Wild Bastards, the latest title by developer Blue Manchu, mixes a plethora of elements from the rogue genres. It's a bite-sized first-person shooter with a dash of board game-esque strategy and a lite rendition of a visual novel with social elements. The result is, without a doubt, a wide cast of ideas - almost as far-reaching as the 13-character roster it features. Unlike other hybrid-type examples of the genre, including the developer's excellent Void Bastards to which Wild Bastards is a spiritual successor, there are conflicting design choices that compromise an otherwise intriguing premise.
Roguelites can be overwhelming by nature. The pursuit of build synergies and endless tinkering to slice harder and survive for longer often clash with superfluous arrays of mechanics. Some, like Hades, offer options to ease the entry for newcomers without hindering their complexity for more seasoned players. Roguelikes such as Nuclear Throne are tough as nails, but you're not swamped with feature upon feature. The foundation is easy to pick up and gradually improve your skills by (lots of) trial and error.
