Wolfenstein 3D is a revolutionary masterpiece that still manages to hold up well, even 20 years after its release
This Xbox Live Arcade version is pretty much an untouched port of the PC original, which is definitely a good thing in my opinion. In addition to the original 3 episodes, though, this port also includes "The Nocturnal Missions", which is an expansion pack containing 3 additional episodes. This means that you get 60 levels for only 400 Microsoft Points (or five dollars) - this is definitely an excellent deal for any Xbox 360 owner!
Each of the levels is essentially a maze that you need to find your way out of - finding keys will be necessary, and plenty of secret areas can help you get through those trickier portions. Wolfenstein 3D is not an easy game, and in addition to the somewhat confusing level design, many of the enemies can deal quite a bit of damage at close-range. I actually think the damage system is a bit flawed in this game, and it wasn't until Doom that id Software would perfect the damage system with the addition of armor. This game feels a bit unbalanced, and sometimes one hit can drain almost all of your energy. I found myself relying on the save slots a bit more than I would've liked to, and the rather stiff controls are also responsible for this. For this port, increased thumbstick sensitivity would've really been a good idea - especially compared to today's shooters, turning your head around 360 degrees feels like an eternity.
With that said, though, Wolfenstein 3D is still a hell of a lot of fun in 2012. It's every bit as rewarding as it is challenging, and searching for every last piece of treasure is something I really miss in newer FPS games. The level design and environments are pretty repetitive, but that's part of the game's charm - this is as basic as an FPS game gets, and it's this simplicity that makes Wolfenstein 3D a timeless classic. This is the sort of masterpiece that every gamer should definitely take the time to check out.