Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus (Review)

So I know I'm a bit late with this one, but I have to talk a little bit about what I feel like is really high up on my list of favorite games of 2017. Once I heard about this sequel happening and seeing that trailer at E3, I got really hyped up, so much so, that I played through the previous game and it's expansion to iron out some more achievements and secrets I might have missed through my past adventures in the franchise. So I won't spoil too much when it comes to the story, seeing as that is the number one reason to play this game, but I will tell you this now. If you play through this game on anything more than "Normal", and you aren't ready for fast paced combat, you are going to die, a lot. This game is hard, but it's hard, for a reason other than to frustrate the pure shit out of you. So it's story based, but it doesn't make it any less frustrating I'm sure. Combat like I said, is fast paced. Stealth is in this game, but for some reason I felt it took a bit of a step backwards in this sequel. Where in the first, sometimes it felt like you could exploit a bit too much, now everyone is a fucking psychic medium, even if you're being super silent as even bodies hitting the ground might provoke other nearby enemies to come check it out and stumble onto you. Now, the guards finding bodies won't send them into panic mode, per say, but if you're trying to pull your throwing axe from the skull of a fucking Nazi, let me tell you, you better be quick, because if someone even so much as sees you for a second, you're going to be swarmed by the whole damn Nazi regime. Commanders spawn in more and more guys UNTIL you kill the them. Something that is both a upgrade, and a downgrade in the game. While it is nice to know you do have consequences for getting spotted if that isn't your goal, at the same time, having everyone hyper alert makes it that much more frustrating, and hard. But with the throwing axes, solid weapons (Most of the ones from the first make a comeback besides one small exception, the shotgun now has a tri barrel, and it is fucking sweeeeet), and the ability to duel wield any combination of weapons, and you have a fun ride as you blast through the smaller Nazi's, and make your way to the big boys. Speaking of the big boys, in the first, where the big boys would pack a punch with a Gatling gun, but would be slow as shit, the ones here don't play around. They pack a punch and will take your armor down fast, all while closing the distance quick as the charge you, and will run your ass over. There are tons of different enemies from robots, juggernauts, commanders, your run of the mill Nazi's, tons of different variants with different weapon combinations. It'll take you to think on the run as you blast your way through mounds of enemies. But with the weapons, upgrades, and eventually, abilities, you'll find yourself having a blast while doing just that. Speaking of weapon upgrades, they have those here. Where there were upgrades in the first game, the second expands a bit and gives you three different nodes to fill and upgrade kits scarce to find so that you pick and choose nodes that have the guns play more to your style. From Silencers to of course silently take out enemies, to armor piercing bullets to take down the brutes in this game. The perk system has changed a bit, and now has even more levels and depth, once again to adapt to your preferred style of play. I don't mean just silent or loud, but shotgunner, using duel silenced pistols, maybe using a big fucking laser? Whatever you want. There are nearly a couple dozen perks in the perk menu that you can just lose yourself in, and I feel that the overhaul is much more appreciated. Instead of trying to nail that trick shot in most of them from the first game, you simply have just get more kills doing what it is you're doing. You want increased ammo? More firepower for a particular weapon? Use that weapon, score headshots and kills and you'll get more perks unlocked because of it. Same with silent kills, duel wielding kills, or even grenade kills. Now if I was to touch on the two small negatives I have with this game, it's that there is a lack of boss fights like the first and it's expansion, and a lack of "new" weapons. Now there isn't much to say about the boss fights...except why? But the lack of new weapons was a bigger disappointment. Now don't get me wrong, there are a ton of new and intriguing heavy weapons, but as your "normal" arsenal goes, it's business as usual. I get that the game, and story, takes place literally months after the end of the first, I still would have loved to get my hands on more "futuristic" weaponry. There is always next game I suppose. But finally, let's talk about the story. This story, to me, is fantastic. One of the best FPS stories out there to date, and also one of the strangest. It's about the half way point when it gets a tad bit strange. But...it's a good thing, not a bad. This story touches on so much, from abuse, betrayal, a chilling look if the Nazi's did win and hung out with the likes of the KKK, seeing the similarities is scary. Topics like how it's not about what you look like, or what you're made of, but who you are inside your heart and head. Seeing the similarities between B.J. and your standard Nazi, but the two being so far from each other in terms of what they think and feel is heard loud and clear. We get introduced to even more wacky characters that get even more time to shine and of course many returning characters that pick up right from where they left off. The love between Anya and B.J. is very believable, and you get to see more of the latter's past and family in what I feel are well done cut scenes into the past. You even learn about Billy Boy's heritage, and you find out that he is Jewish. Which of course makes killing Nazi's that much more satisfying. The game excels here more than ever, and at one point, even makes you question if everything going on is even real, or just a dream. Another moment, questioning if you've already died. The story was so good, I didn't want to put down the controller. To add more to the package, there are special hunts for Ultra Commanders that you can unlock with the picking up of the Enigma Codes off the normal commanders that gives you a bit of an endgame that has you blasting your way through a lot Nazi's and KKK even through areas you'll explore through out the story. There is also suppose to be DLC exploring 3 new characters we haven't seen yet that I'm excited for, and I feel was marketed so well, because I didn't hear a thing about it, until the game was in my hands. No pre-order DLC months before the game bullshit, it's refreshing! The game, even on Normal, will take you around 10 hours, no joke. There is a ton here, plus multiple storylines just like the first. I played on the Hard setting and it took me nearly 14 hours, and I still need to play through it again! Also, one last little great thing, multiple saves! My God, that small, insignificant change, made me so happy, because it makes playing through several times, less of a chore when you have to save over a file you busted your ass on. So I'm going to wrap this review up, one for time, the second because I just want to get back out there. But if you take anything from this review, it's to buy this game. If you love FPS, great story telling, or just blasting Nazi's, get this game. Verdict: 9/10 Also a must have on your shelf.

Final thoughts: I gave the same score to this game, as I did for the last, for the negative things I talked about. The lack of bosses was a bit sad, and the lack of even more growth in the armory was disappointing too. Two things I hope get addressed in the sequel (I better get Mecha Hitler dammit!), which took a game that I felt actually could have had a 10/10 from me, down the 9/10, even though it did improve in a lot of ways too. So that's it for me guys, and I'll talk to you real soon.