Wolfenstein takes place right after the events of Return to Castle Wolfenstein when U.S. Army Ranger “B.J.” Blazkowicz has just killed Heinrich Höller. Despite Höller’s death, the Nazis remain undeterred and continue to research the dark cults and supernatural science. B.J. later finds a mysterious amulet that after further analysis by the Office of Secret Actions, sends him back into battle against the Nazis in the fictional city of Eizenstat.
The first level of Wolfenstein, the Train Station, serves as the player’s introduction into the city, providing player tutorials and reinforcing the fast action game play that Wolfenstein is known for. The fights start off typical enough with B.J. and the Civilian Resistance crossing gunfire and occasional grenade with the Nazis, however at one point B.J. shoots a barrel that releases blue energy throughout the room. The blue energy reverses gravity, sending you and your enemies into the air, as well as calls of “What the hell happened?” and “Someone get me down from here!” This brought on more than a few chuckles from the crowd. The reversal of gravity demonstrates some pretty unique gun action and gore factor as Steve Holmes, Associate Producer at Activision, blasted away Nazi limbs in close combat action.
Soon after the Train Station, B.J. travels to a Nazi archeological dig site, picking up an amulet that gives him to access the Veil, a bridge between our world and the Black Sun - an energy source that the Nazis are attempting to tap into in order to win the war.
The Veil energy allows the player to see new paths in the map which are invisible to the naked eye as well as combat enhancing skills including “Mire”, which allows you to slow down time to target enemies, dodge bullets and grenades, and more importantly, according to Peter Sokol, Community Manager of ID Software “watch Nazis get blown up in slow motion.” As the player progresses through the levels, they can collect Veil energy through Veil pools and Geist honeybees, which are enemies that release energy when they are killed.
As the story progresses and more weapon types become available to the players in the story, enemies will also become more difficult to take on, often packing nastier, more damaging attacks. In one instance the Scribe, one of the earlier enemies in Wolfenstein, harnesses veil energy and teleports throughout the map. Another enemy, the Heavy Trooper, packs a particle cannon (which quickly became our favorite weapon, reducing enemies to a puff of dust) requiring the player to slip into the Veil to identify weak points on their body, all while dodging fire. The enemy AI will respond to individual game play, recognizing when you’re out of ammo and press the attack, retreat, or flank you.
In the final level of the demo, which is mid-point in Wolfenstein, B.J. heads to a church to take down a Nazi machine. In process of destroying the machine, B.J. unleashes Veil energy reducing the Nazi force, however one of them survives and transforms into a walking zombie, the Despoiled, which is one of the Boss battles in the game.
Wolfenstein looks like a fast paced game that allows players to instantly immerse themselves into the action; featuring a regenerative health system and access to any and all guns they pick up on the map. The game does not place a limit on the number of weapons players can carry throughout the game.
Weapons and Veil energy can be upgraded through a Black Market using gold found in game and by finishing levels as well as treasure hunting. The more exploration you do the more you unlock, however you don’t have to explore because the game will provide you with upgrades through finishing levels. At the Black Market you can learn about both sides of the conflict and purchase weapon and Veil upgrades for increased levels of damage.
ID Software knows the importance of creating a strong game for the fans in of the Wolfenstein franchise and according to Peter, “Wolfenstein has been around for a long time and we a certain expectation for Wolfenstein games.” Based on initial play of the beta, although there is still work that needs to be completed to make the game great, enemy dialogue can quickly becomes repetitive, enemies freeze in mid air and the AI needing some fine tuning, the game does fulfill its promise to be a lot of fun to those familiar and new to the franchise.
~Bawdyjane
The first level of Wolfenstein, the Train Station, serves as the player’s introduction into the city, providing player tutorials and reinforcing the fast action game play that Wolfenstein is known for. The fights start off typical enough with B.J. and the Civilian Resistance crossing gunfire and occasional grenade with the Nazis, however at one point B.J. shoots a barrel that releases blue energy throughout the room. The blue energy reverses gravity, sending you and your enemies into the air, as well as calls of “What the hell happened?” and “Someone get me down from here!” This brought on more than a few chuckles from the crowd. The reversal of gravity demonstrates some pretty unique gun action and gore factor as Steve Holmes, Associate Producer at Activision, blasted away Nazi limbs in close combat action.
Soon after the Train Station, B.J. travels to a Nazi archeological dig site, picking up an amulet that gives him to access the Veil, a bridge between our world and the Black Sun - an energy source that the Nazis are attempting to tap into in order to win the war.
The Veil energy allows the player to see new paths in the map which are invisible to the naked eye as well as combat enhancing skills including “Mire”, which allows you to slow down time to target enemies, dodge bullets and grenades, and more importantly, according to Peter Sokol, Community Manager of ID Software “watch Nazis get blown up in slow motion.” As the player progresses through the levels, they can collect Veil energy through Veil pools and Geist honeybees, which are enemies that release energy when they are killed.
As the story progresses and more weapon types become available to the players in the story, enemies will also become more difficult to take on, often packing nastier, more damaging attacks. In one instance the Scribe, one of the earlier enemies in Wolfenstein, harnesses veil energy and teleports throughout the map. Another enemy, the Heavy Trooper, packs a particle cannon (which quickly became our favorite weapon, reducing enemies to a puff of dust) requiring the player to slip into the Veil to identify weak points on their body, all while dodging fire. The enemy AI will respond to individual game play, recognizing when you’re out of ammo and press the attack, retreat, or flank you.
In the final level of the demo, which is mid-point in Wolfenstein, B.J. heads to a church to take down a Nazi machine. In process of destroying the machine, B.J. unleashes Veil energy reducing the Nazi force, however one of them survives and transforms into a walking zombie, the Despoiled, which is one of the Boss battles in the game.
Wolfenstein looks like a fast paced game that allows players to instantly immerse themselves into the action; featuring a regenerative health system and access to any and all guns they pick up on the map. The game does not place a limit on the number of weapons players can carry throughout the game.
Weapons and Veil energy can be upgraded through a Black Market using gold found in game and by finishing levels as well as treasure hunting. The more exploration you do the more you unlock, however you don’t have to explore because the game will provide you with upgrades through finishing levels. At the Black Market you can learn about both sides of the conflict and purchase weapon and Veil upgrades for increased levels of damage.
ID Software knows the importance of creating a strong game for the fans in of the Wolfenstein franchise and according to Peter, “Wolfenstein has been around for a long time and we a certain expectation for Wolfenstein games.” Based on initial play of the beta, although there is still work that needs to be completed to make the game great, enemy dialogue can quickly becomes repetitive, enemies freeze in mid air and the AI needing some fine tuning, the game does fulfill its promise to be a lot of fun to those familiar and new to the franchise.
~Bawdyjane