Posted by Ironshef on Nov 20, 2009

Review: Wolfenstein 2009

Another Masterpiece by Id & Raven Software

Published by: Activision
Developed by: Raven Software, Threewave Software
Genre: First Person Shooter
Release Date: US:8/18/2009, Europe:8/21/2009
MSRP: $59.99
ESRB: Mature 17+

Also Available On: XBox360, PlayStation 3

This game was released 3 months ago coinciding with the release of “Inglorious Bastards”, a Nazi killing movie that pretty much sums up the motives of the game. Good timing for the game! For what I deem to be a pure shooter, Wolfenstein doesn’t disappoint, again! I wasn’t disappointed with the first one, I loved the second one, and the third one was a ton of fun!

Pure shooters are totally predictable, and this game isn’t much different. I mean, I didn’t know what crisis was coming next, but I knew it involved Nazi’s trying to conjure up some mystical power or harness some super natural weapon. I suggest playing the game on a more challenging difficulty the first time you start it up if you’re a shooter fan, else you will find it too remedial. This certainly makes the game more fun, and it’s extremely linear nature less noticeable. If this game is your first time taking a shooter out for a ride, hang out in the kiddie pool for a while and see what you think. The game is definitely not for young kids. Frankly, i can’t think of an ID game that is!

What you have to remember is, when ID releases a game, not only is it never a bad game, nor will it flop, but you should expect a masterpiece of creativity and amazing level design. Also, this is the 3rd “id”eration of Wolfenstein. You know they’re gonna get it right! Moving through this game it’s hard not to take notice of the amazing attention to detail the developers have taken. The bump mapping brings the textures to life and the level design makes you feel like this is some place you would like to visit! My affinity for beautifully created & believable settings with true color palettes applied to a game, from level design perspective, isn’t disappointed one iota in Wolfenstein!

OK, so you know I love the way the game looks. I love the characters. The organic modeling is so perfect it’s insane. The lip syncing is very well done. The animations are lively and move about correctly. I have sent many a Nazi over a rail to plummet to the death-after I filled them full of lead of course. Even the cinematics are very well done, and complete the storyline nicely in the way they finish mini chapters or illustrate the final destruction scene when you’ve completed a huge mission goal. The game also has a great story which even for the linear shooter game is vital for immersion. The game play is straight forward, and doesn’t try to confuse you. Collect gold, get intel, and kill Nazis! The game is what you think it is-Thanks Denny Green!

I played the game from start to finish in roughly 40hours. From a single player perspective, the game is worth every penny, but that’s only half of the offering! As with just about every game I own from ID, the multiplayer aspects/maps/tournaments and reliability of the game servers is second to none. Bottom-line: If you like shooters, you would be making a huge mistake to not add this one to your collection!

I give this game a 9 out of 10, and highly suggest you pick it up! The good news is, since I just did this review and it’s 3 months after the release, the 59.99MSRP may have begun to drop- just in time for the holiday’s, but then again, if I were Activision, I may ride that starting MSRP right through Christmas knowing all too well the game is worth every penny! In any event, here are some more screens for you to drool on!