A textbook example for a successful video game reboot, Wolfenstein: New Order (WNO) managed to fill in the boots of another alleged reboot. The licensing disputed, absurdly delisted and often neglected 2009 Wolfenstein can no longer be legally obtained and nowadays it simply remains highly sought by game collectors, as if you didn't know that already.

By the way, New Order is almost 8 years old at this point, yet it aged like fine wine and its gameplay diversity hasn't been matched even by some of its direct sequels (I'm looking at you, Youngblood). 2014 was quite literally another era and not just for gaming. WNO is the development debut for MachineGames while Bethesda took the series' publishing reins from "good ol" Activision.

As far as I'm concerned, the new dev team did a fantastic job at recreating the Wolfenstein retrofuturistic political hellscape scenarios that have been featured in two other sequels, a prequel and a VR spin-off by 2019. Social commentary in the new reboots goes far beyond the classic Good vs. Evil struggle. Blazko is back and he won't accept being a cartoonish character any longer.

While I like to think that I've been gaming since forever and that I played all the crucial projects at their release date, alas I was too young for the title which kickstarted this whole franchise in 1981 with Castle Wolfenstein. I did enjoy Wolfenstein 3D in the early 90s, as I witnessed FPS history in the making. A long time ago, but I still recommend you check out the inception of any gaming series which might be of interest to you.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2134464836

It's important to remember the roots as well as the branching paths of present and future releases. WNO is at least emulating the guns blazing spirit & chaos of 1992's Wolfenstein 3D. You obviously have a fully fledged storyline this time around. An alternate history in which the Third Reich is steadily winning the war by 1946 with the use of high tech "wonder-weapons". It almost mirrors The Man in the High Castle novel in certain aspects.

William Joseph Blazkowicz, a Captain in the US Army Rangers finds himself on the losing side of World War Two. Worse still, he suffers a head trauma that forces him into a catatonic state which lasts 14 years. Just enough for Nazi Germany to implement its postwar, murderous ambitions upon a now defenceless world.

No word on the Kingdom of Italy or Imperial Japan but from the looks of it, the Third Reich has no other global powers to oppose it. World domination was more important than the Axis coalition. So much for honoring an alliance between dictatorships, right?

Only a handful of people are brave enough to keep fighting desperately as part of disorganised resistance movements. Disarray was the keyword until B.J. awakens and begins to exact vengeance on a foe which robbed him of everything and everyone he held dear.

There are a few plot twists along the way as well as some much needed comic relief and brief moments of romance. Running and gunning is fine as long as you don't forget what's at stake, what you're truly fighting for. Which is freedom from tyranny.

Powered by the id Tech 5 engine, New Order still looks quite good by 2022 standards, especially when you might compare it to brand new indie first person shooters. Say what you will about AAA industry practices, but skill demands and deserves a fat paycheck.

It comes along with uncertainty and crunch time, I know. Either way, I was able to capture almost 90 beautiful screenshots with the assistance of a No HUD mod, since there's no native support for disabling the User Interface.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2175722433

There's plenty to admire in this game, from natural landscapes to the technological advancements still exhibiting a retro flair like you'd also find in the Fallout or Bioshock series. A few level sections don't feature action-packed gunplay, instead focusing on lore and building rapport between characters.

I found those breaks refreshing indeed. While there's nothing to admire about the Nazis themselves, take comfort in knowing that you're using their weapons against them with resounding success. Live by the sword, die by the sword. A large arsenal awaits you.

Given the budget and scope of such a game, the soundtrack and voice acting couldn't disappoint. Stellar quality across the board, there's even an allegorical twisting of popular songs from the '60s that have now been translated and adapted into German.

It further emphasizes a world in which English is no longer tolerated, nevermind being lingua franca for the postwar 20th century and onwards. Be aware that there's plenty of cussing in this title, as if the gameplay itself wasn't already ultraviolent.

Blazko' s outnumbered but never outgunned or outsmarted by the Nazis. He can even dual wield several firearms which in turn have secondary firing systems. You couldn't ask more from an FPS, there's little subtlety here and yet the in-your-face method of dealing with enemies is woven within Wolfenstein's fabric.

The gunplay is fluid, the AI tries to flank and flush you out with grenades. If you're quick, you can throw them back and earn a tough Steam Achievement in the process. Took me a while, but I managed to complete 100% of what this title has to offer in terms of both collectibles and storyline. It helps that when replaying individual levels, you're reminded of missed items.

These aren't mindless collecting side activities either, since most of the objects you can interact with, come attached with lore or a backstory previously absent from older Wolfenstein entries. That's what a reboot should do first and foremost. Enhance the perspective, shed light on characters and locations which were taken for granted in the past.

So do't rush past level sections simply seeking a new shooting gallery, be smart and thorough about it. The boss fights are as equally delightful as rapidly dispatching a cluster of enemies with well placed explosives or the burst of a futuristic weapon. You'll even control heavy machinery in key locations.

https://steamproxy.net/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=2200903883

Plenty of hand cannons around New Order. Replay value, less so. But there are numerous levels taking you across Nazi-torn Europe and even a Moon base and an ocean floor section! It's the sort of experience warranting a new playthrough after a few years pass since the last one. Try bumping up the difficulty while hunting collectibles and achievements.

I think you get your money's worth from Wolfenstein: The New Order right now, but you can always wait for a Steam Sale and then pick it up. Just make sure you play it and find a nice place for it in your collection. It's a fine one, I assure you. All of MachineGames' projects should be checked out once you have the spare funds and time.

+ Excellent storyline.
+ Steam Achievements.
+ Beautiful graphics and sounds.

- No Steam Trading Cards.
- Little replay value.

This article was submitted for Imperial Reviews. Following my Curator Page, will help me keep publishing new reviews as soon as I can. Thank you for your support!