Game: Wolfenstein: The Old Blood (2015)

Platform Played: PC

Price on Steam: $19.99

Developer: Machine Games

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks

Background: Earlier, I reviewed Wolfenstein: The New Order (2014). This was an excellent game and was quite challenging and entertaining. Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is almost the same, but at the end of the day it really is lesser in quality. It is too short, even for a DLC, and furthermore it is too similar in ways to Return To Castle Wolfenstein (2001). It tells a decent story, has good weapons, and the atmosphere is well hashed out despite it’s brevity. Another of my best friends played an extremely short game called Medal of Honor: Rising Sun (2003). We played the heck out of this title, and it was ridiculously short. I think both this game and Rising Sun have the exact same length.

Story: Helga Von Schabbs is essentially a new model of Dr. Schabbs from the original Wolfenstein 3D (1992).

Helga Von Schabbs is the head of the SS Paranormal Division and essentially she has the same zombie soldiers that the original Dr. Schabbs had except they are not friendly towards the Nazis. Supposedly, Schabbs has a folder which contains a map revealing the location of Deathshead’s compound. BJ Blaskowicz and his compatriot ‘Agent One’ who is similar to the Agent One in Return to Castle Wolfenstein team up to enter the castle. Frankly, this is where things start off great. However, if you played Return to Castle Wolfenstein, you quickly realize this is a remake of that game as ‘Agent One’ dies in Castle Wolfenstein and their are Nazi zombies involved. Had this game just had been a part of the main Wolfenstein: The New Order game, I would have liked the story more. Plus, the fight with King Otto’s monster is more or less a battle with King Heinrich in Return to Castle Wolfenstein.

Weapons: The assault rifle, handgun, and double barreled side by side standard length and sawed off shotguns carry over from Wolfenstein: The New Order. The Schockhammer, is an exceptional anti-zombie weapon although it’s ammunition is scarce. This weapon is an improved shotgun and is double-barreled and semi-automatic. The Bombenschuss, is an accurate, designated marksman’s rifle that is an excellent choice when dealing with foes further away. The Kampfpistole is overall my favorite in the game. It is a single-shot, break action grenade launching pistol. This is handy when dealing with super-soldiers and the final boss of the game. The grenades have an incendiary effect on the game’s final boss. The weapons add to this sci-fi story.

Atmosphere: This reincarnation of the game’s namesake: Castle Wolfenstein is definitely a quality one. The German village of Wulfburg has an real rural and homey feel more than Paderborn had in the original Return to Castle Wolfenstein. The game’s 1946 setting is well hashed out whether it be in the castle’s asylum or the cemetery later in the game.

Final Analysis: This DLC does a fine job of supplementing Wolfenstein: The New Order. Although it was brief, and the trope of Nazi zombies is getting old, it is hard to shake I suppose. Play this if you are looking for more Wolfenstein fun. Frankly, the base game: The New Order is of a higher quality.