History of Wolfenstein Series:-
In 1981, it was all started with the first World War II game called Castle Wolfenstein for Apple II, DOS, Atari 400/800 and C64, which both developed and published by Muse Software. It is stealth based action-adventure shooter set in World War II, which involves the player's main mission is to find the secret war plans and escape from the Castle of Wolfenstein. The game had becoming so popular in 80's and they later released the 1984 sequel called Beyond Castle Wolfenstein for Apple II, Atari 8-bit, DOS and C64 with same gameplay and appearence.
In 1992, Id Software and Apogee Software brought the FPS game called Wolfenstein 3D for DOS, which the game was inspired by the Muse Software's popular game, such as Castle Wolfenstein and Beyond Castle Wolfenstein. They also made the prequel called Spear of Destiny was released the same year as the first game. It is the straightforward FPS game, which allowing players to move, turn, open doors & secrets, collecting items & weapons, and shooting Nazi's solders. Wolfenstein 3D was commercial success, which made the FPS genre so popular in early 90's becoming the granddaddy of FPS and it is considered to be a greatest FPS game in history. With the success of Wolfenstein 3D, Id Software later released a another successful FPS game, such as Doom in 1993 and Quake in 1996.
In 2001, the publisher Activision and the both developer teams Gray Matter Interactive & Nerve Software made the reboot to early FPS classic Wolfenstein 3D called Return to Castle Wolfenstein for PC and later released for Xbox & PS2 in 2003, which features story presentation, newer gameplay mechanics and online multiplayer for both PC & Xbox only. It received positive reviews from critics, which the game has praised for single player campaign and online multiplayer. The 2009 sequel called Wolfenstein for PC, X360 and PS3, which developed by Raven Software and Published by Activision. It received so much average reviews from the critics said the game aren't good as the 2001 game Return to Castle Wolfenstein, which the 2009 game didn't live up with fans reputation and making it forgetable FPS game.
In 2014, the publisher Betheada Softworks and developer team Machine Games made a 2014 sequel called Wolfenstein: New Order for PC, PS3, PS4, X360, and XBONE. It took a lot of improvements from the 2009 sequel, which includes better combat gameplay, newer concept for presentation and detailed graphics. It received much better reviews than the 2009 game, which praised with combat mechanics, overall presentation and the game concept that made the game just right for the fans of the series. They later released the 2015 prequel called The Old Blood for a same console platforms as the 2014 game, except PS3 and X360 version. It did have a positive reviews from the critics, but they prefer the New Order a lot better for both gameplay and presentation.
And that is the history of the Wolfenstein series, so let's move on to my review.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood PS4 Review:-
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a action-adventure FPS game for PC, PS4 and XBONE, which developed by Machine Games and published by Betheada Softworks.
I really enjoyed playing the classic Wolfenstein 3D on my old PC in the 90's and at the year later in 2000's, I wasn't able to complete the Return to Castle Wolfenstein on my brother's original Xbox, which is quite shame for me, so I decided to give a try with 2009 sequel for my PS3 and I just got bored playing it doesn't mean the game is actually bad because it does have some positive aspects of the game and then I'm finally give another chance with getting The Old Blood for my PS4 and see if this game are actually did better than what I expected from the previous game.
Looks like the game actually done a decent job with overall game's concept is looking lot different from the previous title and I like the gameplay mechanics and atmosphere a lot because the developers did a great job by putting a efforts with the levels, combat system and it has well challenged campaign goals that made the game much enjoyable to play, while the story and characters did have awesome protagonist William B.J Blazkowicz is still the kick ass video game characters from the classic Wolfenstein 3D, but the other characters in the game are quite forgettable and the story in the game are kinda sounds below average for not having enough stronger plot of the game, but to be honest, it's rather sounds more interesting than the storyplot on 2009 sequel.
So, lets start the review.
Presentation
This game takes place in year 1946 before the event of the Wolfenstein: The New Order. It's starts with agents William B.J Blazkowicz and his partner Richard Wesley on the mission at the newly built Castle Wolfenstein to obtain the Nazi's top secret folder containing locations of Nazi's General from the Nazi's castle commender.
The story in the game sounds kinda passable, but it does sounds bit better than the story on the 2009 sequel. This story kinda didn't have much of the interesting storyplot to make it sounds good because it is basically focused on the actions rather than the important plotlines in the game, even the cutscenes are quite short too because it lasted for a minute before you start the mission. I do like the actions in the game that gives the game some atmosphere to make it look more intense FPS action packed.
