Mini Wolfenstein Game Review

[johnrr6]

In a nutshell----it's a pretty darn good game!! I finished the game last night on the "Hard" level. At this level, some of the Boss fights were EXTREMELY challenging (at least for me) and I found the game to be quite fun. I originally approached this game with some trepidation----I had so enjoyed the earlier Wolfenstein's and was definitely fearing a letdown. I was also apprehensive that perhaps I'm just an old codger and "new" gaming has passed me by.....But I also realize that milestone games like STALKER and Crysis have set the bar tremendously high on my favorite game type ---First Person Shooters.

In the end I decided to just forget all that nonsense----and see if I actually ENJOYED playing the game....as isn't that what a game is supposed to do----entertain us and give us enjoyment?

I'm happy to tell you that this game was FUN----and I enjoyed it and feel I got my money's worth. Took me about 25 hours of gameplay but addmittedly I'm slow and I died a ton......And the game got BETTER and BETTER each level.

Does it match something Like STALKER or Crysis----No. Is it worth playing? YES-----if you love FPS.

Approach this game with no predetermined set of expectations and sit back and enjoy the ride----from the cinematics, to the weapons, to the atmosphere, to the combat.....Don't worry about "is this better than that"----just play it and have fun!

Some things are really done well----the uniforms and equiment are marvelously done. The weapons have a great "feel" to them. Weapons upgrades are a necessity and really help the player so it's important to find as much "gold" as you can. I thought the graphics were good and the music superb. There are several times that the music just gets your heart beating. The story line is totally understandable----yet creepy.

There is just enough humor to make you laugh as well....The German accents and the special, black, skintight, jump-suited Nazi attack babes just cracked me up.

The Combat AI was good in a sense that the German grunts came at you in waves----throwing a lot of grenades----and they used cover and concealment well. But even at the hard level----they sometimes seem AWFULLY slow to react to you. The good news is that it is a "target rich environement" so to speak. Also---the weapons effects on a target are nothing short of spectacular----in a gruesome sense. Hit a soldier in the head and you blow his head clean off with blood gushing from the neck. Hit them in the throat and the fall clutching their throat and gurgling. A guy partially exposed-----if you hit him in the arm you can possibly blow his arm clean off... blood everywhere.....it's gruesome----and I have to admit, well done.

The levels were large and while it certainly was a "corridoor shooter" you at least had the option to explore around and find interesting things as well as go on separate missions. While some reviews found the town combat levels too repetitve----I found the town to be quite confusing to me and I had to rely on the compass a LOT.

The game played flawlessly the entire 25 hours with ZERO crashes-----at the highest graphics and sound levels. Sooo nice to have a game done RIGHT on first try without a ton of crashes and patches.

The bolt action Mauser with scope and accuracy upgrades is downright essential throughout the game as there are places you have to use your head and decimate the enemy from long range if you have any hope of surviving the fight.

The Schmeisser and the MP43 were also well done. The addition of 'Veil Powers" added another fun element to the game and you had to learn to use the "veil" quickly in order to solve many of the puzzles throughout the game.

Stalker and Crysis it ain't----but if you are looking for just a fun, pure, old fashioned style shooter with an updated look and with puzzels, boss fights, good graphics, great music, an understandable plot and great weapons.....this game will entertain you....

That-----and also if you just like to kill Nazis.......

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

I enjoyed it and feel I got my money's worth

so you feel the game was worth $49.99?

to each his own and I'm glad you liked it but I've read dozens of reviews and user feedback online and they all pretty much say the same thing--very average game...it's not about comparing Wolfenstein to S.T.A.L.K.E.R. or Crysis...it's about the game standing on its own merits...not every game has to be Crysis...I don't know if the game can compare to Quake 4 much less any really great game

[johnrr6]

It's way above average----and I feel like I got my money's worth...but again----I think you have to love the FPS genre like I do

It got better and better....and, in the end, I appreciated what the developers were trying to do (I think).

If you just sat back and PLAYED......

It was very enjoyable.

For those having trepidations----just wait till it drops to $29.95 and you will feel you DEFINITELY got your money's worth.

[johnrr6]

Originally Posted by polonyc2

I don't know if the game can compare to Quake 4 much less any really great game

It was better than Quake 4....

IMHO

[polonyc2]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

I think you have to love the FPS genre like I do

I love the FPS genre...I'm probably one of the biggest gamers on ABX...I buy most games, especially FPS...certain games I will buy no matter what reviews say and others I buy based on good word of mouth (Chronicles of Riddick, GRID etc)...but overall I'm a fan of good games and I don't get a good vibe from Wolfie 2009

[johnrr6]

Understand----appears a lot of folks feel the same as all the reviews I looked at were generally positive....

But nothing to be excited about......

