Life as a space prisoner inVoid Bastardswas chaotic, perilous, and typically short-lived. The strategy-heavysci-fi shooter, released in 2019, earned well-deserved praise for its comic book art style and unique gameplay loop. Now, the Bastards are back, but with a fair number of changes.Wild Bastardsis set for release later this year as a standalone sequel.
Maintaining the style and tone of the original,Wild Bastardsis taking things in a slightly different direction. The shooter will still focus heavily on strategy, while introducing new mechanics, a different approach to level design, and a handful of other confirmed changes.
10Sci-Fi Western Setting
Goodbye Alien-Infested Ships, Hello Outlaw-Inhabited Planets
The most obvious shift coming to Wild Bastards is the setting. WhereVoid Bastardssaw players jumping from ship to ship,sneaking through corridorsas they went,Wild Bastardsshifts the focus to planets.
Planets provide different settings from one to the next, though all seem to have a Wild West-style spin to them. Each planet will have its own unique set of challenges based on enemy types and various obstacles, obligating players to strategize before landing. Jumping from one planet to the next functions similarly to jumping between ships inVoid Bastards.
9Pre-Set Characters
A Dedicated Selection of Characters with Skill Trees
The pool of space prisoners to tackle enemy ships inVoid Bastardswas endless, but such is not the case inWild Bastards. Instead, players will have a select group of 13 outlaws to choose from. These 13 outlaws will each have their own unique ability tree to upgrade through the collection of loot called Aces.
The randomly generated personalities ofVoid Bastardswill be missed. But on the other hand, the process of upgrading, getting to know, and becoming accustomed to individual characters and their playstyles will be a welcome change.
8Relationship System
Maintain Balance Within a Crew of Outlaws
A new system coming toWild Bastardsis the relationship system.In addition to managing loot, strategy, and upgrades, players will now have to manage characters' feelings towards each other.Bad relationshipsmake for bad partners, and if things go wrong, players may end up with a handful of characters that refuse to work together.
The nitty-gritty details of how the relationship system will work haven’t been released yet, but it seems to be at least partially based on performance during missions. Regardless, players should expect this as an added layer of challenge during their space adventures.
7Character Switching
Change Between Characters to Tackle Any Situation
No longer venturing into the void alone,Wild Bastardsgives players the opportunity to switch between characters on the fly. When a planet is selected, players must decide whichcharacters are best suitedto the challenge. They can then swap between these characters at will, making it easier to tackle a large variety of combat challenges.
Of course, switching between these characters only remains a possibility as long as they are still alive. Each character has its own independent health pool and maintains its own statuses.
6Challenge Mode
Additional Content After the Campaign
For dedicated players that just can’t get enoughspace-exploring,gun-slinging action,Wild Bastardsis going to include an extra challenge mode. According to the official website, this mode will unlock after players have completed the campaign and will offer a procedurally generated series of events wrapped up in various modifiers that become more difficult as the player progresses.
No specific information has been released regarding the challenge mode’s length or how exactly it differs from the campaign, but players should expect a decent level of replayability.
5Combat Plays a Bigger Role
Less Stealth, More Action
Of all the tactics for approaching scenarios inVoid Bastards, going in guns blazing was often the least desirable. Limited resources and makeshift weapons made using stealth and environmental exploits key to success.Wild Bastards, however, embraces combat. Fights take place in Showdowns, arena-style encounters where the goal is to eliminate all enemies.
Plenty of confirmed factors play into how these fights shape up, such as aday and night cycleand varying levels of gravity. They all share one thing in common: action.
4Individualized Weapons
Loadouts Will Be Character-Based
What is an outlawwithout their trusty six shooter? Or a laser rifle? Or a flame spewing hand? InWild Bastards, each character has their own unique weapons to use throughout the game. This is a decent step away fromVoid Bastards, where weapons are unlocked through gathering resources and then used as the player sees fit.
Thanks to thecover art and trailers, we know that the weapon variety will be extensive, from classic cowboy lever actions to laser-spraying machine guns. Additionally, collectible Mods can add a variety of effects to weapons, giving players more control over how each character plays.
3Character-Centered Loot
Aces, Mods, and More!
Gone are the days of risking life and limb for precious duct tape and magnifying glasses in hopes of one day building a robot cat. Loot inWild Bastardsis more focused on powering up individual characters rather than completing a tree of crafting recipes. Some confirmed items include Aces, cards which allow players to level up individual characters; and Mods, powerful items that modify the way a character operates.
Additionally, rather than being hidden anywhere throughout the level, loot is found on the planet’s overworld map. This will require players to plan their turns accordingly in order to gather as much as they can.
2Changes in Level Design
Added Verticality and Openness
The level design inVoid Bastardswas tight. The hallways of renegade ships were cramped, maze-like corridors full of obstacles, shortcuts, and enemies.Wild Bastards, on the other hand, is going for a more open, vertical design to fit the Wild West theme.
Instead of carefully sneaking from corner to corner, players will scale to the top of buildings, engaging enemies from high above or down below, and fight off baddies in a more open arena. And thanks toprocedural generation, players should expect a large variety in level design.
1Planets & Map Layout
An Additional Layer of Strategy
One of the most interesting changes comes from the way planets are navigated. Each time a player lands on a planet, they come face to face with the enemy in a turn-based style, overworld map, much like how navigation between ships plays out inVoid Bastards.
On each turn, the player can collect useful materials or jumping into the fight, depending on where they land. Planets come with a unique, randomized set of variables, such as patrols that will pursue players and shops containing useful items.
