Review: Wolfenstein - Lookout! He's got a Particle Cannon

By Mike Bantick
Wednesday, 16 September 2009 11:55

Entertainment

In the spoke missions – outside of the Isenstadt hub – this atmosphere and tension is maintained, and enhanced by the occult storyline.  Many of the supernaturally powered enemies – such as the Scribes – move with speed and/or stealth , providing a challenge to B.J. during fire-fights and jumpy during the quiet moments.

Fortunately B.J has another weapon up his sleeve, the aforementioned Thule Medallion grants Blazkowicz Veil powers.  Unlocked by found Mire crystals, B.J can – eventually – use the four powers so long as he is fuelled on Veil Power.

Veil Sight is the initial power and reveals the alternate Dark Sun world, lit by a ghostly garish green and inhabited by floating, passive (until riled) creatures known as Geists.   Whilst in this parallel world B.J. can blast Geist creatures like explosive barrels, and also see many secrets of the Wolfenstein world, from hidden Tomes, ladders to normally unreachable areas, enemy weak spots and so on.

There is a Shield Veil power for protection and Empower for extra destructive punch – a real handy power against shielded enemies and finally, the most used power, that of Mire.  Mire slows down time allowing B.J to get a bead on those pesky hidden and fast moving leather clad villains.

There are a handful of boss fights, all requiring the use of Veil powers, and it bodes well to seek out those almost invisible Veil energy locations so B.J does not run short during crucial battles.

The single player campaign is marred by the enemy AI, whilst there are a huge variety of enemies; obviously there was a shortage of brains during when some of these occult experiments were being constructed in a Nazi lab.  There are plenty of examples of troops blowing themselves up, or simply shooting into an intervening wall whilst B.J remains safe on the other side.

It does not take too much to out-wit the Wolfenstein baddies, but jumping into a multiplayer battle against human foes may not inspire as well.  The bottom line is that Wolfenstein is a game to be enjoyed for its Indiana Jones style and atmosphere, without expending too much grey matter along the ride.

At times the presentation is clunky, with NPC’s talking over each other during important mission briefs, as well as a good amount of clipping, but for all its minor faults, the game looks a treat, has a nice atmosphere and level of tension during most acts, but the hub-spoke mission layout is not a winner, and players may find themselves yearning for more of a linear old-school shooter style, just like previous Wolfenstein labelled games provided.


7 Mire Crystals out of 10