Released: May 20, 2014
Platforms: PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, PC.
Developer: MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Rating: M
First...
--Hypothetical developer meeting:
Person 1: Okay, we should do a shooter for our next game. Of the first-person variety.
Person 2: Really? Aren't there enough of those? They're like a cancer now...
Person 3: Nonsense! We'll make ours different! We just need an old IP to use.
Person 1: Oh! How 'bout Wolfenstein?
Person 3: YEAH! Now I'm pumped, there's so much NAZI KILLIN' to be had! ARRRGGHHH BOOOOM SHOOT NAZI DEATH HITLER GUNS GUNS MEIN LEBEN AMERICA F*CK YEAHHHHHHH
Person 2: Uh....that's supposed to be...different?
Person 1: Oooh you bet! We'll make it throwback-style! None of this silly "Stay Frosty" crap. We'll make it balls to the wall Nazi death stuff.
Person 2: Hmm...alright! But we need to have an actual story this time around.
Person 3: What? Who cares about stories anymore? Bring on the GUNNNNNNZZZZZ.
Person 2: No, screw that. We're going to have an honest-to-god actual freaking story now.
Person 3: Awww...well let's at least get a multiplayer mode going as well! We need to get our target demographic of 12 year-olds in on this too!
Person 1: No. I'm liking Person 2's idea. Forget it. Let's focus on a single-player story. Maybe we'll actually make a half-decent game out of it.
As it happens, Person 1 and Person 2 were quite correct.
Wolfenstein: The New Order is more than just a half-decent game. It's a dang good one.
It's almost unheard of for games like Wolfenstein to have outstanding stories and characters to tout. Wolfenstein 3D, for instance, had a few niblets of a narrative here and there, but you primarily had two objectives: reach the end of the level, and kill as many Nazis as you can on your way out (and maybe find some gold or secrets along the way). Simple, yeah?
Aha, well, honestly that's still the core idea of The New Order. BUT.
The New Order follows, eh, loosely with the past two Wolfenstein games (Return to Castle Wolfenstein from 2001, and 2009's Wolfenstein). The setting at this point is essentially an alternate universe, although gone is the supernatural element from before (mostly), and gone is the timeframe of the real World War II. In fact, The New Order is quite unique in that it begins with the Allied powers losing the war -- and badly. Nazi technological advances have decimated Allied troops, and now, in 1946, one final push is made on the compound of one Wilhelm Strasse, also known as Deathshead (one of the few constants TNO has with past games: Strasse has been a perpetual villain). Leading the charge? Our good ole' pal B.J. Blazkowicz, the rootinist, tootinist Nazi killin' machine since reason and decency. There is, however, one noticeable change in ole' B.J. He talks to himself. A lot.
Right, what I mean is that Blazkowicz as a character has begun to be fleshed out considerably. His outward appearance might suggest an American gung-ho potato, but his inner monologue reveals the demons that he must face as he watches the young kids around him go to their deaths in a war that has stretched on for far too long. Blazkowicz knows he's the best at running and gunning, but he's grown tired of it, and tired of the endless futility of it all. He has dreams of a world without war, where he can settle down and have a family in peace.
And it's not just Blazkowicz that gets some depth. There are more characters and villains you meet that make up what is ultimately a highly competent and intriguing story. It adds a strong layer to the game as a whole, and it makes your actions, and the consequences, feel more meaningful and worthwhile, however limited they may be. It helps that the voice acting is particularly strong, although Blazkowicz's is a bit...mundane by comparison.
Wolfenstein: The New Order is still, however, a shooter. And unfortunately it's this stipulation that harms the pacing of the story progression. The transition to 1960 after the prologue is strong and warranted, but you'll find yourself quickly being whisked away to different places in the blink of an eye, and you'll be left reeling from where you just where/what you're doing now, right before you're tossed into the next destination, wondering where you are and why. This method doesn't work in the story's favour, since you'll likely be wanting more details on things like: "How did I get back"? Or, "WHAT THE HELL JUST HAPPENED"?!?
That of course leads me to a small issue. You aren't told much about external or past events (particularly in regards to past games), and sometimes you might find yourself combing through the collectibles or character art you unlock throughout the levels in the hope that the description comes of each might expand the story or setting. For some cases, it's worthwhile, and for others, no grand reason is ever really given. I find that it balances out, but I can't help but feel that there is way more to the story and setting that I would be delighted to see explored.
The frantic pacing of the story has a trade-off though: it makes the combat transitions much less boring and uneventful as they could have been. The quick cuts mean that you're almost right away tossed back in, and it makes sense given the nature of the gameplay.
