Nazi killing is so in right now. Like totally. From the phenomenon around Call of Duty’s Nazi Zombie map packs, to Quenttin Tarantino’s awe-inspiring Inglourious Basterds, Activision and Raven Software’s timing with its newly released supernatural Nazi killer, Wolfenstein, couldn’t be better. In fact, Tarantino’s new flick followed by a play through of Wolfenstein compliment each other like two spoonfuls of sugar in your favorite iced tea. Yes, Wolfenstein is back after first popping up on the scene 17 years ago, revolutionizing the way we play games today, and adding the first-person scripted shooter concept to our modern day gaming. In a nutshell, if I could blend Far Cry 2, Call of Duty: World at War, and Bioshock, together in a blender, my smoothie might taste a bit like Wolfenstein this time around. But enough with my analogies, let’s get down to what this game’s about. Wolfenstein blends the two worlds of classic WWII battle and paranormal fantasy with a refreshing twist on the genre.
The Reich’s experimental powers, known as the Black Sun, take our hero, B.J. Blazkowicz, back into his famed role as the one man that can stop the forces destined to corrupt the world. But B.J. has some tricks up his sleeve this time, harnessing the occult’s Veil Power to use to his advantage against them. B.J. can switch over to an alternative realm, using it as a shield, to empower his bullets, or to slow down time. You’re posed with using WWII classic guns like assault rifles, rifles, and (here’s where a Bioshock ingredient comes into play) ridiculous sci-fi weaponry such as the Particle Cannon and the electronic powered Tesla Gun. The Veil not only changes the way you see the on screen dynamics, but adds speed to your running and illuminates enemies you’re facing. It has a time meter that runs slowly down the more you use it, but have no fear, there’s usually a Veil filler right around the corner. As you progress, you’ll find many ways to upgrade, not only the Veil and its abilities, but the guns as well. The Black market allows you to upgrade virtually anything in your possession, and is critical to help you in the battles to come.
As the first cut scene ends you’ll notice an interesting dynamic set before you. Yes, it’s an FPS, but has an outside open world attached to it. There are towns for you to explore, items like gold and Intel to hunt for, and secret missions from locals lurking around the corner. Although this may sound great, it’s where Wolfenstein finds itself in hot water. At first, there’s an excitement about the exploration you have at your fingertips in this seemingly large landscape, but after a couple of hours it’ll feel lacking and not as vast. There just simply isn’t enough interesting story for you to grab a hold of or be lured into. The cut scenes are bland and not great visually, which is a small disappointment, and the surroundings can feel similar and repetitive. Eventually you’ll be looking specifically to get into the real missions Wolfenstein has to offer. And this is where Wolfenstein shines. Jumping into core missions bring to life the feel of the traditional FPS here.
The way Wolfenstein puts together classic WWII enemies and the supernatural offer up something unique. The open world is put to rest and intense battles become constant, and are quite tough I might add. Although many of the AI come across as, let’s just say dumb, they’re aplenty, even throwing in trickery like disappearing and reappearing behind you. This is why the Veil is a necessity, bringing to life hidden doorways and shortcuts while allowing you to match many of the more powerful foes that can dominate areas. Strategizing when to use the power of the Veil adds a strategic element not seen in many FPS’s. The guns feel extremely solid, handling well in any environment, and the boss battles are great. Did I mention the boss battles? Well, they’re spectacular. Many of the missions have Zelda-esque boss battles forcing you to not only use your gun, but your brain. Each boss offers up a new way to dispose of it, letting creativity flourish.
Whether you need to use your environment, lure an enemy to its demise, or choose a specific weapon, you’ll be satisfied with the experience. With the single player campaign holding you down for about eight to 10 hours, Wolfenstein still has some life left in it yet, in the Multiplayer. Its Multiplayer feels a bit Call of Dity-ish (which can be a good thing) and doesn’t offer up anything too new, but is entertaining while looking great visually. There are three modes of play including, Team Death Match, Objective, and Stopwatch. You’re allowed to use Veil Powers here too, but in different ways than in the campaign, which will depend on if you choose to enter the match as an engineer, medic, or soldier. Wolfenstein might not change the face of gaming this time around, but will grab hold of gamers looking for a solid FPS adventure. With classic enemy’s and guns combined with the paranormal, Wolfenstein conjures up something that will have you looking forward to picking up the controller again and again; a noble accessory this season to any Xbox 360.
