Reviews from

in the past


This entry in the Wolfenstein franchise was rather elusive as its Steam store page was no longer active when I was looking to play it, so I had to find other means of playing it. I think this game is only slightly better than the game it followed, Return to Castle Wolfenstein, in that it runs on a comparatively more modern engine. Many of the issues that plagued Return to Castle Wolfenstein are fixed, only to be replaced by new problems. One aspect of this game I did not like is the lack of a health bar which is something that is, from my understanding, very typical of the time that the game was released. Instead, if you consistently take focused fire for enough time, you will just end up dying with no easy way to measure how close you are to death. I think that a health bar adds a necessary sense of pressure and an ability to strategize, not enabling you to blindly go in and start killing enemies without a care in the world. Some other things I felt really detracted from this game's playability are the FOV, slow running speed, and slightly disorienting running animation. What is very disappointing is that the concept of this game is actually very interesting, and I can't help but feel that if this game were remade on a newer engine with the current standards of shooter games, it would be a really great experience. In this game, you play as William Joseph Blazkowicz, who finds a mystical item called the "Thule Medallion," which grants access to some "Veil Powers" that can aid in combat or help in exploring the environment. I liked how this game delved into the supernatural much like Wolfenstein: The Old Blood which came out a few years later, though here it was done to a much greater extent. In terms of completion the game was not too crazy, and looking for collectibles was not all that burdensome. I think that sometimes the levels could feel a little bit bland and non-distinct, however. Despite the many issues I have outlined, I still think this game is better than its predecessor as the problems in this game did not get on my nerves nearly as much. I think it is unfair to deprive fans of the franchise the ability to access this game on one of the biggest gaming platforms, and I think it should be brought back to Steam. There are many creative elements to enjoy here, and I feel this game would greatly benefit from a remake or perhaps an integration into the reboot series, somehow.