Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Review

Characters

While Blazkowicz takes most of the spotlight, the supporting cast also has its share of weight. Young soldier Wyatt, right-hand man Fergus, and ever-capable nurse Anya all have moments to shine. This also applies to new characters like Grace Walker, the intriguing leader of an American Resistance cell; Sigrun Engel, the troubled daughter of a truly disturbing Nazi; and Rip Blazkowicz, our protagonist’s hateful father.

Although the writing of these characters is more or less punctual, the story has some problems. The plot is simple enough, simple but effective. The characters have a common goal, one that the player will understand and identify with, and more than enough skills to make progress towards their next victory.

This is a game about robo-Nazis and heavily features advanced ancient technology, so some stupidity is to be expected. However, around the midpoint, too whimsical a twist occurs for the overall tone that the game emanates. And after the twist, things get wilder and wilder from there.

The tonal changes aren’t exactly enough to keep me from enjoying the story. But staying a little closer to the ground in future installments would benefit the series.

Game

The best way to complete a fantastic story is to pair it with great gameplay, and Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus does it in a number of ways. It features a fun and fast paced gun game that is kept interesting with the help of a variety of weapons at your disposal. You also get game elements in the areas of stealth, mythical environmental puzzles, and exploration. This is all handled well and rarely holds the game back, if at all.

Just like The New Order, Wolfenstein II satisfies the way you play. If you like double-butted shotguns and charging in combat, then BJ will get updates relevant to that style of play. If you’d rather sneak through crowded levels, silently facing enemies before they even know you’re there, you’ll receive power-ups that make it easier for you to stay stealthy. There are multiple game paths, of course, but the important thing is that they are all apparently well balanced. So, feel free to play however you like.