Attention, Halo and Call of Duty fans. Drop your controllers, and pay your respects to the game that started it all (at least in the FPS genre)--Wolfenstein 3D. Do you enjoy riddling bad guys with bullets? Mopping up Nazis? Splattering fellow Spartans with a Ghost on Halo 3? Okay, so vehicles aren't in Wolfenstein, but you may have never had the opportunity to kill Nazis from a first-person perspective if it wasn't for ID Software's innovative Wolfenstein 3D.
This early FPS was initially released in 1992 for MS-DOS. I didn't own it until now, but I was fortunate enough to play it due to someone installing it on one of the few PCs in my elementary school's computer lab. Wolfenstein is quite dated now, but the concept is classic, and has spawned a series of many games.
Wolfenstein 3D has you exploring Hitler's lair as a soldier named B.J. Blazkowicz. You play in a first-person perspective, so only your character's gun is showing. Unlike the First-Person-Shooters of today, you don't have access to a dozen weapons, large vehicles, and recharging shields. Instead, you're equipped with a paltry three guns that your grandma probably carries around. These include: a pistol, an automatic, and a chain gun. Sorry folks, there are no rocket launchers, energy swords, or weapons that can launch nuclear warheads here. Luckily, your three rudimentary weapons and your trusty knife will get the job done.
Despite having access to automatic weapons, you don't want to go in guns-a-blazing. You aren't Master Chief, so your energy can't magically recharge. Instead, you have to rely on two video game staples--meat and med packs that are strewn about. You'll also have to constantly loot enemy corpses for ammo, but that's standard First-Person-Shooter faire.
Okay, so Wolfenstein's standard issue weaponry obviously won't impress anyone, but how does the gameplay hold up? Well, it's fairly archaic. Wolfenstein 3D consists of six episodes--each containing approximately ten levels that nearly look identical. Each level's layout isn't an exact replica of the one that came before, but they could use a serious touch-up by someone who has a degree in Interior Design. I have to cut this game some slack, since this was 1992, but the levels are so bland that you often can't tell where you are. Each level contains identical-looking doors and drab, blue walls (one has to wonder if the Happy Happy Cult from Earthbound was responsible for the paint job...), so it's easy to get lost. Unfortunately, there's no radar or map, so having a good memory is required to keep track of the layout in each of Wolfenstein's bland labyrinths. If you hate the color blue, you might want to stay away from this game, because you'll be seeing that hue an awful lot.
In each level, you'll have to mow down hordes of enemies and find one or two keys before reaching an exit. The levels are huge, and sometimes don't have patterns or memorable landmarks, so you'll often be forced to wander aimlessly in the hopes of finding a key. It's important to keep track of where you've gone to the best of your ability, because you'll often have to backtrack in order to unlock previously inaccessible areas. You'll sometimes have to access hidden passages as well. Sometimes, these secrets are hidden behind swastikas and portraits of Hitler, but other times, they lurk behind random walls. I highly recommend looking at a FAQ to avoid long periods of frustration. Thankfully, I was able to make it through most levels without much trouble, partly due to luck, and because I was sometimes able to recognize patterns.
Mazes and memorization are obviously an integral part of Wolfenstein's gameplay, but is slaying Nazis fun? Hell yes. Even though the gameplay is fairly basic, it's still fun creating a Nazi bloodbath. The enemies are dumb as rocks--these 2D cardboard cutouts will wander around aimlessly--occasionally nailing you with a deadly headshot, but usually, you can take them out with ease if you aim from a distance. The types of enemies are fairly limited--you'll only find three ranks of Nazis, their dogs, and bosses, but taking Nazis out never seems to get tiresome. Occasionally, it can be frustrating when a pesky enemy shoots you from an unknown location and takes you out in one or two shots, but auto-save is there for a reason.
The bosses are a bit more fun to fight than the soldiers and dogs. They're not too difficult as long as you have the chain gun, plenty of ammo, and hide behind walls, but they sure look cool. Fighting the head honcho himself--Hitler, is Wolfenstein's most memorable encounter. Battling Mecha Hitler, then watching him die in slow-mo is a great moment that should have been a part of history. You will also fight army generals, scientists, and even a giantess (who's the only female in the game). Most of these bosses can be taken out with ease (at least on the lower difficulty levels), but they're a satisfying conclusion to each of Wolfenstein's episodes.
Besides the memorable bosses, part of the fun from Wolfenstein comes from the game's oodles of secrets. Each level contains numerous hidden passages and treasures that'll give you points (yes, points as you'd find in a game like Pac-Man). It's fun trying to get as high a score as possible while meeting each level's par time. Some of the par times are nearly impossible to get on your first play-through with Wolfenstein's often convoluted level-design, but it's fun to try, nonetheless.
Wolfenstein 3D was certainly a groundbreaking game upon its initial release, but it now feels fairly dated. Most gamers will likely have had enough of the game after the first few levels. Some levels are too convoluted to enjoy, and there aren't enough weapons and enemies to satisfy your average hippie. The controls are also fairly basic in that you can't aim vertically, jump, or turn quickly. Thankfully, Wolfenstein 3D is only $5, so that's not asking too much from players who enjoyed the game back in the day, but gamers who missed this classic probably won't want to look back; it just hasn't aged as gracefully as retro games from most other genres. If you're feeling nostalgic, hit the download button; otherwise, you'd be better off gaining ranks in Call of Duty or tea-bagging opponents in Halo 3.
Pros:
- A perfect port of the original FPS
- You get to duke it out with Hitler
- The chain gun is fun to use
- There are plenty of missions
Cons:
- Boring gameplay by today's standards
- You can't aim vertically
- There's no multiplayer
- No gameplay or visual enhancements have been made over the original
- Not enough enemy and weapon variety
- Wandering through mazes is frustrating
- The soundtrack is subpar
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