Blauer Montag
It is hard to envision Nazis in video game form without thinking back to 1992's Wolfenstein 3D. As one of the first major shooters, it helped shape the genre as we see it today.
With so many attempts to reboot the franchise over the years, the announcement of Wolfenstein: The New Order was only a surprise in that it was being tried again. In a surprising twist, developer Machine Games has not only attempted to bring the series to a new generation, but actually succeeded, complete with a refreshing change in tone.
The game opens in July of 1946 with a last-ditch assault by the Allied Forces on Wilhelm "Deathshead" Strasse's base of operations. Hero of Wolfenstein's past, B.J. Blazkowicz, crash-lands outside the heavily fortified base and attempts to infiltrate it with the help of his pilot, Fergus Reid, and a rookie soldier, Private Wyatt.
After making their way through the fortress, the trio is captured by Deathshead and his super-soldiers. Strasse challenges B.J. to decide the fate of his team in a sacrifice of either Wyatt or Fergus. This decision splits the story into two timelines each with unique interactions, characters, and skills, giving players a good reason to experience the story twice.
Following the player's choice, B.J. manages to escape the fortress but not before sustaining a serious head injury. He wakes up in an asylum under the care of a Polish family. Unable to move or speak, fourteen years pass before Nazi troops raid the asylum and B.J. gains enough strength to fight back, resulting in an escape with Anya, the woman who had been taking care of him.
With no moral or ethical restrictions on scientific research, Wolfenstein's Nazis have developed far greater technology by 1960 than we see even today. Robotic dogs, mech-suits, and surveillance cameras abound, all leading to the surrender and bombing of the United States.
Despite the intense circumstances, The New Order paces itself incredibly well. With a resistance base to return to after missions, B.J. can speak to and learn about some of the key players in the resistance. These interactions are presented in pre-rendered cutscenes and offer a refreshing focus on story that many recent shooters lack.
The New Order's gameplay is extremely polished - it successfully manages to hold its ground even in the wake of the many shooters that have come since Wolfenstein 3D. With strong combat mechanics and a simplistic but effective stealth system, The New Order is not necessarily revolutionary, but it is certainly fun.
Wolfenstein's aiming and shooting feel solid without being overly complicated or unwieldy. The absence of an aiming penalty for firing from the hip lends itself particularly well to dual-wielding the game's many weapons and paired with a solid cover system, helps bring a ferocity to gun fights.
Despite its history as an action series, Wolfenstein's renewed mechanics really shine in its stealth system. With level layouts designed for approaching combat situations using a variety of tactics, the game begs to be at least attempted quietly and carefully. Sneaking through a Nazi camp to silently eliminate guards and commanders is a tense, thrilling experience, comparable to a Metal Gear Solid mission.
For those who prefer to go in guns blazing, the game features more than enough enemy types to keep you interested. Hulking super-soldiers, gigantic robots, armored guard dogs, and slow but strong heavy shotgunners all require different tactics and strategy to eliminate. There is an incredible satisfaction that comes with dual-wielding rocket-launchers to take down an enormous robo-dog, and Wolfenstein never hesitates to set up these intense moments.
A perk system offers players bonuses based on their play styles. A series of challenges unlocks buffs such as quicker reloading, a suppressor, or the ability to throw grenades back at enemies as B.J. either sneaks or blasts his way through missions. This mechanic is a refreshing change from the experience point system seen in many other shooters, but does ultimately feel somewhat limited in scope and depth.
While Wolfenstein does not push the console to its graphical limits, it manages to look good and run smoothly with the exception of occasional texture pop-in and frame rate drops.
Whether exploring the burnt-out remains of a post-war house or exploring a Nazi laboratory, Machine Games has done an excellent job of bringing these structures to life. Small details like newspaper clippings and overturned couches all have a story to tell, and Machine Games has crafted these environments with care.
Characters are incredibly well-detailed as well, with every wrinkle and scar adding a layer of harsh realism to the world they live in. Deathshead's model, in particular, is the physical embodiment of evil. A scarred face and a twisted, Joker-esque smile make him terrible to look at and easy to hate.
The New Order features some excellent voice acting to compliment its character design. B.J. sounds exactly how I would envision the gruff American hero, and the Nazis speak in deliciously evil tones.
Wolfenstein also has a fantastic soundtrack, well-suited to getting players pumped up to kill Nazis. A remixed version of the classic Wolfenstein 3D theme is a particular highlight, but every song is excellent and would be perfectly suited to any big action flick.
With its strong story, excellent combat mechanics, and amazing soundtrack, The New Order is a game deserving of the Wolfenstein name. Easter eggs abound in throwbacks to the original and with the huge array of collectibles as well as two separate timelines, there is a lot of content here.
It would have been nice to see more decisions like the early game sacrifice and perhaps a different ending depending on timeline, but as it stands, Wolfenstein is undoubtedly a great game. As one of the few high-end shooters currently available on the new consoles, it's a trip to the past well worth taking.
