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Tyranny, Obsidian Entertainment’s 2016 RPG, offered a unique take on the genre, allowing players to embrace villainy in a world conquered by evil. The promise of expansion content, particularly anything that built upon the game’s somewhat abrupt ending, was met with eager anticipation. Unfortunately, Tyranny: Bastard’s Wound fails to deliver on that potential, offering a shallow experience that feels more like an afterthought than a meaningful addition.

Tyranny: Bastard

A Missed Opportunity for Narrative Expansion

Bastard’s Wound takes place before the main game’s conclusion and can be accessed after Act II. This immediately limits its impact, preventing it from addressing the core narrative’s unresolved threads. Instead of venturing to new lands, players are confined to a hidden area within the familiar Oldwalls region. This new area, the titular Bastard’s Wound, houses a community with its own set of problems for the Fatebinder to resolve.

While the core strength of Tyranny, the ability to roleplay a truly villainous character, is present, the narrative execution in Bastard’s Wound falters. The main questline feels simplistic compared to the original game, even though the flexible approach to problem-solving remains. The central plot revolves around a hidden community and the player’s choice to either aid or expose them. While this allows for some moral ambiguity, the overall impact feels inconsequential.

Repetitive Quests and a Disconnected Narrative

The biggest disappointment lies in the lack of depth and meaningful consequences. The two main factions within Bastard’s Wound offer branching storylines, but these paths feel remarkably similar, lacking the intricate narrative weaving that made the original game so compelling. Furthermore, Bastard’s Wound fails to acknowledge player choices made in the main campaign. Decisions with significant weight in the core narrative are seemingly ignored, creating a jarring disconnect between the expansion and the main game.

Tyranny: Bastard

Companion Quests Offer a Glimmer of Hope

Bastard’s Wound includes personal quests for companions Lantry, Barik, and Verse. These side stories, especially Lantry’s, offer some engaging moments and tie into the expansion’s main narrative. However, they aren’t substantial enough to elevate the overall experience. They feel more like content cut from the base game and repurposed for the DLC than genuinely new additions. Adding insult to injury, these quests are inaccessible for players who have progressed beyond Act II in the main campaign.

Stagnant Combat and Lackluster Encounters

Tyranny’s original combat suffered from a lack of enemy variety, a weakness further exacerbated in Bastard’s Wound. Players face the same familiar foes – soldiers, Bane, and Sleepless – with no new enemy types or mechanics introduced. The combat encounters remain predictable and lackluster, offering little in the way of challenge or excitement. Even some of the quest design feels uninspired, with awkward mechanics like requiring pixel-perfect positioning to trigger specific events.

A Shallow Wound on an Otherwise Compelling Experience

Tyranny: Bastard’s Wound ultimately fails to live up to the potential of its premise. Instead of expanding upon the captivating world and morally grey choices of the original game, it offers a shallow and disconnected experience. The repetitive quests, lack of meaningful consequences, and stagnant combat leave a disappointing impression. While the companion quests provide some engaging moments, they aren’t enough to redeem the expansion’s overall shortcomings. For fans hoping for a substantial continuation of Tyranny’s narrative, Bastard’s Wound is likely to leave them feeling wounded themselves.