Return To Castle Wolfenstein... I Never Went Away!! (Return To Castle Wolfenstein (PC))

Member Name: Caveat-Emptor

Product:	Return To Castle Wolfenstein (PC)
Date:	24/08/09 (58 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: PC Game Nostalgia, Great Fun, Very Creepy In Places...

Disadvantages: Not The Most Up-To-Date Graphics, Too Pricey...

My review of 'Return To Castle Wolfenstein' (Game for the PC)
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Introduction - Basic Training!
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I'm not what you'd call an avid video game player; but ever since I bought my first 386 PC back 1943 (well it seems that long ago -lol!) I have been known to sneak off and play the odd PC game here and there...

One of the very first and very best games I ever played on my old 386 was 'Wolfenstein 3D' (circa 1992), considering the limitations of the processing power back then (remember when having 32MB of RAM was actually cool?... anybody?...please?) it was an astonishingly absorbing game.


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Girls (not) Allowed; Don't be so err...Nazi!
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Definitely one for the boys, it involves escape from a Nazi stronghold, and includes lots of puzzles as well as fighting and shooting... plus all the other silliness that's quite entertaining as long as you don't engage the moral part of your brain or take it too seriously -lol!

The thing that I loved about the old Wolfenstein 3D -was that it was in 'first person' i.e. you actually saw things from the characters point of view, as if you were looking through their eyes; this added a real creepyness to all the wondering about -that was absolutely chill-tastic for the want of a better word :-) Up to this point nearly every game seemed to be rendered in 2 dimensions, so you could see the character you were playing...


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We're 'Doomed' Captain Mainwaring!!
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The only two games I can remember being in 3D were 'Wolfenstein 3D' (fighting Nazis) and 'Doom' (fighting weird demonic monster thingies!!) - they were both very similar to play but Wolfenstein was always my favourite for some reason...

Years later (circa) 2005 I happened upon the Wolfenstein 3D sequel; 'Return To Castle Wolfenstein' (released in 2001 apparently) - and bless my soul if it didn't combine fighting both Nazi baddies and supernatural monster baddies -lol!! So I just had to buy copy (on CD-Rom for the PC) ...



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Hell Of A Plot; Probably Not!
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There is a thin, mildly engaging plot line running through Return To Castle Wolfenstein involving the Nazi Paranormal Division messing about with new (suspiciously Robocop like) technology and trying to unleash supernatural evil entities on the Allied forces during WW2... and there's the supremely powerful end of game supernatural baddy Heinrich who the Nazi's are 'hell' bent on resurrecting. You get to play the soldier (Blazkowicz -no I'm not sure I can pronounce it properly either!!) with the job of stopping the Nazi mayhem.

There really isn't anymore depth to the game than the above explanation; you simply wonder from room to room, scene to scene, level to level 'uncovering' the fiendish Nazi plot (your input is actually quite passive, you just follow a linear plot). There's not a lot of grey matter needed to progress through the game...

You'd think it was a bit boring; but it's actually loads of fun... because although the plot is linear, how you move about between the preset cut scenes between levels is not.


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Loud And Proud Or Quiet Riot?
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You can chose the 'nutter' approach and try to kill every enemy soldier, monster and 'baddie' with whatever weapons you can get your hands on (and there are many; from your bare hands, a knife, pistol, rifle, sniper rifle, explosives and so on as the game progresses). Or you can choose the stealthy mode - tip toe quietly up to you your enemies and 'kill' them silently, thus avoiding drawing too much attention to yourself (essential on some levels).

Although all video games are clumsy in their own way; if you're willing to 'play' along -there's a believability and sort of logic to this game; it really feels exciting creeping up to your opponents trying not to be detected.

... For instance, if you fire weapons you soon attract plenty of attention from Nazi soldiers (this lot are a little more street-wise than the deaf, short sighted, Nazis who guard all the vital bridges and buildings in Hollywood films -though I'm not convinced that their aim is always much better :-)

...Hence it's a nice touch that the biggest weapon (sorry is this turning into a Carry On film script?) isn't necessarily the best one... that is until we enter the Carry On Screaming sections of 'Return To Castle Wolfenstein'.


