Wolfenstein sees the return of B. J. Blazkowicz, an American agent of the Office of Secret Actions. While on a mission aboard a Nazi freighter, Blazkowicz steals a strange medallion from a German officer. When attempting to escape the ship with his find, the Germans corner B. J. with a number of unfriendly guns aimed his way. Blazkowicz instinctively raises his hands in as if they could stop the bullets. Surprisingly, as the hand which holds the medallion is raised, a blast of energy flies from the jewel and disintegrates B. J.'s enemies, allowing him to go free.
Upon his return to US controlled territory, Blazkowicz briefs his superiors on what happened aboard the ship. The Office of Secret Actions unanimously decides to send B. J. to Isenstadt, a city in which reports from resistance fighters hint at Nazi operations. The OSA believes that B. J. will find information about the powerful medallion in Isenstadt as the Nazis have been reportedly mining strange crystals which are believed to be the source of the medallion's power. Blazkowicz then sets off to assist the resistance, as well as to investigate what strange research the Nazi's might be getting into.
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| Never throw a Nazi a surprise party... |
Wolfenstein plays like most other modern FPSs. There are numerous weapons to collect throughout the game, each of which can be upgraded to increase their destructive potential. Hidden throughout the game are stashes of Nazi gold which can be collected and used to fund these upgrades. Missions also pay out in cash for even more weaponry acquisition. Where Wolfenstein differs from other FPSs is the way in which missions are handled.
Unlike most FPSs which play out linerally, Wolfenstein uses Isenstadt as a hub which you can freely explore. Once a mission has been accepted, traveling to a specific part of the city allows you to start each level. Inside Isenstadt are weapons shops, gold stashes, mission givers, resistance fighters in need of help and Nazi patrols. This freedom of exploration in-between levels really sets the game apart from others in the genre.
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| Let me guess, you were just helping him look for his contact, right? |
Another feature which is unique to the game is the power of the Thule medallion. This medallion enables Blazkowicz to phase into another dimension known as the Black Sun. The Nazis in the game have been using the Black Sun as a means to get an upper hand on their enemies. It is revealed that the crystals that the Germans are mining in Isenstadt have the power of the Black Sun dimension which can be harnessed as a weapon. These same crystals can also be used to power up the Thule medallion and unlock new powers. While the medallion starts out with only the ability to enter the Black Sun dimension, it eventually grants Blazkowicz the power to slow down time, shield himself, and even to deal massive damage to enemies.
Unfortunately, the Nazi's have learned to use the powers of the Black Sun dimension as well. Experiments on humans with Black Sun energy have lead the Germans to unlocking the secrets of empowering their soldiers with this strange power, usually to horrific results. Hulking Nazi brutes wielding energy cannons will stand in B. J.'s way, as well as Nazi officers, with skin eaten away to bone and kept living only by the Black Sun energy, shielding other soldiers and firing energy pulses at Blazkowicz.
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| It's always Halloween in Nazi Germany... |
One of the more enjoyable features in Wolfenstein is the return of boss battles. Bosses have been strangely absent from many modern FPSs, which is a shame. Wolfenstein throws some insane bosses at you which can only be defeated by effectively managing your arsenal and powers. B.J. will face anything from enhanced Nazi super-soldiers to inter-dimensional beasts on his quest to shut down the Nazi's Black Sun research.
Wolfenstein's graphics were obviously not up to par even when the game was newly released. While the game came out 4 years after the launch of the Xbox 360, it really seems like the game would have been a launch title. The game's story is told using short scenes which are rather boring and feature bland characters. It's hard to care about the people of Isenstadt, or about Blazkowicz's mission for that matter, making fighting Nazis the game's only real drive to push on. The multitude of weapons and powers in the game definitely help to make things more interesting though, and save Wolfenstein from being just another average FPS.
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| I hear that Euro Electro-Dance is extremely popular over there, it's pretty shocking. |
Wolfenstein also includes an online multiplayer component. I attempted to play a round or two of Team Deathmatch and found it to be underwhelming. The weapons don't feel nearly as solid as they do in the single player portion of the game and the lag spikes are nearly unbearable. Granted, this is a 4 year old game and the servers aren't likely kept up very well. The bit of multiplayer I attempted made me feel as though it was just tacked onto the game in an effort to entice online gamers into buying the game.
While Wolfenstein definitely has some issues, I enjoyed the game overall. As I've mentioned, the weapons and powers are quite enjoyable to unleash upon the Allies' enemies. Boss design as well as most of the enemy design is very good as well. The game lasted me around 8 hours. I wouldn't pay full price for the game, but if you're interested, or a fan of the series, you should look for it in a bargain bin.
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