Info about Wild West and Wizards:

Official game description:
  
Wild West and Wizards is an open world RPG set in a re-imagined new frontier about exploration, adventure, and loot. We wanted to create a Wild West setting that hadn't been done before.  
In Wild West and Wizards you choose a character class with a unique talent tree, level up, and explore the world at your own pace. Pick a direction and head out into the great unknown with over two hundred points of interests, a main story, lore, side quests, secrets, and replayable end game content. Face off against outlaws, go on epic quests, solve puzzles, discover towns, earn new loot and abilities, and uncover mysterious places scattered across the Wild West.
Key Features
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*   **Become a Gun Slinging Wizard** - Learn new abilities, cast an array of unique spells, loot epic weapons, and become the most powerful wizard in the west.  
*   **Discover the World** - Pick a direction and explore a vast re-imagined wild west with over two hundred points of interests including homes, settlements, bandit camps, churches, cemeteries, caves, and more! All filled with quests, secrets, and puzzles.  
*   **Embark on Epic Quests** - Go on bounty hunts, discover tons of side quests, and complete an epic main quest to uncover the secrets of The Wizard Towers.  
*   **Shoot and Loot** - Loot tons of rare armor and weapons with unique stats that fit your playstyle.  
*   **Customize Your Character** - Level up your character and unlock new talents unique to your chosen class.  
*   **Stop by the Saloon** - Discover towns and settlements filled with people, quests, and unique items to buy.
About Lavaboots Studios
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Lavaboots Studios is a small indie game company that is founded based on a purpose rather than a product. Have you ever played a game that gave you a feeling? If you have, then you know exactly what we are talking about. It's something that sticks with you for the rest of your life. It is our mission to create worlds that inspire adventure and forge an unforgettable journey.

Release date: Apr 28, 2020

Categories: Open-World Exploration, Action RPG, First-Person Shooter, Magic System, Skill Tree Progression System, Loot-driven Combat System, Quest-driven Progression, Low-poly Art Style


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $15.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that some players consider a price of about $12.50 (€12.50) to be fair, while others suggest a range of $5-$10. However, at $15 there is a split: one reviewer calls it a 'joke' for the content, while another presents the $15 as an acceptable price for a hybrid attempt. The community sentiment indicates that $15 is the upper limit that some consider acceptable but others do not, while $5 is a common lower bound for the game's perceived value when not on sale.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 28.5h
  - Story completion: 73.0h
  - Session length: N/A
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: GameCompletion: Two reviews report 27 hours and 'nears 30 hours' for full exploration/main game completion, plus '30+ hours' confirms approximate range, averaged to 28.5. StoryCompletion: One review explicitly states 73 hours played and 'about to log in again to finish the main story line', indicating main story completion has not yet occurred at that playtime, suggesting the metric is the actual playtime logged before finishing the story. SessionLength: No review provides typical session duration. Endgame: No review discusses post-completion content playtime.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game has a slow, tedious first hour, but enjoyment increases as players unlock more skills and better equipment, leading to more engaging combat and progression.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Combat picking up the pace
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: slow beginning; tedious walking; repetitive combat; enemy sponginess; limited early skills
  - Unlock drivers: more skills; better ammo/weapons; level progression and talents
  - Conditions: combat starts slow for gunslinger class; unlocking more skills and better ammo/weapons; higher level spells scale massively in late game; enemy variety is low and locations are repetitive; the world is large with little incentive to explore
- Player Archetypes:
  - Chill Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Relaxation and casual exploration with forgiving design
    - Playstyle: Explores large open world casually, enjoys relaxed atmosphere, early access tolerance, and light combat
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A
  - Familiar Genre Fan (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of classic open-world RPG loop with nostalgic similarities to known titles
    - Playstyle: Engages with familiar RPG mechanics—exploration, questing, loot, leveling—often comparing to Skyrim, Borderlands, or Runescape
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: Skyrim; Borderlands; Runescape; Oblivion; Firewatch
  - Experimental Indie Supporter (sale)
    - Motivation: Supporting indie development and seeing potential for future updates
    - Playstyle: Plays through rough early access, overlooks bugs and missing features, enjoys potential of indie title
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: N/A
    - Reference games: N/A


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Expansive and explorable world (weight 0.61): Players consistently highlight the huge map with many locations and points of interest, offering plenty to discover and explore.
- Great value for the price (weight 0.54): Reviewers find the game well worth its cost, with comments about it being worth every dollar and providing excellent content for the price.
- Plentiful quests and content (weight 0.34): The game offers many quests, NPCs, enemies, and loot, with varied quests and no fetch quests, providing an excellent amount of content.
- Diverse spells and abilities (weight 0.25): Players appreciate the large variety of spells and abilities to learn, with over 50 spells available that cater to different playstyles.
- Unique cowboy and magic mix (weight 0.2): The combination of Wild West and magic is noted as interesting, strange, but fun, setting the game apart from typical shooters.
- Enjoyable NPC directional guidance (weight 0.19): The game's system of NPCs giving directions instead of quest markers is appreciated, encouraging more immersive exploration.
- RPG elements and upgrading (weight 0.13): RPG elements and weapon upgrading systems are noted, adding depth to character progression.
- Responsive developer support (weight 0.13): Developers are commended for providing support and fixing bugs quickly, improving the overall player experience.

