Title: Wolfenstein: The Old Blood
Type of Game: First-Person Shooter
Developer: MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Released: May 5, 2015
Platforms Available: Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S
Platform Reviewed: PS4
Level of Maturity: M (Mature) – Blood and Gore, Intense Violence, Strong Language
Reading Time: 7 minutes
“Did we need another generic dark Nazi robot shooter?” legendary developer Warren Spector (Deus Ex) sarcastically asked before the release of the cult successor to Wolfenstein a year earlier. As it turns out, we needed one. At a time when pseudo-realistic near-future conflicts, open worlds, constant cover behind obstacles, and one-shot deaths were most prevalent in action games, one would almost forget how easy it was.
The Brutal Elegance of Old-School Action
The New Order offered straightforward brutal action with excellent level design, manual ammo collection, first aid kits instead of auto-heal, and of course, hundreds and hundreds of Nazis charging in front of the constantly-charged barrels of brilliantly designed weapons. All of this was supported by a properly B-movie story that took the player from concentration camps to a Nazi base on the moon.
Familiar Blood: The Game’s Heartbeat
The developers at Machine Games managed to brilliantly combine old-school gameplay with modern approaches, such as stealth arcades or elements from role-playing games, omitting unnecessary multiplayer support, and the result was a tremendous playable homage to the old genres. And as the name of the data disc suggests, it’s not about injecting fresh blood into the veins of the genre either. The new story means eight more levels of the same filler we’re used to from the last one. The few new weapons (the latest addition is a multi-functional steel pipe) and enemies should be worth mentioning. If a special edition of the game were ever released to tie the addition to the game, you’d be hard-pressed to find the moment when The Old Blood ends and The New Order begins.
B.J.’s Retro Adventure: Blood Before Order
The plot occurs before the original game’s events, specifically in 1946. B.J. Blazkowitz travels to Castle Wolfenstein to retrieve a secret file on General Deatshead. During your journey, you’ll look into other places and meet other bizarre characters, either friendly or at your throat. The inspiration from classic 80s B-movie flicks is undeniable. Yet, the story takes itself quite sympathetically seriously without constantly having to wink at the player as if now comes the joke.
Mastering the Art of Mayhem
But the main one is, of course, the mindless action again. The game’s perfectly working mechanics allow for a cautious approach, where you hide behind obstacles and gradually take out charging Germans who, in truth, haven’t picked up much artificial intelligence. Anyone who enjoyed the so-called nightmare-level quirk last time, which brought back memories of the original Wolfenstein 3D, will have more than enough fun this time. As a diversion, it’s good. I even remembered the location of some secret hiding places off the top of my head, and there was also the legendary boss with two rotary machine guns in his hands. However, completing all ten levels is only for the hardcore fans of this old classic, mainly because of the long, empty corridors.
Survival by the Shotgun: The True Fun
It’s much more fun to meticulously search all corners of the map for hidden armor, then “overdose” on all the nearby first aid kits before a firefight, grab a rapid-fire shotgun in each hand and wipe out the Nazis at point-blank range. On the fourth difficulty out of five, I died compared to the original game, but the multiple solution options mean that repeating the same passages doesn’t fall into a rut. The sneaking passages and gradual learning of skills also remain, but nothing stops you if you want to ignore these “modern ideas” and focus on the constant shooting.
Arena of Carnage: Test Your Mettle
What’s new are the progressively unlockable arenas and closed maps, from which the game won’t let you out until you’ve shot everything that moves. Trophy hunters can return to these scenes and try to get the highest score. Otherwise, everything is focused on the single-player campaign, and multiplayer play will not be found here again. The Old Blood is not only a must for any fan, but the story takes place before the original game, which you don’t even need to play to start, making it the perfect way to jump into the new Wolfenstein for the first time. And if you’re interested in the game, you can read my other reviews of games in the Wolfenstein series, specifically those subtitled New Order, New Colossus, and Young Blood.
Conclusion
For around 15€, you get an average eight-hour shooter that doesn’t impress with story, graphics, or originality but instead focuses on the most essential thing: shooting. And while The New Order is one of the best games of 2014. That’s why this game has it a little more complicated in its shadow. I’d also give it a higher rating, but that would require The Old Blood to expand on the original experience more.
Where to Buy The Wolfenstein: The Old Blood?
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Steam (PC): Available for $19.99. You can purchase it directly from Steam.
Xbox Store (Xbox One): Available for $19.99. Check it out on the Xbox Store.
PlayStation Store (PS4): Available for $19.99. You can find it on the PlayStation Store.
Epic Games Store (PC): Available for $19.99. Purchase it from the Epic Games Store.
GOG (PC): Available for $19.99. Purchase it from GOG.
Subreddit: Join the discussion on the Wolfenstein Subreddit.
The post Wolfenstein: The Old Blood – Blazkowicz’s Blood-Soaked Prequel In Castle Wolfenstein appeared first on WePlayGames.net: Home for Top Gamers.
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