Wolfenstein shooters have been around since 1981. My introduction was in 2001 with the much beloved Return to Castle Wolfenstein, and then I also enjoyed the 2009 reboot that flew under the radar. I next played the 2014 reboot New Order, which precedes the game I will be reviewing: New Colossus. New Colossus takes all that was good about New Order and improves on it in ways that make it a dream experience. Machine Games deliver a first-person shooter weak on weaknesses.
New Colossus picks up the moment the previous game left off, in an alternate history wherein Nazis won World War 2, and you are spearheading the resistance. Wolfenstein tells a story that produces drama under absurd circumstances. There are moments in this game that just leave you stunned, but the story is told in such a way that it is effective. Including in this style is a keen awareness of its own absurdity. There are a bevy of interesting characters playing into the story, including a detestable main villain returning from the first game.
What matters most in these games though, is not the story at all. The developers know that you are truly just looking for more Nazis to kill. And such joy is this gameplay. I played the third of seven difficulty settings, called, “Bring ‘em On.” I found this setting to be perfect for me. I think anything much higher would result in a lot of cheesing my way through stages. It was nice to have the freedom to experiment and play with all the games play styles, while also being consistently challenged to play my best.
Among the improvements over New Order are the upgrade systems. Vastly improved are the benefits of playing to your strengths and preferences. Weapon upgrades aren’t too much of a chore to find. You unlock ability upgrades by performing certain actions, making certain choices in the story or doing side missions. All these upgrades are helpful. By the end of the game, I had been so well rewarded for playing I was significantly more powerful than when I began.
New Colossus steadily sprinkles in upgrades, enemy types and weapons. You will always be implementing developing strategies while also improvising to survive. Once enemies know where you are, they are going to bring the hammer, so I suggest making many save files to avoid having to reperform a fight you barely survived. The action is lightning fast, and spectacular.
I was so in love with this game I spent a lot of time doing side quests, and with plenty of side content left to do I beat the game in about twenty-five hours. I have heard you can blitz through the story in about twelve hours if you really want to, but if the combat is what you came for, which I hope it is, you have a lot to gain by playing side quests. Not just opportunities for fun, but you will be rewarded with loot and upgrades as well.
Unfortunately, there is no New Game Plus, where we can take our upgrades from the end of the first play-through and start over on a higher difficulty, so if you want to play again after doing all the side stuff you will have to start from scratch. Not the end of the world, to be honest. I am sure I will find myself experimenting with higher difficulty for the experience of what it is like, as I also did a play-through of New Order on high difficulty as well.
Graphics and sound are exemplary even on Nintendo Switch. The visual design immerses you in the world, while serving up a feast for the eyes when the action is surging. The music and sound effects are excellent as well. Guns look cool and sound satisfying. Mick Gordon and friends deliver another outstanding original soundtrack to back cut-scenes and combat. As I listen to this soundtrack writing this review, it reveals itself to be better than I even remember. The voice acting and facial motion capture give the game an evocative plot.
It is difficult for me to think of much I didn’t like about Wolfenstein 2. I had pretty high expectations after thinking of how much I enjoyed New Order and how it could be improved. The developers exceeded my hopes. I am so glad they do some set up during this game for another sequel, because I am hungry for more after New Colossus. An all-round top tier shooter. My one complaint is I felt like I wanted more out of the final boss, but the ending left me very satisfied and optimistic for the potential of a future sequel.
I got Wolfenstein on sale for $20 on the Nintendo Online store. Easily one of the best game purchases I have ever made. This game is worth more than that in terms of production quality and quality of experience. I would suggest getting it for any price you find reasonable for a shooter you can really sink your teeth into. The Switch port from Panic Button is how I played and I will recommend it if that seems like a solid option for you. It may look a bit better and be more precise on other systems, however. But, again, I have loved it on the 2017 Switch port.
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus is sure to be all I am talking about for some time. Everything about this game is fantastic, and one thing that is sure to resonate with me is the positive ways disabled people are represented. There are multiple disabled characters, you even play the first mission in a wheelchair and have to solve puzzles such as: “get up the stairs.”
Nazi imagery is present in the game and the evil of that regime is no foreign concept to Wolfenstein. They are treacherous at every turn, atrocious from every angle. So much has been given to protect the world from Nazism, this game is a reminder we must be vigilant now. Nothing perks me up like fighting Nazis, and this game let’s you do it in such a marvelous way.
Credit: Wolfenstein 2 The New Colossus. Screenshots by me.
HereticDerek 