A direct sequel to 2001′s smash PC hit Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Co-developers Raven Software, id Software, Pi Studios and Endrant Studios hoped to find pay-dirt in the FPS realm once again. But could they deliver?

Storywise, you take control of B.J. Blazkowicz after he finds a mysterious medallion, known as the Thule Medallion, that uses power known as Black Sun energy that the Nazi’s are trying to harness. You are sent to Isenstadt, Germany and are tasked with aiding the resistance groups, the Kreisau Circle and the Golden Dawn, to stop the Third Reich in their master plan.

Pros:

• Thule Medallion-The focal point of the entire game. With this, B.J. can use what is known as Veil Sight which shows enemy weak spots and reveals the other dimension that can only be accessed using the medallion. Three other powers include; the ability to slow down time Max Payne style, a protective shield and the other lets B.J. deal more damage. Normal fare for shooter fans.
• Gore-One of my favorite things to do was take aim with my Kar98k on a Nazi head, fire and watch it fly off as he writhes in pain. Weird? Yes, but it was ever so satisfying. You can also take appendages off with grenades and char bodies to a crisp with the flamethrower. An excellent way to let off some aggression.
• Collectibles-For those who like to run around in search of hidden stuff to pick up, this game is right up your alley. With pieces of gold, enemy intel and supernatural tomes scattered throughout, finding everything is a game in and of itself. It will definitely add to the length.
• Huge Environment-The city of Isenstadt is broken up into three sub-sections, Midtown West, Midtown East and Downtown. Each with various nooks and crannies, sewer systems and rooftops to explore.

Cons:

• Limited Weapons-Kar98k, MP40, MP43, Panzerchreck, Flammenwerfer, Particle Cannon, Tesla Gun, and what is called a Lechenfaust 44. Thats rounds out your arsenal. Yes, there is variety, but with not enough ammo to go around you’ll mainly stick to the less exotic machine guns.
• Graphics-While not necessarily bad, they do seem almost drab and boring. It may just be the setting but nothing stands out as visually amazing. It also suffers from some framerate issues, especially with multiple enemies and allies on screen at once.
• Frustrating A.I.-With enemies that go invisible, run at high speeds, and some that are immune to regular bullet damage, the game can get pretty annoying. Especially when your Thule medallion that you need to use to defeat them runs out of juice. Your allies are pretty brain dead too and usually wind up as nothing more than cannon fodder.
• Multiplayer-It lacks the replayability you would want from a multiplayer game. It doesn’t push the envelope or bring anything new to the table. It was/is quite buggy and is sometimes rendered unplayable.

Although a worthwhile effort, Wolfenstein fails to raise the bar in the shooter franchise it helped develop. A so-so single player that doesn’t surprise or challenge to an unexciting multiplayer that is a down-right chore to play. You’d be better off waiting for the big name shooters releasing later this year and early next year. At most I’d recommend this as a rental, or perhaps wait for a substantial price drop.

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