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This online RPG looks awesome, but it's got some major problems - Wayfinder Quick First Impressions

3K View2023-08-22

Wayfinder

7.0

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SHOULD I PLAY WAYFINDER?

Avoid it for the time being. Wayfinder’s early access release has been a complete disaster, and beyond the botched launch are deeper issues that need to be addressed. On the night of Wayfinder’s release, the game was completely unplayable for me. Not only could I not log in, but absolutely nothing happened when I clicked the login button. All I could do was stare at the menu and hope the game would be playable eventually.

By day two, I could log into the game, but I had to deal with long queues that occasionally stalled out and server kicks that set me back to square one. On day three, all logins were completely disabled. It’s technically possible to log into the game now, but doing that requires waiting in hours-long queues. Add in predatory monetization practices, a lack of content, and standard early access bugs, and you’re left with a game that’s more frustrating than fun, even if it has some layer of promise underneath all of that. There are things I really like about Wayfinder, and it could eventually be great, but there’s no reason to subject yourself to the annoyance right now.

TIME PLAYED

According to PlayStation, I’ve played fifteen hours of Wayfinder, but I’m guessing I’ve spent at least half of that time dealing with queues and trying to log into the game. That said, I’ve still spent a decent amount of time leveling up my character, completing quests, and exploring the world. Instead of classes, Wayfinder lets you play as heroes with distinct skills and abilities. I played as Niss, a rogue-esque character that strikes from the shadows. Every available hero looks interesting, and if I can ever get back into the game, I’d love to try them out.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT WAYFINDER?

• Fantastic visuals. Not only does Wayfinder have solid graphics, but it’s got a distinctive visual style I was immediately drawn to. It’s got a great mix of styles, with classic fantasy architecture, bright lights, and bold neon hues. Every location, from hub areas to dungeons, was filled with details that made me want to explore.

I loved checking out the scenery, but the character designs are pretty stellar too. Wayfinder features art from Darksiders creator Joe Madureira, and his cartoony style really shines here. Everyone, from NPCs to monsters to player-controlled characters, has a standout style. While the game has you play as predefined heroes, I was able to use dyes to customize my character and make her feel more unique.ﾠ

• Excellent combat. Wayfinder has its problems, but when I was slicing through goblins, spiders, and other monsters, it felt pretty freaking awesome. Controls are smooth, responsive, and intuitive, and I was able to get a feel for combat right away. Every character has an appealing skill set, and while I was only able to play as one hero, I’d love to try more of them out. I paired up with other players for some boss fights, but for the most part, I was able to tackle the game’s challenges on my own.

WHAT NEEDS IMPROVEMENT IN WAYFINDER?

• The server issues are a nightmare. Lots of online games have problems at launch, but Wayfinder has gotten off to an unusually bad start. I figured it would take a while to log in, but I assumed that logging in would at least be an option. When I loaded up the game for the first time, the login button did absolutely nothing. There was no queue, no pop-up message about overloaded servers, or anything that would explain what was going on. I was only able to confirm that other players were having the same problem by checking the official Discord.ﾠ

There was a queue by the next day, but trying to play was still a massive chore. Sometimes, I’d wait for hours only to have my game time out when I finally got to the top of the queue. When I was able to play, it wasn’t unusual to suddenly get kicked from the servers after ten to twenty minutes. At its peak, Wayfinder had around 24,000 active players on Steam. That number doesn’t include PlayStation users, but it’s not that high for a game like this, and it’s concerning that they were completely unprepared to handle tens of thousands of players at launch. Things have improved, but the login queue can still take hours, and that really sucks.

• Awful monetization. Like many games, Wayfinder lets players trade real money for in-game currency bundles. Many of these items are priced just beyond what a bundle would cover. For example, a $10 bundle gives you 1,100 runesilver, but most weapons cost 1,150 runesilver, which means players have to shell out for extra cash to complete a purchase.ﾠ

The Wayfinder team has said that they’re “revisiting” this pricing, but at the time of writing, it hasn’t changed. I’m confident they’ll lower the prices eventually, but the attempt to rip off players still left a sour taste in my mouth. Wayfinder is technically a free-to-play game, but all of its current players have paid for early access, which makes the scummy monetization practices even worse.ﾠ

• It’s lacking in content. Beyond Wayfinder’s endless login queues and overpriced item shop, there are some other glaring issues, like a general lack of content. Right now, there’s a single town and just one open world zone to explore. Both of these areas are pretty large, but I had the sense that I would have run out of things to do if I’d been able to play for longer.

The limited content also has an impact on Wayfinder's progression system. I rarely had more than two quests and at a time, and while Wayfinder is supposed to be a loot-focused RPG, I didn’t get that much loot either. Lighter than normal levels of content are pretty typical for an early access game, but with all of Wayfinder’s other problems, it’s hard to maintain any motivation to play.

💬 Will you try your hand at Wayfinder, or will you wait for the game to become a little more stable? Let us know in the comments!