Before "The New Order," I thought the "Wolfenstein" series was dead. When Bethesda and Machine Games announced that they were developing a successor to the 2009 reboot called "Wolfenstein," I was skeptical. When they revealed that the game would have an emphasis on story and characterization, my skepticism turned to ridicule. I just didn't think that the series could lend itself to such an approach. "Wolfenstein The New Order" made me glad to eat my words.
Machine Games did to B.J. Blazkowitcz what Gearbox and 3D Realms failed to do with Duke Nukem; make him relevant again.
With it and Id software's re-imagining of "Doom," Bethesda games has done a good job at introducing these groundbreaking shooter franchises to a whole new generation. And now, this generation's B.J. is coming back; more vulnerable, but no less dangerous.
'Nazis. I hate these guys.'
Picking up from "The New Order," the demo to "The New Colossus" puts players in the control of a wounded and wheelchair bound B.J.. Just like the beginning of the last game, time and physical injuries have taken their toll on this hero as he once again finds himself comatose in a world where the Nazis rule supreme. But this soldier never did have the tendency to go gently into the good night, as he comes to and fights his way through a Nazi compound.
It's a great mix of story and gameplay as B.J's health is capped at 40 percent and he can't move as quickly. However, being disabled doesn't make Blazkowitcz any less deadly. He's still got firepower and the craving for some Nazi killing. There's only one kind of firearms in this demo, but that's fine. It's a daring move on the part of Machine Games to deprive their ultimate killing machine workable legs.
But it doesn't make the shooting any less fun. And for all the bigotry and hatred fueling the Nazi ideology, it's a good thing that they don't discriminate against the handicapped, as the base is filled with ramps and elevators that help B.J. move around and shed more of his fellow man.
She's having a baby
The demo also reunites players with some familiar faces.
Set, the mechanical genius that the rebellion freed in the last game, helps B.J. with traps that he can set off. Also returning is B.J's lover, Anya, who reveals to him that she's carrying twins. Now more than ever, there's something more personal to fight for.
The world without Nazis was motive enough, but the world without Nazis where Balzkowtcz and Anya can raise a family raises the stakes in a very clever way. Can this dream be achieved? I can't wait to find out.
