Wolfenstein

[Flawless]

Finally!


GameInformer

That’s right, it’s back. The game that started the shooter revolution—Wolfenstein. We went down to Raven Software and got 10 pages of exclusive info on the new game from them and id Software. Found out what those crazy Nazis are up to this time.

A little info:

• Set in World War II among Nazis experimenting with occult powers once again.
• B.J. Blazkowicz making comeback, this time also having supernatural powers of his own.
• Set in one large city, which will open itself up as you progress through given missions and quests.
• Randomly generated content blocking your path at times.
• AI controlled local resistance, assisting you in fight at times.
• An alternative reality called "The Shroud", some sort of a parallel dimension fueling Nazi powers.
• Wolfenstein is set to hit PC, 360 and PS3 "when it's done".

I don't think there's anything about multiplayer in the magazine, but we're supposed to get some more on Tuesday. Multiplayer in RTCW was so awesome.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Wolfenstein

I can't wait for this one.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Wolfenstein

My fears though, they may have ruined this one. I'm not a fan of my own guy having "super powers".

Oh well, see how it turns out.

[Sandman42]

Re: Wolfenstein

I can't wait.

I had so much fun with the multiplayer in RTCW. I've been waiting for this news ever since the 360 dropped.

[ExtremeGamer]

Re: Wolfenstein

I can't wait.

I had so much fun with the multiplayer in RTCW. I've been waiting for this news ever since the 360 dropped.

Nothing beat calling in air strikes in that game. I spent months playing this game online.

[CaptainZombie]

Re: Wolfenstein

My fears though, they may have ruined this one. I'm not a fan of my own guy having "super powers".

Oh well, see how it turns out.

As long as the powers aren't overdone, I can live with it. But I know where you are coming from, it tends to ruin FPS games when they do that.

[Flawless]

Re: Wolfenstein

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[youvalss]

Re: Wolfenstein

Science fiction + WWII = stupid imo.

[Flawless]

Re: Wolfenstein

IGN: Wolfenstein First Look
BJ Blazkowicz returns to blast Nazis and the supernatural.

The theme of the game according to project lead Eric Biessman of Raven is basically choice. This is a departure from the rigidly narrow and linear corridor shooters that Wolfenstein is known for. The tactical situations in this new Wolfenstein will feature multiple approaches to them. For instance, if you're facing an entrenched German position during a street battle you can charge it headlong, or find a nearby staircase that takes you to the rooftops so you can shoot down, or you might find a sewer grate and try going beneath it. Another situation will require you to take out two machine gun nests. You can go up the middle, or try to work your way along either flank.

Choice will also extend in a number of other key ways, as well. You'll have a choice in pursuing side missions that characters offer you, and these could lead to discovering more gold and treasure. This newfound wealth can then be used to purchase upgrades both conventional and paranormal, customizing your play style. Then there's the most dramatic and supernatural ability at your command; the ability to enter "The Veil", which is sort of an intermediary dimension between our reality and that of Black Sun.

By using a special ability, BJ can enter a greenish realm where opponents have a sort of aura to them, which lets you spot them easier. Moreover, BJ can use special abilities in the realm, such as Mire, which causes others to move slower than him. Other special abilities weren't really identified at this point. However, you'll also discover strange creatures inhabiting the realm, such as Geists, which are strange worker drones that move around the world to collect energy, only to return with it somewhere. Take out a Geist that's fully charged and it'll explode, sending lightning shooting outwards. Keep in mind, the Nazis have discovered The Veil first, so they've already made use of it. One sign of this are markers in the real world that indicate something special in The Veil. For instance, a solid brick wall blocking your way in reality might have a gaping hole in it in The Veil.

The game features conventional German forces, as well as friendly forces that assist you, which is a first of sorts for Wolfenstein. You won't control these forces directly, but they can fight alongside you. In our demonstration, BJ found a safe house manned by one of these factions where he received a mission from a character. In a first for the franchise, BJ will also have a voice and a personality, so he's no longer a strange cipher of a character.

Then there are the supernatural and unconventional foes, such as a Nazi heavy trooper armed with a particle cannon that works like a disintegration beam. Hit a German trooper with it and he vaporizes. The heavy trooper is protected by a shield that will deflect conventional arms in the real world, but shift to The Veil and you can target his weak spots.

Since Raven began work on the game several years ago, it based it on a modified version of the Quake IV engine. There are enhancements to add depth of field effects and other graphical features, to be sure. However, if you were expecting id Tech 5, id's latest engine, you'll have to wait for future games.

So where is Wolfenstein in terms of development? In classic id and Raven faction, it'll be done "when it's done," and the build that we saw was described as still pre-alpha, which means it's not feature complete. In addition, Raven barely talked about multiplayer, and that's an important part of any Wolfenstein game, so who knows what state that it is in now? So it sounds like there's still a fair bit of work left to do. Based on looks, I'd guess that this is a 2009 game, and it'll ship simultaneously on the PC, PlayStation 3, and Xbox 360.

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[p2xgamers]

Re: Wolfenstein

Nothing beat calling in air strikes in that game. I spent months playing this game online.

Yeah I mean I'm interested in the single player, but if multiplayer is as good as RTCW...day one must buy for me.

