Wolfenstein has always been the pinnacle of Nazi-slaying interactive games. The melancholic, arthouse-like story, the action-packed first-person shooter (FPS) mechanics and other aspects came together to provide us some of the most memorable gaming moments this decade. Now, two strong female protagonists are introduced in Wolfenstein: Youngblood to push the series forward.
Every Let’s-Player out there is currently streaming their own game-plays, just proving how truly binge-game-worthy the franchise is... wouldn’t you want to know what the world would be like in the aftermath of a hypothetical Axis victory? The first franchise release was in 1981 with Castle Wolfenstein.
- Developer : MachineGames, Arkane Studios
- Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
- Price: ₹2499 for Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, Nintendo Switch
What’s it about?
Set 20 years after 2017’s The New Colossus (the eighth main entry in the series), the hero of the Wolfenstein games, William BJ Blazkowicz, who’s living a peaceful life raising his twin teenage daughters, has suddenly disappeared without a trace. The daughters, Jessica and Sophia, against their mother’s wishes, wield armours and weapons, battle against Nazis and search for their legendary father. What ensues is a violent coming-of-age story.
The last two Wolfenstein games set up an incredible alternate universe, where Nazis win the Second World War and have progressed through the decades that follow, creating war machines, power suits and exploring space. This alternative history that plays out is the most compelling thing about the game. While the story is not as good as the first two games, it does have a few touching moments. Like the opening scene, wherein the sisters get their first Nazi kill that leads to bouts of retching and high-fives.
How does it play?
If you have a friend along, Youngblood can be immensely entertaining (and mildly annoying in spurts). Playing as either of the sisters, you can leap high and come crashing down on unsuspecting Nazis or turn invisible and take them down. Tag-teaming against some of the monstrous mechanical enemies with unpronounceable names is exhilarating. Yet, there are annoying gates and boxes that you have to open with your partner. While playing with a friend is certainly fun, you can also set the other sister to AI, and play a solo game which is a bit less tedious. But good luck trying to find the solo game option in the convoluted menu.
The game is just a series of levels that requires you to travel across occupied Paris with catacombs serving as hub areas. Levels usually have a main quest to accomplish, but along the way, you get several instructions to carry out various errands. But earning money and XP to upgrade weapons and trying them out is fun, combining a first-person shooter with role-playing mechanics to keep things interesting.
Should you get it?
Wolfenstein: Youngblood may not have the narrative essence of the first two games, and it may be riddled with micro-transactions and menus, but what it does have is snappy first-person action, with weapons that pack an incredible punch and two daring teen heroes who are not afraid to kick Nazi butt.
If you’ve finished the game-play and are feeling a little withdrawal, fear not: Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot will keep the war-monger in you satisfied.
The writer is a tech and gaming enthusiast who hopes to one day finish his sci-fi novel