With The New Colossus, it’s clear that MachineGames stuck to the oldest of sequel tropes: More is better. If you have a winning idea, then doubling down on its best elements is usually a major step in the right direction. As a result, the latest Wolfenstein game strikes a similar tone to The New Order but manages to rise above it.
The story is set several months after the ever anti-heroic Blazkowicz bumped off several major Nazi leaders. Yet, the world is still governed by the Third Reich, and it will take more than one person to lay them low. As such, he begins working to unite the scattered resistance cells, and anyone mad enough to take on Mecha Hitler. The story is infinitely crazier this time around while still possessing that Tarantino style of storytelling. Used as a method of both raising the stakes and justifying a few very unique sequences, it manages to be insane enough to let you accept almost anything while providing several extremely tense sequences.
The gameplay itself retains the classic relentless shooter stylings which made its predecessor popular. There’s no regenerating health and you can carry enough guns to outfit a small army, most of which fit into the standard tropes with a few notable twists. The minigun, in particular, proves to be extremely cathartic, hitting just as hard as an attack rifle with every bullet. The sheer variety of new enemies and even mass-produced versions of old elite mooks helps to offset this firepower without compromising the feeling of satisfaction in wielding so much power.
The only real sins in The New Colossus stem from how certain levels are dragged out. While they offer free-roaming experiences, secrets and are wonderfully designed, they lack the variety found in those of the previous game. As such, while a few key locations like Area 52 or the bullet train fight stand out well, you’d be forgiven for taking breaks with others. Equally, while it further emphasised themes of racism and abuse, it seemed that the script didn’t know quite what to do with them. As such, they serve as an additional element to certain scenes but lack some real impact on the story.
With a more coherent tone, a broader variety of enemies and all the excellent Easter Eggs you could hope for (No German Beetles this time, but there is something better hidden away) this is the best first-person shooter we have seen in months. Whether you’re looking for a grindhouse game with a little depth or simply an excuse to shoot Nazis, definitely grab this one at the earliest opportunity.
WOLFENSTEIN: THE NEW COLOSSUS / DEVELOPER: MACHINEGAMES / PUBLISHER: BETHESDA / PLATFORMS: XBOX ONE, PC, PS4, NINTENDO SWITCH / RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
