True FPS fans will probably enjoy this game, but I found this game to be a total letdown!!! Plays like an old game!
-Well told story
-Solid Guns and Gunplay
-Solid Controls
-Too Few Wow Moments
-Fun Boss Fights
Cons:
-Linear
-Scripted Enemiy A.I.
-Enemies have unlimited grenades
-Grenades will always land where you are, Enemies don't miss in that department
-Random Irritating Super Natural Enemies
-Gunfights lack Intenstiy
-Unexplained and Unexplored Supernatural Plot Elemens
-Story takes too long to pick up until after the middle
-Gameplay isnt fun until after the middle
-The Action is just not that entertaining
-Pointless RPG element
-Terrible Upgrade System
-Unrewarding Ending
-Terrible End Credits
-The game feels too Old School
Wolfenstein, from what I hear, is the father of FPS's. And if you are the father of something, that means you follow old school rules. But sometimes, old school tries to fit in with the new school. Sometimes, old school should accept the fact that they are past their prime and be happy that they once dominated the competition in their glory days. Sadly, this is the case with Wolfenstein. I am not a true fan of FPS's, but I usually enjoy the brillance of these games, but Wolfenstein just reminds me that I am not a FPS fan. Wolfenstein plays like a game that was released on the PS2.
The game is just too linear. Their is a compass that directs you to every objective. This would not be bad if you clearly knew why you were doing everything you were doing. The story tries to give purpose to this somewhat pointless adventure, but I truly felt as if I was just a 'Yes' man while playing this game. I was given an order, and instead of trying to find my own path to completing it, their is a compass that directs to whatever location I am suppose to be at. I could of easily ignored the compass, but how can I avoid looking at it when it is right there.
In the beginning of the game, the story moves very slow and too much time is given to 'intro' plot development rather than story and character development, but that seems like that was the develpers motive. The story though is well told, but there is no explanation for the super natural events in the game or the monsters that accompany it. The Nazi are taking control of the Black Sun (a Sun in a super natural universe) in order to create a weapon that will enable them to take over the world. You job, or B.J. (the protagonist) job is to prevent this from happening. Very cool idea, but the story never dives into this plot element until the later half of the game. This is when the story picks up, but before this happens, the games story has little driving the games intenstiy. But, I can honestly say the story does pick up once certain enemies turn out to be creatures from this universe, but this can not save the game from it unrewarding ending, though the ending boss fight is fun and some what rewarding, this is not something I can say about the rest of the games gameplay.
Gameplay is where the game looses most of it appealing and intrigue. The gunfights lack true intensity and the scripted A.I. movements make me feel as if I am shooting empty cans. Every level has enemy soldier ducking and shooting, ducking and shooting. It is just a matter of time before I shoot someone who follows the same pattern. The game pretty much follows a run and gun type of play, though some situations demand strategy. Enemies encounters become more enjoyable and rewarding when I encounter super natural enemies or enemies who use special weapon. You have a fast moving insane ninja, a man in armor who can use a flame thrower or laser canon, etc. These enemies derverve more tactical strategy and the use of the super powers the game throws at you. You can slow down time, shoot through enemy armor, enter a mode which detects enemy weak spots, and a shield. Each of these four powers have their own special abilities that are unlocked through upgrades. These powers become more important as the game progresses to the end because the game randoms through waves of these super power villians at you. The shield and time control powers will become you best friends. Now I bet you are saying, what is wrong with any of this. All of this has been done and done better in some instance. I will admit, the super natural guns are fun to play with, the gunfights are just scripted old school action. I never got the feeling that I was in battle. This made the game very boring and very predictable. The supernatural enemies livened up the game, but they were more of a nuisance than fun, I you do not run into them until the middle of the game. Boss fights don't occur until after the middle and that is a shame because the boss fights are actually decent. This win the game comes alive, but it far too late in the game and even these things can keep this game from being a total letdown.
Outside of the linear missions, the game tries to follow a RPG type of play, but ultimately, this is just a teaser. People talk to you, but you can not talk to them. The open world enviroment is small, uninteresting, and full of enemy soldiers. Going from one location to another to reach a mission is a pain in itself. Soldiers are everywhere, yet they can not find your safehouse, nor where the people you are helping to liberate this fake German town work out of. Makes the game feel very unbelievable, and like a game. The open world setting is horrible and should not of been integrated into a game like this. Old school is trying too hard to be new school.
Another big problem with the game is the pacing due to the upgrade system. Alot of battles come to a halt because you will be searching for gold to upgrade your weapons after missions. Goddamn the upgrades for the weapons are sometimes pointless. There are some necessary upgrades for weapons and powers, but even the game points out the fact that you can not afford all the upgrades, nor will they bring success if you actually buy them. Bioshocks upgrade system made sense, I do not recall an upgrade system for Killzone 2, but this game uses a upgrade system that should of been trashed idea. The game wants you to explore and forces you too, but it is not rewarding. Many pointless documents or 'intel' are lying around with pointless information that sometimes dees not add anything to the story or the mystery elements inside of it. Some documents of meaningful, but a majority of them are a slap in the face.
The biggest drawback about the game is it tries to be a supernatural FPS that plays like a RPG. The supernatural theme is brilliant, but it is never explored. I finished the game wonding what exactly was the Black Sun and why was it there. How were the scienctist able to open this universe and how were they able to control it power. Who were the beings that came out of this dimension, etc. This is a game that leaves you with many questions about the supernatual theme, but what really bothers me about this game is the fact that I am just suppose to accept the fact that certain people are monsters and monsters live in Germany. The game seems like it is suppose to be scary, but it does not try to be, but yet the developers include all of the elements that would be used in a scary game. The RPG elements is a nice tough, but it never plays the way you want it too. The city is not believable, everything about this just feels...old school. Old school is good when it is left old school, but this game tries too hard to be new school and this old school style of play can not be hidden behind it new school toys and tricks.
Final Verdict: Wolfenstein is a rental, but I wouldn't make ot my first choice. This game by todays standards is a clear pass. FPS fans will enjoy this game to a certain degree, but honestly, this game was and is a waste of time. If the game wasn't so boring in the beginning and the gameplay was more involving, I would have given this game a higher rating, but this game was total letdown thus it is given a low rating. I didn't expect much and the game still disappointed. The story is interesting though, so that was plus, BUTTTTTT........well you know the rest.