In the pantheon of formative video games, few are as important as id Software's "Wolfenstein 3D." I'm not certain that it was the original first-person shooter, but it was certainly the one that introduced an adoring public to a genre which would one day give us the likes of "Halo" and "Call of Duty." Of course, what all this means is that the latest entry in the series, "Wolfenstein" for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC, has some mighty big jackboots to fill. Does it?
The Basics
Series protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz is back in Raven Software's treatment of the classic id franchise. As always, a Nazi plot involving supernatural forces is the order of the day. Blazkowicz isn't entirely on his own this time however. Operating out of the city of Isenstadt -- which offers hub access to a variety of story and side missions -- the American soldier has allies in the form of two local resistance movements, as well as a Black Market which offers weapon and Veil power (more on that below) upgrades.
Of course, after "Return to Castle Wolfenstein" spawned a multiplayer-only follow-up, "Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory," a strong multiplayer component was almost a requirement for this latest sequel. It's there and it ought to be familiar to fans of the most recent "Call of Duty" games, with persistent stats and upgrades the awards for long-term play.
The Highs
Supernatural powers
At around the two hour mark, Blazkowicz picks up an amulet that gives him access to the powers of the Black Sun, an occult force that the Nazis are attempting to harvest in a variety of ways. Using it he is able to enter the Veil, a sort of spirit world where enemies and points of interest are highlighted with a glowing aura. As the game progresses, additional powers are unlocked (four of them) which allow players to shield themselves, slow down time and shoot through shields, all of which factor into some of the game's light puzzle-solving elements.
Enemies
As in the series' previous entries, "Wolfenstein" serves up an increasingly bizarre array of enemies. You start out fighting the Nazi rank-and-file of course, but it isn't long before you're regularly encountering armored dudes carrying particle beams (think "Ghostbusters"' proton pack) and bald, robed occultists who shield nearby soldiers while blasting you with magic bolts.
Upgrades!
In both the core hub and in each individual mission, players should be on the lookout for gold/treasure and intel/Tome of Power collectibles. The former can be spent at one of the many Black Market outlets scattered around Isenstadt on weapon and Veil upgrades while the latter unlocks additional upgrades at those stores. These purchases really change up how you play the game, especially in the case of weapons that allow silencer and scope attachments.
Weapons variety
Even if there were no upgrades at all, "Wolfenstein"'s weapons would still be worth mentioning. The usual array of World War II-era arms (including your old friends the Kar98 rifle and MP40 SMG of course) is there, but there are also a number of more powerful high-tech weapons, such as that aforementioned particle beam and an electricity-generating handgun. Ammo supplies are limited for all weapons, which forces a lot of experimentation-- always a good thing.
The Lows
Open world
The hub setup is noble in its intent, but Isenstadt is just not that interesting to explore. It's essentially a series of same-y looking streets and building interiors, which makes it difficult -- and, more importantly, not enjoyable -- to explore for pickups. Thankfully, "Wolfenstein" features a powerful compass. It is very clearly modeled after the one found in "Call of Duty," though the directions provided are far more specific. There's no need to move in the general direction of a checkpoint; the compass automatically updates as you reach a series of sub-checkpoints, slowly funneling you towards your destination.
Missions
None of the missions in "Wolfenstein" are particularly memorable. You go to Nazi Location X, steal something or blow something up and head back to Isenstadt. Rinse, repeat. The game's hub structure allows for some welcome variety in the environments, but with all of the tools available to Blazkowicz, the puzzle-solving and other, less action-oriented bits of the game -- which work well when they do pop up -- feel underdeveloped. What's more, completists are serviced with the option to replay missions, but only immediately after completing them. It's a cruel joke on those who like to power through a game and then take their time exploring its nooks and crannies later on in greater detail.
Multiplayer
It's not really fair to compare one game to another, but there's really no more apt description for "Wolfenstein"'s online play than "Call of Duty"-lite. There are three modes -- team deathmatch and a pair of objective-based, attack/defend variants -- and eight maps. Three soldier classes -- soldier, medic and engineer -- offer different weapon loadouts and secondary abilities. The graphics are toned down in comparison to the single player campaign, which does help the game's performance on player-hosted servers. Unfortunately, the entire multiplayer front-end is slow to load and not terribly reliable, with frequent error pop-ups when joining lobbies and lengthy load times.
Final Word
"Wolfenstein"'s single player game serves up roughly 10 hours of solid FPS fun. It's not a second coming for the genre, but it is a competent and entertaining effort nonetheless. The multiplayer is a real disappointment however; shamelessly lifting many components from the "Call of Duty" franchise -- this is an Activision game after all -- it feels neither as functional nor as well-developed as the other series. "Enemy Territory" veterans will want to give this one a pass, but shooter fans can find a lot to enjoy in "Wolfenstein"'s varied, action-packed single-player campaign.
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