The Best Good Fight: Wolfenstein: The New Order Review

Horror is not always based in mythical monsters or the shocking surprise of a ghost. Sometimes, horror is the realization of what should-not-have-been. Wolfenstein: The New Order taps into terror on a global scale, and shows audiences a very different "end of the world." The 2014 revival of a classic first-person shooter explores a world controlled by humanity's most infamous enemy.

The Third Reich of Nazi Germany has swept over the Earth and covered it in darkness. The Nazis and their seemingly infinite legions of storm troopers are alive and well, but the year is 1960, not 1939. You play as returned character B. J. Blazkowicz, an American special forces solider with a bone to pick with an entire planet's worth of evil henchmen. The new order of the world is hostile and wrought with vicious brutality and cruelty. A regime powered by racism, ethnic cleansing, and disgusting super solider technology rule the world with an iron fist. There is, quite simply, only one thing to do: kill Nazis.

Wolfenstein is a first-person shooter with a gameplay personality very similar to first-person mogul Far Cry. Movement is crisp, organic and very interactive. The game allows Blazkowicz a very efficient cover system, one that has to be the most seamless of any FPS we've played in a while. While shooting the living daylights out of Nazi scum, you can hug the corner of a wall or barrier. This system features the ability to peer yourself out as high or as low as you want as real combat would allow you. This makes for excellent cover-to-cover combat and thrilling firefights. Visually, Wolfenstein accomplishes a great deal, especially from a single perspective. The wide variety of weapons are distinct and detailed. Colors are vibrant and the environment ominously speaks for itself. Shading and texture designs are realistic and smooth, but are fun and bright at the same time. The aura of the game certainly delivers a world with 15 extra years of technologically enhanced Nazi horror.

Violence in this game is an expected yet interesting facet. The violence of your enemies is vicious and absolutely merciless. Violent gore and cruelty almost become characters, motivating the player to wreak havoc with Blazkowicz's incredible Nazi-killing abilities. The violence the player inflicts is brutal as well, as you gun and knife your way through excellently designed levels. While the violence between friend and foe is mutual, yours clearly justifies itself as the game's antagonists, led by the insanely evil General Deathshead, attack and murder the innocent (thematic homage to Inglorious Basterds, anyone?). A common but impressive relationship that keeps the Nazi-killing train chuggin' along.

Even narratively, Wolfenstein kicks a surprising amount of ass. Marketed since the beginning of the series' existence as a Nazi shoot-'em-up, this title in the saga supplies players with an immersive, dramatic and thrilling plot-line. The themes of genocidal violence, systematic ethnic discrimination and homophobia are so dramatically examined, they shock the hell out of you. You want nothing more than to know how to fix this global problem. It's a war between evil and what is left of good, which is teased very often by certain collectibles throughout. Newspaper clippings detailing Germania's conquest let the player know just how terrible the situation is (on Earth or otherwise). The world is in serious trouble, almost on the brink of never coming back. You need to rally your friends and as many resistance fighters that are left. This Nazi war machine ain't gonna destroy itself.

Progressing through Wolfenstein introduced to an interesting new method. The game is linear and chapter based, and takes B.J. to many corners of the Nazi-occupied world. There are times when B.J. returns to his base-of-operations for slowly paced intermissions. It's an interesting way for players to take a breather and take part in more conversation, discover interesting facts or, even find some collectibles.

While an incredibly negative, violent and horrifying project, Wolfenstein has some serious heart. Hope is literally minuscule in this Third Reich realization, but it's alive. Supporting characters new and old to the series are here to help you in this fight against an infinite enemy. A fight that would get old and very lonely if Blazkowicz were flying solo. Friendship, laughter, and even love shine throughout the game's story. Narration throughout the game is also a very pleasant surprise. Philosophical whispers (literally) detail the overall message of scenes, missions or encounters. Blazkowicz's southern accent lets loose some seriously deep dialogues about his situation, which is fun to listen to and helps fill the void during moments of repetitive puzzle solving or traveling great distances.

A combination of amazing mechanics, enthralling story, and beautiful environments, Wolfenstein: The New Order is not a release to be taken lightly. The fun misadventure of Nazi-killing B. J. Blazkowicz is without a doubt one of the most fun and unique first-person shooters to date.