Common complaints:
- Repetitive enemies and bullet sponges (weight 0.58): Enemies are repetitive with very few types (often described as countable on two hands), are bullet sponges requiring excessive time to kill, and the world feels empty with boring locations. Boss fights also feature sudden death without cues.
- Unfinished and buggy experience (weight 0.52): Many players describe the game as 'garbage,' 'unfinished like an itch.io demo,' 'dreadfully boring,' or 'only fun in concept.' Bugs include visual glitches, infinite ammo glitch, camera lock, crashes after boss fights causing loot loss, and more.
- Game abandoned by developers (weight 0.46): Many players feel the game was abandoned shortly after release, with no major updates since 2020 or 2021, and only a soundtrack DLC released after development stopped. This gives a strong impression of an unfinished, abandoned project.
- Boring and empty open world (weight 0.43): The world and setting are boring despite a unique premise, feeling like a stripped-down Oblivion clone with empty spaces and repetitive locations. The map is too large with distant points of interest, making exploration tedious.
- Poor graphics and optimization (weight 0.4): Graphics are mid to rudimentary with poor lighting and textures, low-poly models, untextured rock facets, and characters appearing doll-like. Some areas require lowering settings to fix performance dips. Colors are too bright/saturated with no slider.
- Map and compass disorienting (weight 0.4): The world map is oriented incorrectly (north is east) and cannot be rotated, the compass only shows cardinal directions, and the UI is inconvenient (must click regions, no mouse wheel). Road signs point wrong directions, making navigation frustrating.
- Weak and unsatisfying gunplay (weight 0.39): Guns feel extremely weak at start, with poor damage balance (revolvers outperform other weapons). Gunplay is stiff with low hit rates, enemies are stationary with zero animations, and there is too much empty space between combat encounters.
- No horses or easy travel (weight 0.38): No horses or mounts in a cowboy-themed game, only walking and limited fast travel. Running in the desert without a horse is annoying, and fast travel is tedious. Movement speed is too slow for the world size.
- Poor reload and movement mechanics (weight 0.35): Reload animations are missing or strange (gun just tilts), reload times are long, and you cannot sprint while reloading; dodging cancels reloads. Low move speed and stamina-dependent sprint add to movement frustration.
- Tedious key hunts and puzzles (weight 0.33): Frequent key hunts are annoying and tedious, especially in large dungeons near the end, forcing backtracking. There are too many bell and lantern puzzles, and key finding often blocks quest progression.
- Poor weapon and spell balance (weight 0.33): Weapons and spells are poorly balanced: some spells become extremely powerful late-game, trivializing encounters, while other talents were nerfed heavily (e.g., health regen from 17 to 2 per tick). Cheesy exploits exist, like Blink.
- Performance and health drain issues (weight 0.33): Performance issues: high CPU/GPU usage despite low-poly graphics, lag spikes, frame drops in certain places. Health steadily drains despite using potions. Optimization problems on various hardware.
- Bland and fetch-heavy quests (weight 0.33): Quests are the lamest and most bland, mostly fetch quests with no choices, lacking impact and immersion. Writing is functional, characters do nothing, and the story lacks a human element.
- Missing quality-of-life features (weight 0.32): Missing quality-of-life features like a 'sell all junk' button, leading to tedious inventory management. UI is poorly explained, item use rules unclear, and some quests allow bypassing enemies to grab objectives, breaking flow.
- Poor audio design (weight 0.3): Music is not frequent enough and has few tracks, some find it maddening. Sound effects for guns and spells are flat, and enemies are quiet during combat, lacking immersion. No option to repeat music.
- Limited loot and customization (weight 0.27): Loot variety is limited: mostly armor/weapon upgrades with no depth, and very limited character customization (few hairstyles/beards). Attributes only through equipment, failing as an RPG.
- Janky movement and bugs (weight 0.26): Jumping and vertical movement are janky, getting stuck on small ledges or bumps. One bug prevents looking around with the mouse. No sprint mechanic makes travel tedious.
- No translation or localization (weight 0.26): Quests are entirely in dense English, hard for non-native speakers to understand, with no translation support (e.g., lacking Russian or Chinese). This makes progression difficult for some players.
- Missing multiplayer and depth (weight 0.21): The game is single-player only with no co-op or multiplayer, which some players wish for. Missing stealth, lockpicking, traps, diplomacy, or non-combat magic, reducing depth.