But then again----what do THEY know!!! LOL:biggrin:

[zapionics<alt>]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

...I'm happy you tell you that this game was FUN----and I enjoyed it and feel I got my money's worth. Took me about 25 hours of gameplay but addmittedly I'm slow and I died a ton......And the game got BETTER and BETTER each level.

Does it match something Like STALKER or Crysis----No. Is it worth playing? YES-----if you love FPS...

Thanks johnrr6; I value your opinion on this so I think I'll pick it up and give it a whirl. In the end if a game is fun then its met my primary criteria... anything else is really a bonus.

[fvbounty]

Thanks John for the nice review!

[johnrr6]

FV----we need a News Guy on Wed or Thursday

You up for joining the team----one day a week???

Poly and Ozzie had to drop off so we are a bit short handed.....

[zapionics<alt>]

I finally picked this up and decided to give it a go. Pretty much agree with Johns review.

First impressions are that the graphics are very old school... kinda reminds me of MOHAA days or perhaps early COD. Bit rough around the edges. Definetly an improvement over the 2001 RTCW graphics, but this is 2009 so I'd expect that... I'm playing in 16:10 format but it feels zoomed in a little so maybe the FOV needs to be little wider. It makes great use of lighting and detail tho; so even tho it lacks a certain graphical finesse, it makes up for it with a nice visual atmosphere.

There are no lean keys!! This is probably my next biggest issue after graphics...

The combat AI is poor IMO. Slow to respond and fairly limited in behaviour. I notice the influence of CoD and other more recent games; waves of enemies spawning in constantly until the objectives are met. Fortunately challenge is maintained due to these waves of enemy attacks. I noticed i needed to put it to maximum difficulty to get decent challenge ("Uber" level).

Ok, if thats all there was then I'd say the game is a flop and I want my money back; however it has some very smart sci-fi type weapons and the veil and powers are fun. This reminds me strongly of Undying, (which as you should know by now is one of my favourite games)... I'm looking forward to playing through to see what I can do with the powers.
But I do want to say that being able to buy upgrades for supernatural powers from black market dealers is just plain wrong... lol...

Early in the game the anti-gravity effect was impressive. Much better than most other games such as Dead Space... too bad the enemies are so ineffective when they are in the air; there is a lot more that could be done there.

Its still very satisfying to mow down Nazi's with awesome weapons ... so the fun factor potential is definitly there.

Well, I'll soldier on and see how it goes...

[zapionics<alt>]

I'm having a ton of fun with this game... but its a little unbalanced so far because with the veil time power I'm unstoppable... I rarely use/need the shield... this lack of real challenge detracts from the enjoyment and its a little inconsistent because now and then I'll get stuck in a really good firefight.

I like the variety of weapons and the veil powers which really add another dimension to the gameplay of a regular fps - This is very much like Undying, one of my favourite games. However Undying had a much greater variety of powers and weapons... (I wish we could resurrect fallen enemies in Wolfenstein for example)... still I havent finished yet so maybe there is more to come. I remember the UI of Undying was a little more usable than Wolfenstien too; sometimes I have to fumble to find the right key for the right weapon/power.

The farm was a great level and I enjoyed the underground after that as well. The attempt at adding RPG elements and side missions is not bad, but falls far short of what a good RPG should be. This is still a basic run'n gun fps, but with fun powers. Cant compete with say STALKER or Crysis of course but it looks great occassionaly and the farm level was very well done. Just needed some wind movement of the grasses and it would have been perfect. If this game had come out say 2003 it would have wowed us but today it cant compete...

A few negatives tho; as I said challenge is inconsistent, combat AI is repetative, RPG aspect is weak, head bob when running is nauseating, no lean keys, save points are a pain...

but its fun, so I continue!

[fvbounty]

Thanks for the review, is there a manual save?

[Gr8Golf]

Originally Posted by johnrr6

It's way above average----and I feel like I got my money's worth...but again----I think you have to love the FPS genre like I do

It got better and better....and, in the end, I appreciated what the developers were trying to do (I think).

If you just sat back and PLAYED......

It was very enjoyable.

For those having trepidations----just wait till it drops to $29.95 and you will feel you DEFINITELY got your money's worth.

I think I'll wait until it hits the $19.99 level - but by then there may be something else that's a better investment of time (well, a game )

[johnrr6]

I thought the game got better and better.....

And in the end I was glad I stuck with it and definitely had fun.....

The only real downer for me was the way droves of Nazis just kept coming at you.....not very tactically----.(these are Germans right-----not a Japanese Banzai charge....)

As you say----the AI wasn't that smart....

But DANG I did enjoy it......warts and all.....

[Anarchi]

Hmm I didnt enjoy this game much at all - it all seems a bit generic and boring. Return to Castle Wolfenstein much was better imo