Few titles have the honor of being part of the history of the video game and in this case we find a new installment of what is considered the true father of first-person shooter games: undoubtedly I am talking about the mythical Wolfenstein, a program that the once great ID Software, back in 1992, and that laid the foundations of a genre so terribly popular today.
Although it is true that nowadays modern fps hardly resemble those maddening challenges that many of the titles of the genre supposed in the 90s: labyrinthine levels, unbridled action, hordes of enemies around every corner, there was no life regeneration ... East Wolfenstein: The New Order, Machine Games It has tried to move between those origins and the modern benefits of fps.
Followers of the saga will be very familiar with the name of William BJ Blazkowicz, who once again repeats as the protagonist in his role as a Jewish American soldier willing to exterminate everything that carries a swastika. The story of Wolfenstein: The New Order takes us to an alternate reality in which the Nazis have won the war and are subjecting the world under their yoke and the most advanced and lethal technology. Of course, Blazkowicz will be the new messiah who will save humanity from the tyranny of the Third Reich. The story may sound too hackneyed, especially during these years that we have seen the Nazis rescued as the bad guys in different types of productions, but the dark setting so achieved and the violence, at times gratuitous and even hyperbolic, is particularly striking.
As I already anticipated, Machine Games has rescued peculiarities and typical characteristics of the XNUMXs fps to implement them in his first game as a studio -remember that they are former members of Starbreeze, authors of The Chronicles of Riddick, The Darkness o Syndicate-. I am talking, for example, about the need to find invaluable first-aid kits to regenerate health, a more complex level design than in modern games of this genre, confrontations against final bosses -and some will leave you with a surprised expression-, checkpoints far away ... Of course, the game can feel somewhat uphill for the less seasoned, although, as if this had been planned, the difficulty level can be changed in the same game.
Despite the fact that until now everything sounded like a joke, at least for XNUMXs gamers, we came across a game that does not get to convey anything special as a whole. Non-stop shootings, use of fixed machine guns and many other situations seen a thousand and one times, are not useful to try to create a unique experience. In addition, between chapters, we will have to endure a real break, forced to talk with certain characters and do small tasks to unlock the next level, something somewhat incomprehensible and that does not fit well in the development of the program.
As for the gameplay, we can highlight little about it. We have a skill tree in which we can unlock advantages and tailor our own play style by adjusting our modus operandi on the ground according to whether we are a stealth soldier or a Rambo willing to burn every last bullet of ammunition. And speaking of weapons, it is somewhat disappointing that the arsenal is so typical and generic, with the typical pistol, light machine gun, shotgun, etc., only highlighting the practical laser cutter rifle, with which we can even destroy the enemy's covers .
At a technical level, it is noted that the idTech 5 He's not in such good shape anymore Of course, Wolfenstein: The New Order it is not that it is a game with remarkable graphics: effects such as fire, the recreation of water or particles are not at all convincing. Although the problems go beyond blurry or slow loading textures: we will also run into clipping, sometimes jerky animations or behaviors that go against the laws of physics, for not repairing the old trick of fog in The horizon. The most disappointing thing is that the version PC Nor is it shown with the usual superiority over consoles, and the differences between the old and new generation are not very striking. Finally, the dubbing is simply correct, with the usual voices - it seems that the blood of the dubbing actors in these parts needs to be renewed -, correct fx and a discreet soundtrack in the vast majority of the time.
Wolfenstein: The New Order It has left me somewhat bittersweet and contradictory feelings. On the one hand, it is obvious that Machine Games I had no ambition with this title, and that is something that leads me to wonder why the hell to invest time in something that is not going to be infused with energy. Wolfenstein It does not innovate in any aspect - it does not seem that it intended it either - and it rescues some old mechanics that will not be very digestible by the public who now lose their minds as soon as the new delivery of the Call of Duty shift.
The duration of the campaign is only about 10 hours and it does not have multiplayer, basing its replayability on the search for collectibles, if we add to this the rest of the peculiarities of the program already mentioned, I cannot recommend making an investment in this game until that is at an affordable price or give it a try through a rental, as long as you are gamers who grew up with Wolfenstein y Doom.
FINAL NOTE MUNDI VJ 6
Note: Xbox 360 reviewed version