Wolfenstein: The New Order
Overview -
Building another layer onto a long-running franchise, 'Wolfenstein: The New Order' is an attempt to reboot a series that arguably stumbled in 2009 with Raven Software's paranormal take on the 'Wolfenstein' universe. Muchhas changed since then. Not only is 'Wolfenstein: The New Order' the first 'Wolfenstein' title to grace the new consoles, but it's also the first one developed after the acquisition of id by Bethesda parent Zenimax. As such, the game has a fresh developer behind it in MachineGames, and the game's marketing has done a great job of capturing a flavorful alternate history. Looks slick, but how does it play?
Video Review
Visually, the presentation seems uneven in the various cinematic sequences throughout the game, especially Blazkowicz's character model. However, the in-game engine really looks great and the explosions of color provided by some of the more advanced weaponry simply dazzle on the screen. The developer does an excellent job of showing the contrast between the dismal hovels used by the resistance versus the luxurious accommodations utilized by the Nazis. In addition, the framerate is a rock solid 60 frames per second and looks absolutely gorgeous in high definition.
Audio Review
The voice work is surprisingly excellent, especially the multiple villains within the game. While William 'B.J' Blazkowicz doesn't have the best lines in the game, veteran video game voiceover actor Brian Bloom brings a patriotic, human flair to the character. In addition, the soundtrack within the game is surprisingly varied and pays quick a bit of homage to music made popular during the late fifties and early sixties. Beyond the score, I had no complaints with the extraneous NPC characters or the weapon sound effects throughout the entire story.
In the end, I ended up having a blast revisiting the franchise that originally got me interested in the first person shooter genre of games. While the gameplay has a few bumps, 'Wolfenstein: The New Order' is a fresh spin on the game, especially the focus on the Nazi's technological advancement rather than obscure references to the occult. It's significantly better than Activision's attempt to revitalize the series during 2009. If you are a fan of the original games or simply are looking for a solid shooter to jump into, you certainly can't go wrong with 'Wolfenstein: The New Order.'