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On The Level(s)
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But I'm getting a little ahead of myself; here are the 7 missions...

Mission 1: Ominous Rumours
Mission 2: Dark Secret
Mission 3: Weapons of Vengeance
Mission 4: Deadly Designs
Mission 5: Deathshead's Playground
Mission 6: Return Engagement
Mission 7: Operation Resurrection

Each mission has sub-levels so it's quite a big game... I played it for a few hours here and there and it must have taken me a month (I know; I'll never make a computer gamer -lol!). Here are my favourite parts of the game -

'Escape'

This is the basic intro part of the game that's fairly easy and gives you time to learn the controls (you can use keyboard or joy-pad etc), and get used to the onscreen displays like your ammo reserve, stamina and health.

Yes I'm afraid this is one of those games where you can be shot but then find and use a medical pack - to miraculously restore health... I'm not keen on this feature as it detracts from the game a little, as it's such a daft concept. The NHS really should find out who makes these med packs though -as they seem to cure anything :-)

This level reminded me a of the original Wolfenstein 3D game -and involves escaping from your underground cell and getting out of the dungeons.


'Tram Ride'

I love this level too!! It's set on a tram ride (methinks they've been borrowing heavily from classic WW2 film here) -and you get to jump off at various towers on the way down, solve puzzles and err... shoot, stab and otherwise blow up baddies -lol! (But as I always feel the need to point out - it's just a game and a bit of fun; I abhor real violence ...with the possible exception of Scrappy Doo, who deserves it for ruining the Scooby Doo cartoon show for me when I was a kid -lol!).

I wasted many happy hours learning how to sneak round the back of the guards shack and lob a grenade through the window... Love the snow and ice graphics too (though I'm sure they're old hat by today's standards -but this level really looks and feels the part).


'Catacombs' and 'Crypt'

Sooner or later you end up in the really creepy part of the game -down in the catacombs with the zombies all over you like a nasty rash; you get to see them make mince meet of the Nazis first though -not that that helps much (sorry I've always wanted to use two 'that's in a sentence :-)

The catacomb section is REALLY creepy - it's like the best bit's of the old classic games Wolfenstein 3D' and 'Doom' rolled into one, with even more atmosphere...(atmosfear??).

The below ground levels are my favourite in all the game - and I confess I saved my position so I could play this bit often!


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Best Of The Rest
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The Escape, Tram Ride, Catacombs and Crypt are my favourite levels in 'Return To Castle Wolfenstein' but there are still many other highlights; like infiltrating the air base, which I found very difficult at times - until I'd been killed enough times to work out how to beat the sniper... Then just when you think you're doing well the paratroopers start dropping in to shoot at you.

The super soldiers (think; Robocop) are great fun when you first encounter them too! There are no shortage of visually interesting locations -from rocket bases, submarine docks and Norwegian Ice Station ('Zebra' -lol!). Towards the end of the game some of the levels get a little repetitive though, but the game-play keeps things quite exciting most of the time.


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Nostalgia Versus 'Cost'algia!!
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I am slightly biased - due to my nostalgia for the old 'Wolfenstein 3D' game of the early 90's... and perhaps I'm seeing 'Return To Castle Wolfenstein' the rose tinted glasses (or in keeping with the game; blood tinted sniper scopes!)...

But I really enjoyed the game, it's won't tax your brain, and it certainly doesn't take the moral high ground when it comes to blood, guts and cold blooded killing (or as they used to call it in old black and white American film noir movies; 'moyder' -lol!).

I really have only one gripe; the price. Considering this game has been out quite a while now, it's still often on sale for over £20. It's not that I don't think it's worth it -but since there are much more advanced game (and game engines; the software that underpins a game) £20 plus seems a little too high in my opinion.

So I'm not sure people who don't have fond memories of Wolfenstien 3D' from the early days of PC's ill be quite so keen to buy the latest version of the game, unless it's priced a little more competitively.

As for me; I'm just waiting for the next Wolfenstien game to be released (assuming there'll be one -lol!).


Thank you so much for taking the time to read my review!!

Best wishes,
Caveat-Emptor

Summary: Great Game (especially if you loved the original game too), But Probably A Little Overpriced...