I like how the game's concepts does look good on the futuristic World War II set with interesting building, levels and types of the enemies are quite amazed for the series. I say the main protagonist William B.J Blazkowicz is still an awesome video game character has cool personality, tough guys type of character, and it has great depth of has appearances that made him looked way different from the previous game, while the other characters in the game aren't so memorable due to unappealing character's model and lacked of character's depth in the game.
Overall, it has kick ass protagonist, interesting game's concepts and has atmosphere, but I think the story and other characters needs a better job in the game.
Gameplay
It is the single player mode, which has campaign and challenge mode.
The gameplay is pretty good with game controls. The character's movement is moving really smoother and the camera controls has balanced sensitivity to make the character easier to look around in the game. Your character can able to jump, crouch, sprint, and climbing on the wall with pipes feels very responsive and playable without any controls issues in the game.
The combat mechanics has great choices of the weaponary, such as pistols, shotgun, assault rifle, heavy machineguns, sniper rifle, and pistol like rocket launcher. The rifles and machine guns are perfect for shooting range which you can able to shoot the enemies on far distance, while the powerful weapons does give a higher damage to the enemies. The pistols and melee attacks are great for close combat when you're near close to the enemies. You can also use dual-wield, which gives a double damage at the enemies. You can also throw grenades or knife at the enemies as well and you can hide behind the objects as the cover system, which saves you from preventing damage from the enemy's attack. You can also grab health pack and armour or helmet somewhere in the level, which allow to increases your health and armour.
You can able to unlock different kinds of perks by completing the tasks, which gives the character's ability to increases your overall health & armor, more ammunition on each weapons, and carrying heavy machineguns can be added on your weapons selection, which is sounds pretty cool to add more variety of gameplay.
I love how the game does have mixed between action and stealth that makes the game more unique. I really enjoyed doing stealth combat because I like sneaking up on the enemies without getting caught by the Nazi's commander calling for backup, which makes the game well challenged and never gets really bored to play.
The problem is the single player campaign is rather have short length, which makes the game easier to complete by 1 or 2 days, but you get to enjoy playing the challenge mode where you have to shoot every Nazi's solders in order to get higher score, which I kinda had a fun playing on different challenge maps.
Overall, It has decent controls, great combat mechanics, adding more perks, and it has more variety of gameplay that made this game well played.
Graphics
The graphics in the game does have some impressive character's design with well figured details on the characters, the level design does have some quality looking environment with greater details on the building and stages. It has nice visuals on the lighting effects, backgrounds, and some of the amazing special effects, which has very gory content in the game. The animations runs very well in the game including the cutscenes and the physics that puts the graphic's overall looked decent for modern FPS games.
It's not the best graphics so far, but it does look actually good for next-gen gaming, which is just right for the eight generation era.
Overall, it has impressive character's design, great level design, nice visuals, and well made animations.
Music and Sounds
Mick Gordon did a splendid job on music. It has World War II feel to the game with more atmospheric sounds that fits well in the game. It has really good sound effects for sound's environment noises, realistic background sounds, and it has superb sound works in the game.
The voice acting sounds really amazing on the main protagonist and other characters, which has nice accents and well professional tone of voice that fits well on the characters.
Overall, it has atmospheric music, good sound effects, and amazing voice acting.
Special Features
This game have challenge mode, unlocking variables of items (such as concept art, character models and bios, notes, and golds), trophy support and chapter select.
Advantages
Decent gameplay
Impressive graphics
Awesome music and sounds
Kick ass protagonist
Interesting game's concepts
Enjoyable challenge mode
Disadvantages
Short-length campaign
Forgettable different characters
Mixed bag storyplot
Final Verdict
Presentation 6.7/10 - It has kick ass protagonist, interesting game's concepts and has atmosphere, but I think the story and other characters needs a better job in the game.
Gameplay 8/10 - It has decent controls, great combat mechanics, adding more perks, and it has more variety of gameplay.
Graphics 8/10 - It has impressive character's design, great level design, nice visuals, and well made animations.
Music and Sounds 8.5/10 - It has atmospheric music, good sound effects, and amazing voice acting.
Special Features 7/10 - It has challenge mode, unlocking variables of items, trophy support, and chapter select.
Overall 7.6/10 - I really enjoyed playing Wolfenstein: The Old Blood that makes a good improvement with surprisingly gameplay aspects did have an offer for players to enjoy the campaign. It has decent mission, cool weapons, and exciting action packed shooter that made the game so much better than what I expected from the 2009 sequel. Despite having awesome main character, good gameplay, nice graphics, and wonderful music and sounds, the story and other characters in the game are the weakest in the game, even the campaign is quite too short, but I did like the game after all, so that means I might considered to give a try with the game called Wolfenstein: The New Order to see if this could be a better game.
I highly recommended to the fans of the series should able to buy this in cheaper price.
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