[IlliniM1ke]

Re: Wolfenstein

Yeah I mean I'm interested in the single player, but if multiplayer is as good as RTCW...day one must buy for me.

Cosign, I wasn't a fan of RTCW's single player (only tried it like twice though) but the online was amazing, the class system was also the best class based game I've ever played, having to balance things to make sure you had enough medics but also enough lieutenants to get the medics their ammo. Also being able to change your nickname in game could just make it something dumb, a clan tag, or whatever. The clan system in RTCW was by far the best I ever saw on XBL though, once they started incorporating the clan stuff into games like Rainbow Six and stuff it just ruined it, the randomness of match making for clan matches was no fun, I remember back to RTCW you could get online and go server to server looking for matches setting them up on your own was more fun to me atleast.

I hope they don't change much if anything about the online, just make the graphics better and its a must buy for me, I personally hope they leave the superpower element for offline only like they did in RTCW. But I used to spend countless hours playing RTCW online (of course this was back in the summer of my sophomore year in high school before I had a job and all the responsibilities I do now lol) but I'd get on and play for 12 hours a day some days, loved RTCW and been anticipating a new Wolfenstein for quite some time, glad to see the time has come!

[Flawless]

Re: Wolfenstein

New Trailer:

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Concept art that shows some of the multiplayer classes.

[Sandman42]

Re: Wolfenstein

Interview from Gametrailers:

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Sounds like the multiplayer will be similar to RTCW. If that's true it's a day one purchase for me!

[MachoMyers]

Re: Wolfenstein

I am more interested in Rage but the multi sounds good. Definite purchase for me.

[Flawless]

Re: Wolfenstein

IGN Hands-On

Things went completely foreign the moment I switched to the Veil. You can enter the Veil at any time and with no cost to your amulet's energy. Though the Veil is similar to our reality, there are some key differences. For one, the Veil has a pretty poor color palette (green is always in) and not every structure is identical. Blazkowicz's "real world" might have a wall, where in the Veil none exists. You'll find neon green markings in the Veil that work as ladders or other pathways. You move slightly faster in the Veil as well, and weak points for tougher enemies show as bright red beacons. One other advantage to the Veil is that when holding down the grenade button you can see its trajectory. It's quite helpful for tossing 'nades through the windows of Nazi strongholds.

I had access to one power during the demo. Mire allows you to slow time when in the Veil. Fortunately, you're unaffected by this, so you can use this slow-mo to rapidly kill enemies. It also allows for dodging incoming fire or crossing collapsing bridges, something that proves important for some of the traps laying about. But the real reason to slow time when playing through the Church level is to deal with the Scribes. These mystical Nazis are real sons-o'-bitches. They can move quickly, zipping back and forth to dodge your bullets, and throw balls of energy Blazkowicz's way. In the Veil (and with Mire) they aren't as tough. Mire saps your amulet's energy, but don't worry, there are plenty of Veil pools around that offer a quick recharge.

Wolfenstein fans will be happy to know that despite going a little off the proven path by giving Blazkowicz super-human powers, this still feels very much like the classic franchise. It's not just about the fast-paced shooting; there are plenty of hidden goodies as well. There are tomes to collect, as well as gold bars and military intel. Some of these can be found by anyone with a keen eye, but others will require the use of Blazkowicz's Veil powers to discover.

These items aren't just for show. You can trade them with a group called the Black Market. These folks offer upgrades to your Veil powers, which will be important since there don't seem to be many powers to speak of. The focus is on having a large range of upgrades for the handful of powers available to Blazkowicz. You can also upgrade your weapons in numerous ways. Of course you can make them do more damage and hold more ammo in a clip, but there are some other useful additions. Throw a scope onto your shotgun or add a silencer to your favorite rifle. Though I didn't get to fool around in the Black Market during my demo, Raven promises that the weapon upgrades are plentiful and that every weapon in the game can be customized.

Wolfenstein is coming to PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 "when it's done." Before I had my play session with Wolfenstein, I really didn't care when that time came. Like many, I found the idea of adding spellcasting to a series beloved for its gun firing a little unappealing. But after playing Wolfenstein, my interest is piqued. I don't know how the powers will play out over the full course of the game or if Raven can provide any "oops, I crapped my pants" enemies, but I want to find out.

Eurogamer Hands-On

The full range of weapons and upgrades is yet to be revealed, as are the other Veil powers you'll be able to experiment with. It'll be particularly interesting to see how these affect the multiplayer experience, but Sokal will only go so far as confirming they will play a part.

"I can't expand on that," he says. "But I can say this: if you're a fan of what made Return to Castle Wolfenstein a great experience, we've taken a lot of those elements and put them in this game. We don't want to disappoint fans. We know what they're looking for, so we've got all that in there, plus we're throwing in the Veil."

This is a series with serious history and a strong fanbase behind it, so multiplayer is not the only area where Raven and id are keen to meet players' expectations. But what do they see as the essence of Wolfenstein, the most important elements that need to feature?

"It's about fast-paced combat, finding unexpected stuff around every corner, and making sure it's anything but just another World War II shooter," says Sokal. "We want it to feel sci-fi and supernatural. Not to be clichéd, but... Expect the unexpected," he adds, not doing a very good job of not being clichéd.