Mix the ferociously popular “Call of Duty” series with the “Hellboy” film franchise and you have an idea where this first-person-shooter is headed.
STORY:
Special agent B.J. Blazkowicz, back behind enemy lines during World War II, must prevent Heinrich Himmler’s SS troops from mastering the occult force known as the Black Sun. The key to B.J.’s quest is a powerful medallion that permits him access to the Veil, an eerie subdimension that unlocks brand new powers (and elevates “Wolfenstein” above its first-person-shooter competition).
GAME PLAY:
You have to understand: Reviewing new titles has been difficult lately as “Arkham Asylum” chews up my Playstation 3. But whenever Batman retires to his Bat cave, I’ve popped in “Wolfenstein,” the much-anticipated first-person shooter from Raven Software, id Software, Pi Studios and Endrant Studios.
Fans of the franchise know how it feels to wait. They’ve been begging for this sequel to Activision’s PC-based “Return to Castle Wolfenstein” since 2001. The new game was announced in 2004, teased a year or two later, and delivered to stores last month.
Was it worth the wait? Well, in the interim between “Return” and its sequel, the FPS genre has drastically improved thanks to “Bioshock,” “Far Cry 2” and the “Call of Duty” franchise – specifically “Modern Warfare.” As a result, “Wolfenstein” offers a fun and often challenging run-and-gun mission through a variation of the WWII environment, but it’s a shade beneath the “COD” games in terms of graphics and creative gameplay.
The introduction of the Veil turns “Wolfenstein” on its head in the best way possible. What was once a routine search-and-seizure military operation all of a sudden becomes an inventive and spirited adventure that goes beyond the battlefield to supernatural fields of play. You’re not just fighting Nazis anymore. You’re now fighting Nazi’s with undead powers and ghostly blue force fields. The game can be complicated, though the maneuverability of the first-person-shooter viewpoint is easy and excellent. The boss levels are intense, but quick load times after you die keeps you invested in the game. And when you complete this particular mission, “Wolfenstein” extends its own shelf life with three online multiplayer games. The most popular appears to be a Team Deathmatch, which utilizes an open environment from the game and finds fellow gamers stalking your scalp. (Think of similar fights in “Grand Theft Auto IV.”)
CONCLUSION:
First-person shooters aren’t my thing, but the ease of play and hook of the supernatural angle really pulled me into “Wolfenstein.” This is a game I’ll revisit often, learning new tricks every time I play.
Overall Grade – B
EM Review by
Sean O’Connell
Originally Posted 09.17.09