It’s crazy to think that Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is 10 years old in 2025, but it’s the truth. Steeped in the ambiance of the original, it’s special. Although it’s got beautiful PS4 visuals, it’s so rooted in what made the first games so unique that it’s a retro gamers dream.
Simply put, If you’re not awestruck the first time you see Castle Wolfenstein or nervous when your cover is almost blown the second you get inside, once the shooting starts, you’ll feel it. Shooting games aren’t supposed to be this addictive.
Enraptured in old-school noir and frenetic shooting, you’ll realize rather quickly that there’s plenty of backstory to uncover here, more than enough drama and blood to go around.
The Good:
A Great Introduction to the Series: A prequel to last year’s “The New Order,” you don’t have to have any familiarity to the series to jump right in. With a charismatic main character, BJ Blazkowicz, plenty of weapons and a decent playtime through (about 7-8 hours) it’s something you can just jump right into.
Awesome Noir Story: Hearing your character’s inner monologue, as well as his interactions with other characters adds an extra level to the Nazi and paranormal elements the game plays with. A fight for the safety of your country, with plenty of ambiance, little touches of German culture and a bevy of blood and suspense makes this something every FPS fan needs to experience.
Difficult: Even on the easiest difficulty, you’re going to die, a lot. However, the enemies attack in old-school waves at times, making your deaths, if you pay attention to your surroundings, ones that you can learn from.
Eery Tunes: Mick Gordon’s tunes are super atmospheric and borderline creepy. The rest of the sounds, from sirens, shot blasts and blood-curdling screams, set a scene for a wonderful experience.
Awesome Shooting Action: The feeling you’ll get from killing off dozens of guys, or throwing a well-placed grenade or even sneaking up on a dog and stabbing it in the neck are extremely gratifying. So much so that even if you’re not a fan of shooting games, you’ll find something to like here.
The Bad:
Some Puzzles Are Confusing: There will be times when you won’t see something right in front of you, thanks to the massive environment, or having to retrace your steps. While it’s all a part of any FPS, it can get frustrating at times.
Slide Mechanic Needs Work: Especially in the scene with the massive robotic dog where you have to execute it quickly, the gameplay elements proves it lacks precision.
Final Thoughts:
If you’re not a fan of the “Wolfenstein” series or haven’t played the slew of games that have graced home consoles since the days of the Super Nintendo, “Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,” thanks to an awesome noir story, plenty of blood, a great soundtrack and uber difficulty, is an addictive experience that sets an awesome standard on the PlayStation 4.
The post 10 Years Later: Wolfenstein: Old Blood: The Good And the Bad appeared first on Old School Gamer Magazine.
