Review: Wizard With A Gun
What do you get when you mix some magic, some weaponry, a dark and moody aesthetic, and some rogue-like elements? Presumably, it’s a pretty fun mash-up of styles and genres.
While Wizard with a Gun does have each of the elements in spades, most of my playtime fell a little flat.
Gearing Up
Wizard with a Gun takes place in a mystical world where the apocalypse is inevitable. Or at least it is until you arrive! The gun-wielding hero that can throw in a solid taste of magical powers!
The Magic Bullet
As the titular Wizard with a Gun, you’ll be wielding a variety of weapons. I do enjoy some twin-stick shooters, so it was a fun time to get back into a game with that core mechanic. I find there are far too few nowadays.
Crafting As a Wizard With a Gun
It’s not all run and gun for Wizard with a Gun. Most of what you’re returning with at the end of your runs (if you survive) are resources necessary for reaching new places or building stations to craft items. There are quite a few to learn and quite a bit to deal with early on.
This is a detailed review of Wizard with a Gun. It explores the game’s gameplay mechanics, its world and setup, and the crafting system. While the game has an interesting concept and art style, it falls short in certain areas. The combat lacks impact, the resource management is uneven, and there is a lack of variety in weapons and powers.
Wizard with a Gun combines magic, weaponry, a dark aesthetic, and rogue-like elements. However, the overall experience falls flat. The gunplay has its moments, and the unique world is intriguing, but it fails to come together satisfyingly. The gameplay becomes repetitive, and the enemies lack diversity in their actions. The “wizard” aspect of the game, including the powders and weapon augments, feels disappointingly simple.
The crafting system, which is a significant component of the game, starts off manageable but gradually becomes awkward and tedious. Resource management becomes a chore, requiring the construction of numerous storage containers. This detracts from the shooting and combat aspects of the game.
Overall, Wizard with a Gun offers a surface-level approach to crafting, roguelike loops, and twin-stick shooting. It may appeal to players interested in these elements, but it lacks the depth and variety needed to maintain long-term engagement.
Pros:
- Great set up and story
- Twin-stick shooting feels mostly solid
Cons:
- Combat did not feel impactful
- Uneven resource management
- Not enough variety in weapons or powers
Despite a unique setup and art style, Wizard with a Gun fails in key areas of gameplay and crafting mechanics.