> be me
> excited to try Wanderlust: Rebirth on Steam
> launches game
> immediately greeted by laggy mess
> "Maybe it gets better," I tell myself
> starts single-player mode
> greeted by AI teammates dumber than a sack of bricks
> they're more like decorative potted plants than helpful companions
> try leveling up
> grind feels longer than eternity
> inventory space smaller than my hopes and dreams
> tries casting magic
> commands vanish faster than my motivation to keep playing
> 5 FPS drops hit harder than a ton of bricks
> considers multiplayer
> remembers friends have better taste in games
> cries internally
> "Maybe it's just me," I whisper to the void
> checks Steam reviews
> sees others suffering the same fate
> "At least I'm not alone," I sigh
> gives Wanderlust: Rebirth a hard pass
> never looks back

The Temple Of The King - Blackmore's Night
"Temple of the Grind" 😅

One day in the year of the bug 🐛
Came a time remembered in frustration 🤬
When the eager gamer of Wanderlust's land 🎮
Heard the loading of the eternal, spinning wheel 🔄

One day in the year of the grind ⏳
When the screen began to stutter 🖥️
It meant the time had come 🕰️
For one to face 😤
The temple of the grind ⛩️

There amidst the pixelated chaos he stands 🤯
Clicking, cursing 🤬
With just one press of his trembling key ⌨️
The game will reluctantly start 🚀

Daylight fades as the loading screen mocks ☀️
Hell, it taunts him 🔥
And then like the crash of a thousand servers 💥
It boots up, but barely 💻

One day in the year of the grind ⌛
Came a time remembered all too well 🤦
When the valiant gamer of Wanderlust's realm 🏞️
Heard the screeching of the overloaded server bell 🔔

One day in the year of the grind ⏰
When the progress bar began to crawl 🐢
It meant the time had come 🎯
For one to brave 🛡️
The temple of the grind ⛩️

There in the heart of the digital wilderness 🌌
He stands 🕴️
Struggling, enduring 💪
With just a click of a mighty mouse 🖱️
He's plunged 🌊
Into the abyss of the grind 🌀

Far from the realm where loot drops like rain 🌧️
He's hoping, waiting 🙏
Recalling tales of smoother gameplay 📜
From the legends of yore 📖

There in the center of the grindy dungeon it lies 💎
Gods help him 🙌
Then all could see by the gleam in his eye ✨
The game had finally relented 🙏

Back with his comrades in the virtual battlefield ⚔️
He stands 🏰
Sharing, rejoicing 🎉
With just one victory in the land of grind 🏆
They know 🧠
Of the temple and its merciless trials 🧗‍♂️

Title: "Avril Lavigne's Epic Roast: 'Wanderlust Rebirth' - A Punk Rock Nightmare"

[Scene: Avril Lavigne sits on a black leather couch, glaring at the laptop screen displaying the Steam page for "Wanderlust Rebirth." A punk rock poster hangs crookedly on the wall behind her.]

Avril: Alright, strap on your studded belts, 'cause Avril's about to tear into this catastrophe they dare to call 'Wanderlust Rebirth.' Get ready for a rollercoaster ride through the depths of disappointment, my fellow rebels!

[She leans forward, crossing her arms with a scowl.]

Avril: First off, let's talk about this multiplayer-only mess. What's the deal, huh? Are they afraid solo players might outshine the groupies? They threw in some AI teammates, but let's be real, they're about as useful as a tambourine in a metal band – just there for decoration.

[She rolls her eyes, clearly unimpressed.]

Avril: And let's not even start on the leveling system. It's like trying to unlock a backstage pass with a kazoo solo. The grind is so intense; it makes my eyeliner smudge just thinking about it. And the inventory space? Five slots? I've got more room in my makeup bag, and that's saying something!

[She leans back, crossing her legs with a scoff.]

Avril: Oh, and the bugs! This game is buggier than a punk rock concert in a swamp. Frame rate drops? Check. Commands disappearing faster than my patience at a pop concert? Double check. It's like trying to perform with a broken guitar string – frustrating and totally not punk.

[She leans forward again, her voice dripping with sarcasm.]

Avril: And let's talk about the AI – they're about as smart as a goldfish at a chess tournament. They're about as helpful as a rubber duck in a flood. Oh, and did I mention the controls? Clunkier than my grandma's old station wagon. Good luck navigating this mess with a keyboard!

[She lets out a frustrated sigh.]

Avril: So, in conclusion, 'Wanderlust Rebirth' is like a punk rock concert where the only thing rebirthing is your disappointment. Save your cash for something worth your time, like a "Complicated" crossword or a "Sk8er Boi" who actually knows how to skate. And remember, "Nobody's Home" in this game, 'cause it's just plain "Innocence" lost. This game is far from my "Happy Ending", it's more like "Hot" garbage. What the hell were they thinking? It's a "Smile" turned upside down, a "Forgotten" mess. As my song goes, "Why'd you have to go and make things so complicated?" Seriously, this game is just plain complicated. Avril out.

