Doctor Necrotic |
After our hero, BJ Blazkowics fails during an alternate WWII, the Axis claims victory thanks to the powers of Deathshead and his SUPER-SCIENCE! Fast forward to an alternate 1960s and the sounds of Revolution begin to play! Sadly, they're not written by the Beatles, since we have "Die Käfer" instead.
From what I've seen, it looks like MachineGames and Bethesda have tossed out a lot of the ultra-serious route for Fallout-style humor and glorious stupidity! Personally, I can't wait to use whacky atomic-sci-fi gadgets to tear off nazi grunts' faces off while German rockabilly blasts in the background! Plus, I'm a sucker for retrofuturism and dark settings. Now, if you're wondering about the title, the trailers will kind of explain... except, not really. Long story short, some dude who looks like Stan Lee makes a cameo (looking as old as he does now), nazi robots are apparently nuclear powered, and the Deathshead new world order took over the world of rock music! (Noooo!) Personally, I'm not expecting a great game, but at least a fun game with tons of bizarro antics and Axis mad science driven horror is good by me.
And of course, there's another matter... Beta release of the next DooM game (which I hadn't heard about till W:TNO was teased.) Also, New Order themed TF2 items, if you're into that... (And yes, I do collect hats)
So, anyone looking forward to this weirdness?
Threeshades |
There has been an ultra-serious route attached to Wolfenstein?
Wasn't that the game where you fight head-in-jar cyber mecha hitler in the end?
I'm curious as to what this game holds in store, with bethesda involved there is a good chance it will not be your average run-of-the-mill modern shooter gameplay. I hope they are going the same, or a similar route as flying wild hog took with shadow warrior, gameplay wise.
Alex Martin |
There has been an ultra-serious route attached to Wolfenstein?
You want terribly serious Nazi fighting drama, try Turning Point. Ugh...it's like the anti-Wolfenstein.
More to the point - the game does look interesting. Over the top and bombastic - absolutely! But it is interesting that they tried to craft some kind of consistent world-frame to the narrative. Whether there's any more depth to the story is what I want to see, but again it's a Wolfenstein game, so expectations aren't that high. I keep thinking it might be akin to Dishonored (another Bethesda game) - an interesting setting with a very basic plot.
The "fascist rock and roll" was good way of helping define that gameworld - particularly creepy when you see the parallels they tried to make to real-world musicians (The Beatles, Beach-boys, Sonny and Cher). Although nothing is implied, I am wondering if the big reveal will be about a time-travel element to the whole alternative history (see Stan Lee hint).
Doctor Necrotic |
I'm more than happy with the option to go a stealth route, and boy do I love stealth games! That said, the gameplay doesn't look super impressive from all the gameplay videos I've seen so far. As for the Dishonored parallel? Well, both have rebellion against a New World Order, the stealth element, and a fantastic setting (alt-history Nazi occupied world counts, I'd think) But hey, if a formula works, why toss it out?
As for the alternate reality Beatles, Beach Boys, and etc, now that's some chilling world building I like, adds to the atmosphere! I'm not sure if that's actually Stan Lee, but he looks UNCANNY! As for time travel, I doubt it. It's just a timeline where Deathshead's insane super-science lead to the nazis winning WWII and inventing even better technology in the process (I mean, the trailers and gameplay had Spess Mehreens!) It's been a while since I've picked up a game, but Blazko stopped Deathshead in every other timeline. Constants and Variables, I suppose.
Alex Martin |
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Constants and Variables, I suppose.
You know it's funny you use that term, because I was going to make a comparison between Bioshock Infinite and Wolfenstein earlier in that both have usage of alternate history elements; racist villains; and some huge slabs of violence. Even the music element reminded me the two games. That's why the time-travel element came to mind - since that's one of Bioshock: Infinte's plot devices.
Although the level of intellectual thought in a Bioshock game kind of puts any kind of parallel with Wolfenstein out the window.
As for the Dishonored parallel? Well, both have rebellion against a New World Order, the stealth element, and a fantastic setting (alt-history Nazi occupied world counts, I'd think) But hey, if a formula works, why toss it out?
Same issue came up with the Thief game. The background story between Disohonored and Thief was so close that the designers at Ubisoft thought there was someone within the company selling information to Bethesda/Arkane.
Alex Martin |
So - about 1/2 of the way through the game, and I have to say it's been better than I expected. It does have it's over the top moments, but so far it has managed to have the right mix of irony and serious that I can get into.
The gameplay is good, and I like the stealth mode options as presented. In classic old-school FPS fashion, you sometimes find yourself in scenarios that may require a re-do or two to get it right, in my opinion.
I think the idea of the story; the alternate history that the game presents is well-done. It's not flawless and certainly ridiculous in some parts, but the level of detail in things like music, letters, and place-settings is nicely effective. And, as if to reflect real history, there's an attempt to imply how brutal and bleak a Nazi-controlled world would be like. These aren't cartoonish villains - these are some vile characters that make you want to shoot them.
Alex Martin |
Yes yes he does.
Is that specific to the Wyatt version of the story? I didn't come across it in my play through of the Fergus version of the story, so I suspect it might be. I just started my run-through in the Wyatt version to confirm that.
Hama |
If you arn't sure of how strong your computer is, it is probably best to go for a console version.
I have an Intel i5
8 GB of DDR3Geforce GT 570 with 1GB of DDR 5
The game was smooth on ultra high. I can see why they needed 43gb of install. The details were awesome.
This game actually got me looking forward to new Doom.
Also, who hasn't tried, have BJ have nightmares. You sorta get to play old wolfenstein 3D.
Sunderstone |
I run an I7 3770K, 8gb of Vengeance DDR, and a Gigabyte 780 Ghz Edition card (it runs Tomb Raider 2013 on Ultra with TressFX enabled). HardOCP ripped it apart for the lack of graphic options along with the hard-capped frame rate @60.
Glad to see it is highly detailed. I'll pick it up then regardless of Steams upcoming summer sale, though I'll wait to see if it's discounted.
Thanks
Alex Martin |
@Sunderstone: Can't vouch for the PC version, although it sounds like your rig can handle it. I've been playing the Xbox 360 version - which I am going to say is probably the low-end version - and have been duly impressed with the visual quality. It's well done on the console version, and I can only assume it will be much more detailed on PCs.
Is it worth getting? I would say absolutely. Is it worth getting at full price or waiting for a Steam sale; that depends I think on how much of a Wolfenstein/FPS fan you are. Certainly the game has been better than I expected and has some interesting concepts at work if you are a fan of alternate history stories.
@Hama: Did a little research between the two timelines, and it looks like the Fergus version basically has differences in terms of armor/health upgrades; locking-picking; and some changes to characters in the Resistance. If there are other details, I will post them - but it doesn't look like major changes in storyline.
Also - we have the same avatar, but I'm not Scott Betts.