West of Loathing
West of Loathing is a comedy adventure role-playing video game developed by Asymmetric Publications and released on August 10, 2017.
West of Loathing | |
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Developer(s) | Asymmetric Publications |
Publisher(s) | Asymmetric Publications |
Composer(s) | Ryan Ike |
Engine | Unity |
Platform(s) | Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, iOS |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
The game takes place in the universe of Asymmetric's Kingdom of Loathing, in a Weird Western themed frontier setting. The player character leaves the family farm and heads west to seek their fortune on a trek to the city of Frisco. The game was well-received by critics, with Rolling Stone describing it as "one of the year's best games."[2]
Gameplay
West of Loathing is a single-player role-playing video game with turn-based combat. The game's art is made up of stick figure drawings.[3]
Development and release
West of Loathing was developed by Asymmetric Publications.[4] The game was announced in May 2016 as a follow-up to the browser-based multiplayer online role-playing game Kingdom of Loathing (2003).[3][5] West of Loathing was submitted to the Greenlight community voting system on digital distribution service Steam.[5]
West of Loathing was released for Linux, macOS, and Windows on August 10, 2017.[6] An iOS version once was scheduled for a 2017 release.[4] It was released for Google Stadia on July 1, 2020.
Reception
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West of Loathing received "generally favourable" reviews from professional critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[7]
Writing for Polygon Noah Caldwell-Gervais lauded West of Loathing's humorous writing, music, and its underlying "surprising intricacy of design," while PC Gamer reviewer Christopher Livingston called the game a "delightfully written RPG absolutely packed with humor,"[12] but criticized its relatively simple combat system. In a review for Rock, Paper, Shotgun, Alec Meer recommended the game and praised its warm and welcoming tone.[14]
West of Loathing was awarded Best Comedy Game and nominated for Best Open World Game in PC Gamer's 2017 Game of the Year Awards,[15][16] and was ranked #16 on Polygon's "50 Best Games of 2017."[17] It was also nominated for "PC Game of the Year" at the Golden Joystick Awards,[18] for "Gamer's Voice (Video Game)" at the SXSW Gaming Gamer's Voice Awards,[19][20] and for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival Competition Awards.[21][22]
Soundtrack
The music of West of Loathing was composed by Ryan Ike and gained praise as a "pitch-perfect Spaghetti Western soundtrack."[23] The 20-track soundtrack was licensed and released by video game music label Materia Collective.
References
- "West of Loathing for Nintendo Switch - Nintendo Game Details". Nintendo of America. Retrieved 29 May 2018.
- Wright, Steven T. (8 September 2017). "How Stick Figures and Absurdism Power One of the Year's Best Games". Rolling Stone. Retrieved 16 September 2017.
- Livingston, Christopher (26 July 2017). "West of Loathing preview: the RPG adventure is a six-shooter loaded with comedy bullets". PC Gamer. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- Nelson, Jared (10 August 2017). "'West of Loathing' Launches on Steam Today, iOS Version "2 or 3 Months" Away (Hopefully)". TouchArcade. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- Donnelly, Joe (21 May 2016). "Stick 'Em Up: Kingdom Of Loathing Goes West". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- O'Connor, Alice (10 August 2017). "Cowboys and clowns ride out with West of Loathing". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
- "West of Loathing for PC Reviews". Metacritic. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- Merser, Kevin (20 September 2017). "Review: West of Loathing". Destructoid. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- Tran, Edmond (8 June 2018). "West Of Loathing Review: Wild, Wild West". GameSpot. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Olney, Alex (19 July 2018). "West of Loathing Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Ronaghan, Neal (31 May 2018). "West of Loathing Review - Review". Nintendo World Report. Retrieved 3 September 2018.
- Livingston, Christopher (10 August 2017). "West of Loathing review". PC Gamer. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- Caldwell-Gervais, Noah (10 August 2017). "West of Loathing review". Polygon. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- Meer, Alec (11 August 2017). "Wot I Think: West of Loathing". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. Retrieved 24 August 2017.
- PC Gamer staff (20 December 2017). "Best Comedy Game 2017: West of Loathing". PC Gamer. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- PC Gamer staff (8 December 2017). "Games of the Year 2017: The nominees". PC Gamer. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- "The 50 best games of 2017". Polygon. 18 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
- Gaito, Eri (13 November 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
- McNeill, Andrew (23 January 2018). "Announcing the 2018 SXSW Gaming Gamer's Voice Award Nominees". SXSW. Retrieved 31 January 2018.
- Harrison, Will (17 March 2018). "'PUBG' and 'Legend of Zelda' take top prizes at 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards". Austin American-Statesman. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
- Faller, Patrick (5 January 2018). "Independent Games Festival Awards Nominees Announced". GameSpot. Retrieved 6 January 2018.
- Whitney, Kayla (22 March 2018). "Complete list of 2018 Independent Games Festival Awards Winners". AXS. Retrieved 22 March 2018.
- https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/west-of-loathing-review-wild-wild-west/1900-6416928/