W.A.N.D. Project Review – Promising But Lacking

W.A.N.D. Project Review

“We took Vampire Survivors, added spell crafting, and let players break the game on purpose.” W.A.N.D. Project on paper is so much up my alley that I’ve been treated to a plethora of targeted ads of the game in addition to having found the game on my own. While on paper, the game fits my current taste, how does the final product stack up to expectations?

W.A.N.D. Project puts players in the role of a number of sorceresses in a fight against aliens in a futuristic Tokyo. Aside from that brief summary of a premise, the game doesn’t really have much of a story or narrative. Sure, there are some exchanges between some characters, but for the most part, that’s about it. That said, these types of games are not about a sprawling narrative, but it would have been nice if there was a bit more, given that the setup sounds interesting but not really built upon. On the other hand, maybe less would be more in this scenario.

Typically, I personally dislike comparing games to one another within a review, but W.A.N.D. Project is not shy about doing it themselves. On the game’s Steam page, it proudly states that the title is “for fans of Vampire Survivors, Brotato, and Death Must Die.” It’s not hard to imagine the type of game W.A.N.D. Project sets out to be, and keywords such as survival, bullet hell, and roguelike all come to mind. While the developers make comparisons to some great games, W.A.N.D. Project is a bit lacking when compared to the cream of the crop.

The title sets itself apart with an interesting spellcrafting system, allowing players to combine magical elements in developing spells to use against aliens. For example, a fireball that fires off every couple of seconds can be adjusted to fire when idle, striking nearby enemies with lighting, with a chance to heal yourself. Now imagine this, but maybe 15-20 minutes after the start of a run, with multiple different spells, augmentations, and whatnot. The game advertises breaking the game with this system, and for the most part, it does it well.

Where the game falters for me is in its moment-to-moment gameplay. While the game is in itself fun, it rarely keeps my attention long enough to really enjoy it. The spellcrafting system is interesting, but the game doesn’t do enough to make me keep playing. Perhaps where the disconnect falls is that the spellcrafting almost feels like a separate entity from the game. A puzzle section within an action game, and although the two parts are connected, I don’t feel like the action portions are rewarding enough in comparison.

Lastly, the game’s lack of content with regards to playable characters and wands is a disservice to itself. Taking a look at one of the game’s self-comparisons in Vampire Survivors already says a lot about where this game could eventually get to. W.A.N.D. Project desperately needs more options going forward if it wants to embed itself into the industry and eventually be named as an inspiration or comparison for future titles.

Overall, W.A.N.D. Project on paper sounds like a survival-type gamer’s dream, but unfortunately, it is just missing some of that special sauce to keep it in the rotation long term. There are definitely some aspects the game could build upon, but at this point it still does feel a bit like an Early Access title. That said, the spellcrafting system is a welcome addition to the genre, and I’d like to continue tinkering around with potential spells.

*** A review code was provided by the publisher ***