📢 YOUR GERMAN OVERLORDS DEMAND PERFECTION! 📢
My... my what? 😧
Yes, we move from one well-known, well-loved id property to the next. Except, this one was not brought back from the dead by id themselves. Rather, by a new studio at the time. Giving off such a storied and important franchise to a newcomer is def risky, but boyyyy did it pay off.
Therefore❗️ In this edition of Through the Lens 🎞, we'll be taking a look at MachineGames' reimagining of the first ever FPS from 2014 : Wolfenstein: The New Order. ◀️
(see? we don't have to use the exact same name as the original, yay, the new order is a great title befitting the Wolfenstein franchise)
Roll it! 📽
🔷 UP TOP 🔶
The soundtrack here was great. I mean... it's Mick Gordon, of course, it's gonna be great. 😁 The entire presentation is top-notch, but the soundtrack plays an important role in that. So many funny reimaginings of classic 50s and 60s songs. And the dramatic/action pieces are also apt and fit the gameplay perfectly.
Honestly, you have to hear it to believe it. Dedication to this scale is rare, and I highly recommend you give this OST a cursory listen. Trust me, it's a treat for even non-gaming fans also. Just good music done in an interesting way, with a twist! // that was an M NIght reference that I don't think I landed
Played this beauty around the time of its release. Back when arcadey shooters were an anomaly (they still are to this day, me thinks). But not only is this game some hokey fun, but it is also super serious and takes its subject matter seriously and with care. It's funny, it's tragic, it's Wolfenstein.
There's a lot to discuss here, so let's not waste too much time. What I will waste time on before we begin is that I don't think too many people remember this game. 😅 I replayed it recently and I am honestly unsure as to why that is. It's great mindless fun with some amazing presentation and great story moments. Maybe some of ya'll will be inspired to give it a try after this column. 🤞
🔷 PRESENTATION 🔶
I mean we have to begin here. The presentation in this game is everything. And boy did they knock it out of the park. You really feel like you are in a dystopian German-occupied timeline.
So yeah, for the uninitiated, this game takes place in an alternate timeline where Germany won the second world war. It's supposed to be somewhere around our 60s but it's not actually obvious. The timeline, and all the elements it introduces. And how well it integrates them into the game - is phenomenal. 👏
We talked about there being remastered versions of popular songs but done in German. There are also memorabilia and landmarks that have been completely Germanified (that's a word now). I love stuff like this, it's so cool to see things you recognize but put under a different light. And a well-glowing light at that. // that's me saying it's well executed
Finally, the graphics have this particular ageless quality. It definitely shows it;'s age but I'd say in a charming way. It is playable today without you having to squint your eyes or cringe. Thank the stars for that too, since this is a game worth experiencing by all the fans of this genre. Speaking of which. ⬇️
🔷 PUTTING THE F IN FPS 🔶
What does the F stand for? You would think it's 'first' but you would be wrong! However, I'll keep it PG and let you figure that out for yourself. 😁
The action is fast, precise, and just fun. Plain and simple this game is a lot of fun. It doesn't take itself seriously, but at the same time has a lot of serious moments. And they manage to make this blend work in such interesting ways.
This is one of the best arcade shooters of all time.
I mean you can dual-wield machine guns. You can dual-wield anything really. This game is balls-to-the-wall action crazy. And what I adore is that it doesn't try and hide it or pretend to be something else. No, it knows what it is, and it's proud of it.
There are a lot of guns and a lot of ways to modify said guns. The upgrades, although maybe acquired through strange means I would say, still serve as a nice progression system. The design of this game is not always spotless, but it heads and shoulders (not the hair product) above some of its contemporaries.
🔷 LEGACY 🔶
I honestly am not sure how this game is remembered. This means it is not on the level of the newer Doom games at the least. But I don't think it's that far off. Yes, this game has a lot more story bits and a lot more linear sections, but at the end of the day, the action is pretty similar. Is it fair that I'm comparing it to Doom? Yes, I would say so. And unfortunately, it falls juuuusssttt a bit short of that high mark.
Regardless, some days of the week you might feel like a Wolfenstein fan as opposed to a Doom fan. It's all relative. And I think everyone who hasn't played this game - should. It's great from top to bottom. From presentation to gameplay to voice acting to performance. It lands all the spots. 💯
Thank you for reading, you rock! (and maybe roll) 👏👏👏
🖼️ Image Sources: 01, 02, 03, 04 🖼️
Shout-out to the 🍕PIZZA🍕 gang, 🤙 gang. 🤙
Next up I'll probably do the sequel. I mean.. we're already here so why not, eh? 😁 Gotta say the second game is much more a of mixed bag, so we'll have more to talk about in that one. Thanks for reading! You're awesome! 😎
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I hope you are having an amazing week! 🙌