Gameplay feedback:
- Open world RPG with exploration (weight 0.97): The game is frequently described as an open world RPG with a strong focus on exploration, quests, characters, and loot. It appears to be the core genre and primary appeal.
- Exploration and discovery focus (weight 0.62): The game is heavily focused on exploration, discovery, and uncovering secrets, lore, and riddles. This is a core pillar of the gameplay experience.
- Magic and gun combat (weight 0.56): Players use a mix of guns (revolvers, rifles, shotguns) and magical spells in combat. This combination of weapon types and magic is a frequently mentioned feature.
- First-person shooter hybrid (weight 0.52): Multiple reviews highlight the first-person shooter perspective, often mentioning its combination with RPG elements. The gunplay is a central mechanic of the game.
- Wild West wizard theme (weight 0.36): The game is uniquely described as having a Wild West setting combined with wizards and magic, often compared to a magical western version of Skyrim. This thematic blend is a key differentiator.
- Skill tree progression system (weight 0.3): The game features talent trees or skill trees for character progression and class customization. This system allows players to specialize their abilities.
- Low-poly art style (weight 0.25): The game features a distinctive low-poly aesthetic that is often mentioned alongside its Bethesda-style exploration. This art style is a notable visual characteristic.
- Fast travel is limited (weight 0.21): Fast travel exists but is restricted to specific locations, requiring players to travel on foot between points. This impacts the exploration experience.
- Bullet sponge enemies (weight 0.15): Some enemies are described as bullet sponges, requiring many hits to defeat. This can make combat feel tedious or unbalanced.
- Max level and gear upgrades (weight 0.15): There is a max level system where experience points are used to upgrade gear. This provides a sense of progression and end-game goals.
- Puzzles and key hunts (weight 0.15): The game includes puzzles such as treasure hunts and environmental deduction. Some progression is gated by finding keys or solving these puzzles.
- Direction-based exploration (weight 0.15): NPCs provide verbal directions to locations instead of standard quest markers, encouraging players to explore and discover. This old-school approach is a notable design choice.
- Wizard class with fire and ice (weight 0.14): The wizard class has specific talent trees for fire and ice magic, allowing for specialized builds. This class is a distinct playable archetype.

Performance notes:
- High Hardware Load (weight 0.25): Despite low-poly graphics, the game has high GPU load, high CPU usage, and elevated temperatures, sometimes exceeding those of AAA titles.
- Overall Poor Optimization (weight 0.21): General optimization issues include lag spikes, random FPS drops, and a need for better performance tuning.
- Stable and Smooth Performance (weight 0.16): Multiple reviews mention the game runs smoothly and is well-optimized, noting stable performance.
- 60 FPS with Dips (weight 0.16): Some players consistently achieve 60 FPS, including on mid-range hardware like GTX 1650 SUPER at max settings, but note area-specific dips.
- Zero Loading Screens (weight 0.09): Players report that the game has zero loading screens after the initial boot, which is a significant positive for immersion.
- Poor Lighting and Textures (weight 0.09): Reviews criticize poor lighting and textures, which negatively affect visual quality.
- Fix Dips by Disabling Effects (weight 0.09): Fixing performance dips requires disabling shadows and volumetric lighting, which harms visual fidelity.

Recommendations:
- Great for exploration and looting (weight 0.51): Multiple reviews highlight the game's strength in exploration, looting, and a chill open-world experience, appealing to casual players who value discovery.
- Strongly negative purchase advice (weight 0.39): Several reviewers strongly advise against purchasing the game, citing issues like a restrictive level cap, bugs, and poor value even when free.
- Needs more content and polish (weight 0.29): Several reviewers note the game needs improvement, citing lack of content, bugs, and incomplete state, with some hoping for future updates.
- Good for indie game supporters (weight 0.21): Fans of indie games and previous titles by the developer (Salt) appreciate the effort and recommend supporting the indie studio.
- Appeals to western RPG fans (weight 0.18): Some fans recommend the game to those who enjoy western open-world RPGs like Skyrim, with a Wild West twist and magic.
- Fair price around $5 to $10 (weight 0.17): A few reviews estimate the game's fair price at around $5 to $10, indicating a low budget title worth that amount.
- Language accessibility issue (weight 0.07): One reviewer suggests a simple English translation would make the game more accessible and recommendable to a wider audience.
- Only for walking sim fans (weight 0.07): A reviewer states the game is only for walking simulator enthusiasts but still not the best in that niche.
- Likes looter shooter genre (weight 0.07): One review states that fans of looter shooters will enjoy this game, positioning it within that genre.
- Worth buying despite frustrations (weight 0.07): Despite frustrations, one reviewer finds the game still worth buying, balancing positives and negatives.
- Cautious recommendation with warnings (weight 0.07): Recommended to open-world fans but with a clear warning about the game's shortfalls, indicating mixed signals.
- Better alternatives exist (weight 0.06): One review claims there are superior cowboy and wizard games available, implying this game falls short of competitors.
- Niche feature-dependent appeal (weight 0.06): A review recommends the game only if you like certain unspecified features, suggesting a narrow appeal.
- Recommended Gunslinger class (weight 0.06): One reviewer recommends playing the Gunslinger class specifically, indicating class-based gameplay variety.
- Enhanced with western music (weight 0.06): A review suggests playing with Ennio Morricone music in the background to enhance the western atmosphere.

