Wasteland is a landmark post-apocalyptic RPG released for DOS in 1988 by Interplay and Electronic Arts. Set in the irradiated ruins of the American Southwest following a global nuclear war, you lead a party of Desert Rangers investigating a series of violent disturbances. Pioneering a deeply interactive world, your characters rely on a wide range of specialized survival, combat, and technical skills rather than just character levels to progress.
How to play
You control a party of up to four custom characters, plus recruitable NPCs, exploring a top-down overworld and engaging in turn-based tactical combat. Progression requires managing your party’s health, ammunition, and equipment. Because this is the original DOS release, interaction relies heavily on keyboard commands. Use the arrow keys or numpad to move, Space to interact or confirm, and specific letter keys for actions (such as ‘A’ to attack or ‘U’ to use an item).
Tips
- Skills like Medic, Picklock, and Brawling are crucial early on to save limited ammunition and avoid taking unnecessary damage.
- The game’s world is highly persistentโif you blow open a locked door or drop a piece of equipment in the desert, it stays that way for the entire playthrough.
- Save frequently using the game’s internal save slots, as encounters in the wastes can be brutally unforgiving for an unprepared party.
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