"Wolfenstein" 2009 Review (PS3)

The 2009 redux and/or sequel, confusingly named just "Wolfenstein" despite the fact that Castle Wolfenstein plays absolutely no role in the story and it's not really a remake of the first game, is nonetheless a triumphant return to the world of Nazi occultism and the exploits of B.J. Blazkowicz (best character name EVER!), and, I feel, one of last year's most underrated shooters despite a few admittedly hard to overlook issues.

The game lacks in storytelling, there's no doubt about that. You're B.J., and you're assigned by your superiors to infiltrate a European town during the second World War to find out just what evil the Nazis are up to now... and put a stop to it. The series has never been known for its storytelling chops (despite "Return to Castle Wolfenstein," was had a decent backdrop with its undead Vikings and such), so this isn't really a problem despite the fact that the game merely seems to end with little to no fanfare. By the time I had reached the finale, I had no idea that I was fighting the final boss battle, let alone that when the boss was defeated the credits would just sort of... well, roll. This kind of thing always bugs me. Last impressions count too, game devs! Still, it's the gameplay that counts, and this is where "Wolfenstein" shines.

Unlike past entries in the series, "Wolfenstein" offers a hub-based world for you to explore that is not entirely linear. There are optional missions to undertake, and if you feel like simply roaming about town shooting Nazis whenever you find them or looking for treasure, you can certainly do so. But although some story missions can be completed in the order you choose, most of the time they can't be. Still, all of this helps immerse you in the game's setting, and were it not for the annoyance of backtracking when you'd rather be busting caps in a Nazi's face "Inglorious Basterds" style, or the fact that transitioning between areas comes with a load time that's just long enough to make you impatient, this system works quite well, and gives the game a different feel than most other current shooters.

When you're not exploring the game's world, you're shooting Nazis... and undead Nazis... and mutant Nazis... and Nazi experiments gone terribly wrong. All to be expected in a game called "Wolfenstein." (It's just a pity there's no Mecha-Hitler to throw down against!) And shooting Nazis in this game is just plain fun. An arsenal of upgradable weapons that is probably the most satisfying and diverse in years and enemies that generally react believably to being shot by them make this game's action a cut above. Even early in the game the combat is brutal and satisfying, but near the end, when you've buffed your tools of destruction, it's just badass. Blowing an unsuspecting Nazi's head clean off with a sniper rifle never, and I mean NEVER, gets old.

B.J. is also armed with some occult abilities this time around, allowing him to enter a parallel realm called The Veil and summon its powers to battle his German adversaries. There are some cool and very useful options here, like being able to slow down time or create a shield around you that prevents bullets from ruining B.J.'s brand new leather jacket. The Veil ties in to the storyline as well this time around, as it represents the Nazis' convoluted attempt at world domination in some way or another that I never really bothered to understand.

The game's environments are immersive and believable, as well as graphically pleasing, while character models are less so but still look good. But the game's greatest strength is an arsenal of satisfying, upgradable weapons, some cool Veil powers, and a satisfying array of enemies to use them against. Some of the game should feel more... well, epic than it does (think "Call of Duty" or "Medal of Honor"), but this really is some of the finest FPS action out there. I just wish this great gameplay merged with a satisfying conclusion and didn't force me to backtrack so much, because these issues are really all that stand between "Wolfenstein" 2009 and me calling it a modern classic. As it is, though, I recommend this game to any FPS fan, provided they are patient enough for the game's quite deliberate pacing.

Before I end this review, however, I would just like to point out the title of this game yet again and state for the record that, well, I frickin' hate it. They would literally have been better off calling this game "Wolfenstein '09" than just calling it "Wolfenstein," which, during a conversation, can be pretty confusing. Am I talking about the first game that sparked off the FPS genre, or the 2009 sequel? It's like that rogue "Prince of Persia" game from a couple of years ago. Give it a damn subtitle like the earlier three games to avoid confusion! Or, better yet, don't talk about that addition to the franchise to start with, as it would have been just plain forgettable in my opinion had it not been so entirely disappointing. Thank God for "The Forgotten Sands" for going back to what worked. But anyway, I digress...

Final Score: 8.5 (Exceptional)