)
Interplay Productions
Platform(s): Commodore 64, Apple II, DOS
Where Is It Available: Status Quo
Plot
------------------------------
In 1998, a total-scale worldwide nuclear war takes place, leaving the entire world destroyed, in which the aftermath is more than most lifeforms can bear. To the general majority it is never discovered for what reason this nuclear war took place. For many species, it is either mutate and survive, or attempt to hide and die. 89 years after the disastrous nuclear war, a small pocket of US Army remnants are surviving in the Southwest United States, taking refuge in a large prison complex, sheltering itself from the outside world. They are known as the "Desert Rangers", while the prison complex they reside in, overtime becomes the "Ranger Center".
A squad of Desert Rangers are assigned to investigate a series of disturbances in the nearby areas and, throughout the game, explores the surviving pockets of human civilization, many old landmarks, and a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. Throughout the squads investigation, they will eventually discover a much larger threat than anyone could have predicted, which if not stopped, could lead to the extermination of all of humanity.
Gameplay
------------------------------
The mechanics of Wasteland are based on table-top roleplaying games, utilizing turn based combat. In Wasteland, each character has their own stats and statistics that define what type of character/enemy they are, their weapon, and pros and cons. The player gains experience through both battle, and the use of their skills. Wasteland is notorious for and identified as being one of (or possibly 'thee first game which allows the player a variety of choices in how they advance or finish a quest/mission.
In the beginning of the game, the player starts with four characters in his party, which he can name and customize to his pleasure. As the player advances through the game and moves on, they will encounter other characters which may join their party, letting the player have a maximum of seven characters in his party. The NPCs in the players party were also noted to, at times, refuse to give up items they were holding.
Why Is It A Classic?
------------------------------
Wasteland was one of the first games to have an open world, in which players could freely move about as they wanted, not being stuck or defined to a single path. The game is also noted for being one of the first games to have a persistent world, in which changes to the game world were saved, instead of resetting to their original state.
However, one could say Wasteland was probably most popular and considered a classic for two reasons;
1) It was the first ever PC game to feature a "post-nuclear" apocalyptic RPG.
2) It was one of the first games which allowed the player several different ways and tactics to advance, instead where most games of the time, only had one strategy or tactic which must be performed to advanced.
Wasteland could be called a classic because of any of these things, or all of them. But, in truth, Wasteland is a classic game because of its influence on the gaming world. Wasteland influenced many other games to adopt many of its RPG elements, and influenced the creation of many post-apocalyptic (nuclear and other) RPGs that we know and love today, the Fallout series being the foremost example, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and a very loyal fanbase.
What Can Annoy RPG Fans
------------------------------
Its no secret that the RPG fans of today are used to high quality graphics and gameplay. When one is adapted to these things, they fail to see why games like Wasteland were so fun or inspirational in its day. Notably, today's Fallout fans, and even classic Fallout fans who run across Wasteland, grow bored with it or will even refuse to play it because of its low-quality graphics and gameplay. For those who are adapted to the graphics and gameplay of today, it is really a big change.
Also, Wasteland was noted both in its era and today for its very high difficulty level. Many who encountered and played Wasteland would often give up because the game proved to be very difficult, and unforgiving.
------------------------------
Wasteland (1988)
Interplay Productions
Platform(s): Commodore 64, Apple II, DOS
Where Is It Available: Status Quo
Plot
------------------------------
In 1998, a total-scale worldwide nuclear war takes place, leaving the entire world destroyed, in which the aftermath is more than most lifeforms can bear. To the general majority it is never discovered for what reason this nuclear war took place. For many species, it is either mutate and survive, or attempt to hide and die. 89 years after the disastrous nuclear war, a small pocket of US Army remnants are surviving in the Southwest United States, taking refuge in a large prison complex, sheltering itself from the outside world. They are known as the "Desert Rangers", while the prison complex they reside in, overtime becomes the "Ranger Center".
A squad of Desert Rangers are assigned to investigate a series of disturbances in the nearby areas and, throughout the game, explores the surviving pockets of human civilization, many old landmarks, and a post-apocalyptic Las Vegas. Throughout the squads investigation, they will eventually discover a much larger threat than anyone could have predicted, which if not stopped, could lead to the extermination of all of humanity.
Gameplay
------------------------------
The mechanics of Wasteland are based on table-top roleplaying games, utilizing turn based combat. In Wasteland, each character has their own stats and statistics that define what type of character/enemy they are, their weapon, and pros and cons. The player gains experience through both battle, and the use of their skills. Wasteland is notorious for and identified as being one of (or possibly 'thee first game which allows the player a variety of choices in how they advance or finish a quest/mission.
In the beginning of the game, the player starts with four characters in his party, which he can name and customize to his pleasure. As the player advances through the game and moves on, they will encounter other characters which may join their party, letting the player have a maximum of seven characters in his party. The NPCs in the players party were also noted to, at times, refuse to give up items they were holding.
Why Is It A Classic?
------------------------------
Wasteland was one of the first games to have an open world, in which players could freely move about as they wanted, not being stuck or defined to a single path. The game is also noted for being one of the first games to have a persistent world, in which changes to the game world were saved, instead of resetting to their original state.
However, one could say Wasteland was probably most popular and considered a classic for two reasons;
1) It was the first ever PC game to feature a "post-nuclear" apocalyptic RPG.
2) It was one of the first games which allowed the player several different ways and tactics to advance, instead where most games of the time, only had one strategy or tactic which must be performed to advanced.
Wasteland could be called a classic because of any of these things, or all of them. But, in truth, Wasteland is a classic game because of its influence on the gaming world. Wasteland influenced many other games to adopt many of its RPG elements, and influenced the creation of many post-apocalyptic (nuclear and other) RPGs that we know and love today, the Fallout series being the foremost example, which has sold millions of copies worldwide and a very loyal fanbase.
What Can Annoy RPG Fans
------------------------------
Its no secret that the RPG fans of today are used to high quality graphics and gameplay. When one is adapted to these things, they fail to see why games like Wasteland were so fun or inspirational in its day. Notably, today's Fallout fans, and even classic Fallout fans who run across Wasteland, grow bored with it or will even refuse to play it because of its low-quality graphics and gameplay. For those who are adapted to the graphics and gameplay of today, it is really a big change.
Also, Wasteland was noted both in its era and today for its very high difficulty level. Many who encountered and played Wasteland would often give up because the game proved to be very difficult, and unforgiving.
