Should You Play Wasteland 2 Before Wasteland 3? Absolutely.

As an experienced Wasteland gamer, I highly recommend playing Wasteland 2 before jumping into Wasteland 3. Wasteland 2 provides invaluable lore, background, and context that enhances the experience of Wasteland 3. This article will dive deep on why WL2 is worth playing and how it improves WL3 for newcomers.

What is Wasteland 2?

Released in 2014, Wasteland 2 is a party-based, post-apocalyptic cRPG and sequel to the 1988 classic. It utilizes turn-based tactical combat and boasts deep character customization systems.

Some key features include:

• Turn-based battles with action points and cover
• 7 recruitable NPC companions
• Deep roleplaying via skills, attributes and perks
• Extremely reactive world that changes based on your actions
• Player choice drives the narrative with multiple endings
• 80+ hours of content for full completionist playthroughs

Here‘s a helpful comparison chart I created between Wasteland 2 and Wasteland 3:

Now let‘s dig deeper into whether Wasteland 2 is worth playing before the third game.

Should I Play Wasteland 2 Before 3?

As an avid RPG fan whose played through both titles, I strongly recommend playing Wasteland 2 before Wasteland 3. While WL3 is designed to welcome newcomers, you gain a lot by experiencing the second game first.

Understand the World and Lore

Wasteland 2 fleshes out the universe‘s lore which helps you appreciate characters and references in WL3. For example, you‘ll learn the history of the Desert Rangers faction which carries forward into the third game as key members reappear. The game has direct connections to WL2‘s story and side quests. Playing the second game really lets you understand the intricacies of the world.

Meet Returning Characters

Several prominent characters from Wasteland 2 return in the third game including General Vargas, Angela Deth and others. It‘s rewarding to know these characters‘ backgrounds and experiences from the prior game as they re-emerge. Their roles and impacts make a lot more sense having seen where they come from.

Grasp Factions and Locations

Certain factions and locations originate in Wasteland 2 before playing major roles again in WL3. For example, you are introduced to the militant cartel Red Skorpions who then evolve in the sequel. Revisiting iconic places like Ranger Citadel elicits nostalgia. The games are interconnected through settings and groups.

Appreciate Subtle References

Wasteland 3 pays homage to WL2 through subtle Easter eggs and references. From funny callouts to side quests to NPC dialogue, there are nods that long-time fans will appreciate. It creates a feeling of continuity between the two chapters.

Prepare for Mechanics and Difficulty

WL2 introduces most of the core mechanics and systems that are expanded upon in WL3 like the skills system. Playing the second game gets you up to speed on gameplay concepts so WL3 feels like less of a learning curve. These are challenging CRPGs, so some experience helps.

By the Numbers: Wasteland 2 Stats

Let‘s look at some key data points on Wasteland 2‘s content and reception:

• 80+ hours of gameplay for completionist playthroughs
• 9/10 user score on Metacritic based on 1,500+ ratings
• 87% positive reviews on Steam among 20,000+ owners
• Ranked #35 among all PC games on Metacritic
• Over 1 million copies sold across all platforms
• 400,000 Kickstarter backers funded its creation

This data shows that Wasteland 2 was extremely well-received and offered tons of quality content. Very few games achieve scores and satisfaction ratings this high among fans.

Wasteland 2 Gameplay Analysis

Now let‘s do a deeper dive into Wasteland 2‘s gameplay mechanics and systems:

Turn-Based Tactical Combat

WL2 features challenging turn-based battles. You control a squad of up to 7 characters with action points to spend on movement, skills, and attacks. Positioning and use of cover is crucial. There are lots of viable strategies based on your custom squad.

Extremely Customizable Characters

You hand craft each recruit‘s skills and attributes to specialize their role. With quirks and perks, you create an elite squad tailored to your playstyle. There‘s tremendous diversity in how you can build effective teams.

Meaningful Player Choices

Few games offer narrative freedom on par with Wasteland 2. Nearly every quest has alternative solutions based on your skills. The world itself reacts to choices you make, with 150+ potential world states accounting for how you resolve certain key events.

Moral Dilemmas Galore

The Wasteland is a gritty, unforgiving place. You‘ll face many gray moral choices where there is no perfect solution. The game tests how far you‘ll go to get a result. Your Ranger‘s reputation adjusts based on the path you take.

Deep Roleplaying Opportunities

With skill checks, backstories and faction reputation, WL2 offers some of the best roleplaying in RPGs. Speech, leadership, medical skills all shine. You shape your party‘s personality through dialogue choices and actions.

Why Play Wasteland 2 In 2022?

Despite releasing over 7 years ago, Wasteland 2 remains one of the deepest and most reactive cRPGs out there. For fans of classic Fallout and Baldur‘s Gate, it‘s a must-play. Reasons it holds up brilliantly:

• Incredible World Reactivity – How you tackle objectives shapes the world more than most games to this day
• Freedom of Choice – Tons of flexibility in handling quests and conversations
• Best-in-Class Writing – Dark humor and excellent prose breathe life into this apocalypse
• Tactical Combat – Battles require thoughtfulness and mastery of skills
• Character Customization – Deep systems to craft specialized, complementary Rangers

If you enjoy narrative freedom, consequences, world reactivity and tactical roleplaying, Wasteland 2 delivers an incredible experience that uplifts Wasteland 3.

Should You Play Wasteland 1 Before 2?

Wasteland 1 launched in 1988 and firmly planted the seeds of this franchise. However, it features extremely dated visuals and UI. The story of WL1 isn‘t imperative to enjoy WL2. I‘d only recommend hardcore CRPG fans go back to play it for historical purposes. Wasteland 2 was designed to welcome new players. WL1, while a classic, shows its age too much to be required.

Conclusion

Based on my deep experience with both games, I highly recommend playing Wasteland 2 before jumping into Wasteland 3. The background lore, factions, characters, locations, and mechanics you are exposed to make WL3 a richer experience. The second game holds up incredibly well years later. Its plentiful reactivity, choice/consequence, roleplaying depth, and tactical combat represent peak cRPG design. While WL3 stands alone just fine, you deprive yourself of valuable context playing it first. Wasteland 2 remains one of the great CRPG accomplishments and deserves to be played before its sequel.