Wolfenstein: The New Order Impressions

Doom's progenitor and stablemate series, Wolfenstein, was last seen in 2010 in a rather sub-par Xbox 360, PS3 and PC offering that stayed true to the series' traditional mix of World War 2 Nazi killing and the occult. With latest iteration, Wolfenstein: The New Order, focus has shifted away from the war itself to an alternate history where the Third Reich triumphed over the Allies through technological, not supernatural, means and now effectively rules the World.

The game's representation of a 'what if' 1960's occupied Europe is not as satisfyingly realised as you might hope, borrowing very heavily from Half-Life 2's City 17, with its decaying posters and ever present police state menace. It's believable, but lacks the imagination or creative flair required to make it as memorable as it could, and indeed should have been, given the rich, if macabre, tapestry the story is cut from. Attempts to deal with weighty issues, not all of which are overtly Nazi-related, come off as a little ham-fisted because the writing and setting lack the necessary sophistication for such musings to hold any water. The more serious thematic strands are further undermined by the downright silliness of a small number of embarrassingly orchestrated sex scenes between the protagonist and love interest, which amount to little more than two 3D models awkwardly grinding against each other to pre-recorded grunts and heaves. Classy, nein?

The gameplay is a curious mix of traditionalist 90's shooter mechanics and more recent genre trends. For example, almost every weapon can be dual wielded, but at the expense of being able to aim down its sights, resulting in an interesting mix of old-school claustrophobic akimbo blast-fests and more modern crosshair shooting galleries or sneaking sections. Perks unlocked through meeting appropriate criteria are designed to make any play style viable, although at higher difficulty settings you'll need to be prepared to diversify.  Most importantly, though, the weapons feel chunky, powerful and are tremendous fun to use.

Multiplayer is notable by its absence, but in a console online scene dominated by pseudo-realistic military shooters, a competitive mode would more than likely have failed to find a niche, although  something cooperative could have worked well. Clocking in at around 20 hours, the game is generously proportioned, and an A or B ultimatum given in it's opening act which affects how the rest of the story plays out encourages a second playthrough. Also included in the package is the chance to participate in the beta test for the new Doom game currently in development, although it's worth noting that nobody really knows what form it'll take or when it will be out, given it's extended and troubled incubation period.

All in all,  Wolfenstein: The New Order will appeal to gaming veterans and relative newcomers alike with its satisfying gunplay, but those going in with high expectations of its alternate history narrative may come away disappointed.