Wolfenstein: The New Order Review
Developed By: Machine Games
Published By: Bethesda Softworks
Available On: PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One
Reviewed On: PS4
Reviewed by: Joseph Yaden
Set in a fictional post-WWII era overrun by Nazis, Wolfenstein: The New Order takes the player on a brutal, relentless journey. There is something morbidly cathartic about murdering hundreds of Nazis over the course of a 10 hour campaign. This game is more than just mowing down bad guys, though. Embedded within is a thoughtful, engaging narrative that caught me off guard. Admittedly, run-and-gun first person shooters don’t usually grab me, at least from a storytelling perspective. However, I found myself getting excited for what would happen next almost right from the beginning.
Like the other Wolfenstein games, The New Order is a first person shooter, following the story of U.S. special forces Captain William “B.J.” Blazkowicz. Fortunately, in this reboot of the series, B.J. is less of a meathead and much more of a grounded character with personality and emotion. That may sound like a trivial thing to praise, but having meaning and motivation improves the game and makes for a more impactful experience.
It seems like a daunting task to merge the setting of 1960s Germany with futuristic technology, but Machine Games did a remarkable job making a believable setting. If I didn’t know any better, I’d think the Nazis really did have giant mech robots used to take over the world. Thankfully for everyone, this is a fictional story.
“...I felt like I was experiencing a big-budget Hollywood movie...”
Developer, Machine Games, did a superb job of creating a prominent sense of tension throughout the narrative. At times, I felt like I was experiencing a big-budget Hollywood movie, due to the production value of the writing and voice acting. It was during these nail-biting moments that I realized that there was something special here.
Aside from all the positives of the story, The New Order is fun to play, despite not being mechanically groundbreaking. Having to collect health manually makes the player tackle situations differently. That’s not to say that there aren’t Rambo-worthy scenarios, but I often found myself playing more tactfully and stealthily instead of going all out.
Aside from all the positives of the story, The New Order is fun to play, despite not being mechanically groundbreaking. Having to collect health manually makes the player tackle situations differently. That’s not to say that there aren’t Rambo-worthy scenarios, but I often found myself playing more tactfully and stealthily instead of going all out.
Luckily, combat is enjoyable, albeit a little repetitive. Still, the guns feel heavy and weighty, a design decision I support. It makes shooting all the more satisfying. As a way to make the firearms more varied, many of the weapons have secondary modes, like the silencer on the handgun, rocket launcher on the assault rifle, or my personal favorite, dual wielding shotguns. Sure, it might be over-the-top, but I appreciate that The New Order doesn’t take itself too seriously, especially compared to the overall gritty tone of the narrative.
Weapon diversity keeps this iteration fresh and perhaps the most interesting one, the laser cutter, allows players to cut through chain. I’ve never played a game that allows me to freely cut through chain-link fences. In most games getting through a fence would just be tied to a button prompt. In It’s a minor detail, but little things like this kept me engaged.
In addition to the satisfaction of using weapons, there is a great deal of satisfaction from exploring the stages. Hidden within the levels are ammo crates, health kits, armor, story notes, and character/weapon upgrades. These items incentivize players to explore and appreciate the design and attention to detail of the levels. This is a welcome addition that makes The New Order feel dense and complete.
“...the game would have been just as effective with a shorter runtime.”
The events of The New Order are generally exciting, but there are sections where progression was momentarily brought to a halt and I wish some of it could have been trimmed down. I’m all for getting my money’s worth, but I think the game would have been just as effective with a shorter runtime. It’s a minor gripe, but a longer game doesn’t always equal a better game.
I thoroughly enjoyed my time with Wolfenstein: The New Order. Although many of the events depicted are fictional or even supernatural, there is a grounded sense of reality that makes the game a tad more relatable. Exploring the levels is fun and rewarding, and I was still satisfied with going on a murderous rampage, even towards the end of the story.
Consider skipping if:
- You like shorter experiences
- Accuracy to historical events is super important to you
- You’re looking for a multiplayer mode
Consider playing if:
- Mature first person shooters are of interest to you
- History is your thing
- Gratuitous violence doesn’t bother you
RATING: GOOD
This game is a quality experience and is recommended.
