Software:West of Loathing
West of Loathing | |
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Developer(s) | Asymmetric Publications |
Publisher(s) | Asymmetric Publications |
Director(s) | Zack Johnson |
Designer(s) | Riff Connor |
Programmer(s) | Victor Thompson Chris Moyer |
Artist(s) | Wes Cleveland |
Composer(s) | Ryan Ike |
Series | Kingdom of Loathing |
Engine | Unity |
Platform(s) | Linux, macOS, Windows, Nintendo Switch, Stadia, iOS |
Release |
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Genre(s) | Role-playing |
Mode(s) | Single-player |
West of Loathing is a comedy adventure role-playing video game developed by Asymmetric Publications and released on August 10, 2017.
The game takes place in the universe of Asymmetric's Kingdom of Loathing, in a fantasy 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] A stand-alone sequel, Shadows Over Loathing, was released in 2022.
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] A Nintendo Switch version was released for download May 31, 2018. It was released for Stadia on July 1, 2020.[7]
A DLC expansion pack called Reckonin' at Gun Manor was released on February 8, 2019, for the PC version of the game.[8] It was released on the Nintendo Switch on January 21, 2020.
Reception
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West of Loathing received "generally favourable" reviews from professional critics according to review aggregator website Metacritic.[9]
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,"[14] 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.[16]
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,[17][18] and was ranked #16 on Polygon's "50 Best Games of 2017."[19] It was also nominated for "PC Game of the Year" at the Golden Joystick Awards,[20] for "Gamer's Voice (Video Game)" at the SXSW Gaming Gamer's Voice Awards,[21][22] and for the Seumas McNally Grand Prize at the Independent Games Festival Competition Awards.[23][24]
Soundtrack
The music of West of Loathing was composed by Ryan Ike and gained praise as a "pitch-perfect Spaghetti Western soundtrack."[25] The 20-track soundtrack was licensed and released by video game music label Materia Collective.[26]
References
- ↑ "West of Loathing for Nintendo Switch – Nintendo Game Details". Nintendo of America. https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/west-of-loathing-switch.
- ↑ Wright, Steven T. (September 8, 2017). "How Stick Figures and Absurdism Power One of the Year's Best Games". Rolling Stone. https://www.rollingstone.com/glixel/features/west-of-loathing-interview-w501675. Retrieved September 16, 2017.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 Livingston, Christopher (July 26, 2017). "West of Loathing preview: the RPG adventure is a six-shooter loaded with comedy bullets". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/west-of-loathing-preview-the-rpg-adventure-is-a-six-shooter-loaded-with-comedy-bullets/.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Nelson, Jared (August 10, 2017). "'West of Loathing' Launches on Steam Today, iOS Version "2 or 3 Months" Away (Hopefully)". TouchArcade. http://toucharcade.com/2017/08/10/west-of-loathing-desktop-launch/.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Donnelly, Joe (May 21, 2016). "Stick 'Em Up: Kingdom Of Loathing Goes West". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2016/05/21/west-of-loathing-kingdom-of-loathing/.
- ↑ O'Connor, Alice (August 10, 2017). "Cowboys and clowns ride out with West of Loathing". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/10/west-of-loathing-released/.
- ↑ Li, Abner (July 1, 2020). "Google adds four Stadia Pro games for July 2020". https://9to5google.com/2020/07/01/stadia-pro-july-2020-games/.
- ↑ Moran, Miguel. "West of Loathing gets new Reckonin' at Gun Manor DLC". https://www.nintendoenthusiast.com/west-of-loathing-gets-new-reckonin-at-gun-manor-dlc/.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 "West of Loathing for PC Reviews". Metacritic. https://www.metacritic.com/game/west-of-loathing/critic-reviews/?platform=pc.
- ↑ Merser, Kevin (September 20, 2017). "Review: West of Loathing". Destructoid. https://www.destructoid.com/review-west-of-loathing-461976.phtml.
- ↑ Tran, Edmond (June 8, 2018). "West Of Loathing Review: Wild, Wild West". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/west-of-loathing-review-wild-wild-west/1900-6416928/.
- ↑ Olney, Alex (July 19, 2018). "West of Loathing Review (Switch eShop)". Nintendo Life. http://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/switch-eshop/west_of_loathing/.
- ↑ Ronaghan, Neal (May 31, 2018). "West of Loathing Review – Review". Nintendo World Report. http://www.nintendoworldreport.com/review/47344/west-of-loathing-switch-review/.
- ↑ 14.0 14.1 Livingston, Christopher (August 10, 2017). "West of Loathing review". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/west-of-loathing-review/.
- ↑ Caldwell-Gervais, Noah (August 10, 2017). "West of Loathing review". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2017/8/10/16123148/west-of-loathing-review-kingdom-asymmetric-pc-mac-ios.
- ↑ Meer, Alec (August 11, 2017). "Wot I Think: West of Loathing". Rock, Paper, Shotgun. https://www.rockpapershotgun.com/2017/08/11/west-of-loathing-review/.
- ↑ PC Gamer staff (December 20, 2017). "Best Comedy Game 2017: West of Loathing". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/best-comedy-game-2017-west-of-loathing/.
- ↑ PC Gamer staff (December 8, 2017). "Games of the Year 2017: The nominees". PC Gamer. http://www.pcgamer.com/nominees-pc-gamer-goty-2017/.
- ↑ Polygon Staff (December 18, 2017). "The 50 best games of 2017". Polygon. https://www.polygon.com/2017-best-games/2017/12/18/16781674/best-video-games-2017-top-50-mario-pubg-zelda.
- ↑ Gaito, Eri (November 13, 2017). "Golden Joystick Awards 2017 Nominees". Best in Slot. https://www.bestinslot.co/golden-joystick-awards-2017-nominees/.
- ↑ McNeill, Andrew (January 23, 2018). "Announcing the 2018 SXSW Gaming Gamer's Voice Award Nominees". SXSW. https://gaming.sxsw.com/news/2018/2018-sxsw-gaming-gamers-voice-nominees/.
- ↑ Harrison, Will (March 17, 2018). "'PUBG' and 'Legend of Zelda' take top prizes at 2018 SXSW Gaming Awards". Austin American-Statesman. https://www.512tech.com/technology/pubg-and-legend-zelda-take-top-prizes-2018-sxsw-gaming-awards/aP9g20knujXrF5T2CfxcbJ/.
- ↑ Faller, Patrick (January 5, 2018). "Independent Games Festival Awards Nominees Announced". GameSpot. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/independent-games-festival-awards-nominees-announc/1100-6455924/.
- ↑ Whitney, Kayla (March 22, 2018). "Complete list of 2018 Independent Games Festival Awards Winners". AXS. https://www.axs.com/complete-list-of-2018-independent-games-festival-awards-winners-129025.
- ↑ Trand, Edmond (August 10, 2017). "West Of Loathing Review: Wild, Wild West". https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/west-of-loathing-review-wild-wild-west/1900-6416928/.
- ↑ Farrell, Reilly (June 7, 2018). "West of Loathing (Original Game Soundtrack)". http://www.vgmonline.net/west-of-loathing-original-game-soundtrack/.
External links
Original source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/West of Loathing.
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