Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC) Review

I finished this game on Saturday, September 13, 2003, 1:54:00 PM. This review was first published on GameSpot on January 27, 2008.

Much has changed in gaming since the early 90's, and old school gamers would have been delighted to know that a sequel to one of the most famous games during its time, Wolfenstein 3D, is going to be released in the new millennium. Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a successor to Wolfenstein 3D that was released over a decade ago; Wolfenstein has come of age and is keeping up with the times.

The game is set in 1943 Germany, the player returns as U.S. Army Ranger B.J. Blazkowicz, who is captured and is being held in the dungeons of Castle Wolfenstein. Upon escaping the castle, a plot is unveiled involving Nazi experiments into cybernetics and the occult to gain supremacy over the Allied forces.

The game uses Quake 3 engine to render the beautiful graphics seen throughout. Nvidia users will be treated with improved textures that will make a lot of difference. The snowing mountain ranges of Germany are wonderfully recreated. The cobblestone paved roadways and bridges, and castle interiors are a work of art.

The catacombs are very reminiscent of levels in Quake 3, they have an eerie atmosphere and while the game is not meant to be scary, they do manage to make you feel a little uneasy.

The combat is very engaging and the cable car part in the game seems to have been taken right out of Where Eagles Dare. Very well done.

The AI in the game is very competent, and you will be dealing with a lot of different types of enemies, living and the undead. They do not rush at you squeezing rounds or waving their arms about; instead they take cover, throw grenades, making your progress harder. The perception of the AI has also been considered. They can hear footsteps or any noise that the player might make. So if you fire a shot in room, expect the soldiers in the other room to hear it and attack you. While the AI is not the greatest, it will still provide a challenge.

The weapons models belong to the World War II era, you get to use the Luger, Thompson, Sten gun, the German Panzerfäuste, chain gun and something called a Tesla cannon. This is a heavy weapon that sends rays of electric current in all directions. It's not the most effective weapon but it's quite fun to use at times.

Speaking of fun to use weapons, the flamethrower has got to be one of the best weapons I ever used. The flame effects are still regarded one of the finest in gaming. I remember people being mesmerized when they first got to see the screenshots of the flamethrower, and personally, I couldn't wait to get my hands on it in the game.

The sounds of the weapons are very realistic, and the music adds a lot to the experience. The soundtrack in this game isn't talked about a lot, surprisingly. I thought it was really good.

Return to Castle Wolfenstein is an excellent game that will offer a little over 10 hours of very engrossing gameplay. I am thoroughly satisfied with this game. It does not break any boundaries, but provides a solid experience.