The New Order is yet another proper showing of how best to tie-in more modern first-person shooter mechanics with the classic run n' gun nature of the old ones. Gone is the over-used regenerative health bar and two-weapon limit, replaced with classic med-pacs and armor, and a weapon wheel. You can dual-wield pretty much every weapon, and each one has an alternate firing method to utilize as well. Shooting feels strong and responsive, and the extra mobility offered to you is an added bonus. B.J.'s pretty fast, and you also have the option to lean in any direction, ideally behind some cover.
Knives also play an important role, as you can melee someone at close range for an instant takedown, or you can play it safe and attempt to be stealthy, also using any extra knives you have to throw for silent kills. Stealth sections are put upon you frequently, but they are not entirely necessary. You can use the opportunity to take out officers who might radio for backup if you are spotted, so stealth is encouraged if you want as few ridiculous encounters as possible. Aside from that, there's not really any other incentive for staying in stealth; you'll likely be put in a mandatory combat scenario soon after anyway. Still, the stealth element is a neat and actually rather fun addition, although it is admittedly lesser in comparison to more stealth-heavy and awesome games like Dishonored and Deus Ex: Human Revolution.
Among the levels lay various collectibles like Gold Pieces (a throwback to Wolfenstein 3D), concept and character art, and enigma codes, which when solved unlock some extra modes. These things encourage replayability, especially if there's ones you know you might have missed due to an abrupt change of phase in the level. The level design is solid overall, with different heights and added corridors to give combat a varied feel. It's a pain however that the objective system is just too vague at times, often giving no helpful directive, and no clear set of end results to achieve. This is apparent when you encounter certain enemies that you either can't defeat yet, or can be defeated but only unconventionally. Don't get me wrong, it's a nice feeling when you figure out how to take down a tough enemy, but when you have no idea if you're even supposed to, that's another matter.
If you do find yourself wandering around aimlessly however, at least the sights are nice. Every level feels varied and unique, and the aesthetic design of the Nazi architecture and machinery is really quite cool. It won't blow your mind with sheer graphical power, but no matter what system you play it on, the style makes up for it.
And all the points are there for good sound design too. I already pointed out the strong voice cast, and the music too fits just as well, and adds to some great backdrops during pivotal fights. The sound effects, especially of the weapons, sound particularly clean and awesome.
A shooter with a story. A dang good shooter with a dang respectable story, I might add! It's a notable and fun experience all around, and it feels oddly refreshing in an industry so reliant on modern mechanics. Classic shooter fans, be on the lookout for this!
Wolfenstein: The New Order is one you shouldn't pass up.
And hey, for you younglings out there, give your Call of Duty a break and pay your respects to the granddaddy of FPS's, new and reborn. You might come away more impressed than you might think.
YAY
- Nazi killin'. Lots of Nazi killin'.
- Increased emphasis on story and characters adds a surprisingly nuanced layer to the experience.
- Core shooting gameplay is rock solid. The exact opposite of your bland military shooter, and the game knows this. Should not be as refreshing as it is.
- (Mostly) optional stealth sections change up the pace and variety for some really cool moments.
- Multiple throwbacks to the Wolfenstein games of the past, and classic first-person shooters in general. Lots of collectibles and secrets to be found.
- Superb sound effects and voice acting.
- Looks great on any system, but the artistic style and aesthetic really make it notable. The designs and building architecture are varied, and just damn cool. I mean, LOOK AT THAT "PANZERHUND."
- Stilted pacing from a narrative standpoint. Lots of location shifts. Makes for swift gameplay, but shuns the story.
- Bizarre and unclear directions at times make it rather annoying to defeat an enemy or complete an objective.
- The stealth, while fun, is pushed onto the player a bit much, and it isn't perfect. Deus Ex, or Dishonored, this is not.
- Hard to discern what's canon and what's not when relating to previous Wolf games (and, well, history in general), and this means that there's going to be a few WTF? moments during the story that are not well explained.
Donlevy Note: My honest opinion tells me that I couldn't possibly fault this game for not having a multiplayer mode. As much as some people wanted one...tough. Haha. For what's it worth though, I will say that the gameplay mechanics are certainly there! If there were a mode to speak of, I have the impression that it would be somewhere more in line with Unreal Tournament, rather than Call of Duty. And that would be totally fine with me. (The single-player alone still makes up for this, in any case.)
Anyway, on to the Spectrum...
No comments:
Post a Comment