[She slams the laptop shut with a dramatic flair, tossing her hair back before storming off-camera in a cloud of punk-rock fury, leaving the poster swaying in her wake.]

Title: "Wanderlust's Lament: A Journey Through Digital Despair"
In the realm of digital dreams,
Where gamers seek their thrilling schemes,
There lies a tale of woe profound,
In "Wanderlust: Rebirth" it's found.

Be me, the hopeful soul,
Eager to reach a distant goal,
But alas, upon that Steamy shore,
Lies a laggy mess, and nothing more.

With trembling hand, I launch the game,
Hoping it will not be the same,
But greeted by a stuttering screen,
I enter a world of broken dreams.

Solo play, my only choice,
Yet AI allies have no voice,
Dumber than bricks, they stand and stare,
Decorative plants, without a care.

I strive to level, to progress on,
But the grind feels like an eon gone,
Inventory space, a cruel joke,
Smaller than dreams that I invoke.

Magic spells, a flicker and fade,
Commands vanish, my efforts waylaid,
Framerate drops, like bricks they fall,
Crushing hope against the wall.

Multiplayer beckons, a faint glimmer,
But friends' taste makes the future dimmer,
Alone I stand, my spirit torn,
Crying out in the digital morn.

I whisper to the void, "Is it just me?"
But Steam reviews speak, I am not free,
Others suffer, as I do too,
In this wasteland of broken hue.

So with heavy heart, I bid adieu,
To "Wanderlust: Rebirth," I'm through,
Nevermore to tread its troubled track,
I turn away, and never look back.

---

In the temple of the grind, he stands alone,
His mouse clicking, keyboard prone,
A digital wilderness, harsh and vast,
Where lag and bugs are unsurpassed.

The loading wheel spins, a mocking sneer,
As he faces trials, cold and drear,
For in this realm, progress crawls,
And victory seems beyond all walls.

But amidst the chaos, a glimmer bright,
A sign that he might win the fight,
For in the heart of the grind's cruel test,
Lies the hope of triumph, in conquest.

Back with comrades, he stands tall,
Having braved the grind's relentless sprawl,
Sharing tales of victory won,
In the land where Wanderlust begun.

Yet in the end, the truth remains clear,
"Wanderlust: Rebirth" holds no cheer,
Its flaws too many, its promise thin,
A tale of wanderlust lost in the din.

I am 32 years old.

My ex-wife and I have a daughter together, and we adopted our son together. Both are now 4 years old.

When we were going through our separation, I felt lost and unhappy. I was self-destructive. One day, I was so angry with everything spiraling out of control that I punched a concrete wall in a moment of overwhelming emotion. This resulted in breaking my fifth metacarpal in my right hand—the hand I worked with, played games with, and used to carry my children to bed—the hand I desperately needed to ensure I could continue providing.

Upon learning the severity of the self-inflicted damage, I became almost suicidal. Keep in mind that just a few months before this, I was the happiest man, with no history of depression or anxiety. I had never experienced anger outbursts, nor was I the type to break down and cry, but I was in a tough situation that truly prevented me from seeing the light on the other side.

With nothing better to do, I looked for a game I could play WITH ONE HAND while recovering. Somehow, I stumbled upon this game and read some of the comments. I decided it was worth a try... I must admit I didn't beat the game, nor did I play as much as some of you. In fact, I may have played this game for only a day or two. That being said, after doing so, I had a new joy and hope for life. I managed to leave behind the pain and suffering that had been thrust upon me. I could experience the joy and happiness of other people. I relaxed for 5 ♥♥♥♥ minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.

After realizing this, I turned off the game and went back to work. My hand hurt a lot, but I was motivated. I stopped feeling so sorry for myself and became the father I needed to be at that moment, not the weak boy I was behaving like.

Today, I am close friends with the mother of my children. We don't fight, argue, or say hurtful things to each other. We are parents and friends.

Now I have 3 children. My third child is, wait, ALSO 4 YEARS OLD. The woman I am with was going through a very similar situation at the time of my separation, and we just unexpectedly stumbled into each other's lives. We have been dating for a year and are very happy together.

Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today. This silly little game helped me realize that.

Thank you.

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11elf

its okay. Play with friends and look up the secrets on a guide tho

.

Jerma985 is a Liar.

Abandoned, doesn't play well without friends.

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Rancid, awful. It's been years since I touched this and I still feel burned. Not at all intended for single player, but the gameplay is just not great either. Nothing feels satisfying to do. I can't recommend this game even for the multiplayer experience, because there are so many other multiplayer co-op games way worth your time across multiple genres.

Stay far, far away from this one. If you're real curious, look up a video review. Not worth it on sale or for free.