Other player notes:
- Lack of wild west competitors (weight 0.07): The game is noted as the only open world Wild West RPG available. This unique positioning highlights a market gap rather than a specific game quality.
- Review boosted for indie support (weight 0.06): A reviewer admitted giving a positive vote solely to support indie developers despite personally disliking the game. This indicates review score inflation due to goodwill.
- Mixed reviewer intent and voting (weight 0.06): The review sample shows inconsistent voting behavior where positive ratings do not always reflect enjoyment. This skews the aggregate score's reliability.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.15): Players are frustrated by the game feeling unfinished, with optimization issues, lag spikes, and crashes that cause progress loss. Tedious backtracking for hidden keys, limited weapon/enemy variety, and a lack of clear guidance or UI explanations compound the frustration.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.15): Reviewers enjoyed the game's charming graphics, vast world with hundreds of locations, and the satisfying combination of magic and gunplay. The relaxed atmosphere, rewarding exploration, and engaging combat after learning timing contributed significantly to the positive experience.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Satisfaction stemmed from the game's solid mechanics, engaging quests that are not overwhelming, and rewarding exploration that encourages discovering every location. The responsive development team and good value for money further enhanced this feeling.
- Disappointment (weight 0.1): Disappointment arose from the game being abandoned by the developer after initial updates, leading to a lack of content and depth. The world feels empty and incomplete, with severe balance issues, limited enemy variety, and no meaningful choices or replay value.
- Surprise (weight 0.05): Players were surprised by the high quality and depth of the game despite its primitive graphics and low price of $15. The extensive content and detailed world exceeded expectations, offering far more than initially anticipated.
- Joy (weight 0.05): The fantastic music and immense fun comparable to Skyrim brought joy to players. The game is described as super fun and highly playable, with exploration providing a pleasant and memorable experience.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Appreciation was expressed for the excellent music and visuals that fit the fantasy western theme perfectly. The inventory system, navigation that encourages exploration, and varied quests were also highly valued.
- Annoyance (weight 0.05): Annoyances include minor UI issues like button placement, getting stuck on small ledges, performance problems such as high CPU usage and framedrops, and tedious travel due to slow movement speed and limited fast travel.
- Anger (weight 0.04): Anger is directed at the developer for abandoning the game after a few months, leading to a feeling that the product is unfinished and a cash grab. Players felt cheated by the lack of meaningful updates and content.
- Betrayal (weight 0.03): A sense of betrayal comes from the game being overpriced at $15 for the amount of content and effort provided. Players feel the developers gave up on the game, leaving them with buyer's remorse.
- Desire (weight 0.03): Players desire additional features such as marriageable NPCs, horses, animals, co-op multiplayer, and native Chinese language support to enhance the experience.
- Gratitude (weight 0.03): Gratitude is felt towards the developers for being highly responsive and fixing bugs quickly, sometimes within minutes of being reported. This active support helped players progress and enjoy the game more.
- Hope (weight 0.03): Hope remains that the game will continue to improve with added classes, horses, new areas, and multiplayer, as the developers work fast and show potential for the game to become something greater.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.01): Mixed feelings arise from the story having some surprising layers but the main arc lacking bigger twists, leaving the narrative somewhat unfulfilled despite interesting elements.
- Fatigue (weight 0.01): Fatigue sets in after 50-60 hours due to a lack of novelty, making the additional playtime feel like a burden rather than an enjoyable experience.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret is expressed by players who forgot they purchased the game and wished they had played it earlier so they could have refunded it.
- Admiration (weight 0.01): Admiration comes from the game being a great value and deserving more popularity, with many players impressed by the overall quality and content relative to the price.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Relief is experienced because the game is forgiving and works with the player, offering a relaxing experience. A specific quest bug was also a relief as it could be bypassed by jumping.
- Fun (weight 0.01): Fun is derived from the combat becoming decent and more enjoyable as players progress and acquire better weapons.
- Dislike (weight 0.01): Dislike is driven by the pointless placement of map elements and the lack of feeling in weapons and magic, making the game unengaging.}