Wolfenstein Two Pack Bundle Review

Wolfenstein Two Pack Bundle contains two great games

The Wolfenstein Two-Pack Bundle is a compilation of the last two Wolfenstein games—The New Order and The Old Blood. With Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus just around the corner, if you haven’t had a chance to check out these games, now is your chance.

Both games are full fledged single-player adventures that take you to an alternate history where the Nazi’s won World War II. Therefore, fans of classic FPS action and deep narratives will not want to miss this one.

Game Details

Platform: PlayStation 4, Xbox One
Developer: MachineGames
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Genre: First-person shooter, action-adventure
Mode(s): Single-player
ESRB Rating: M (Mature 17+)

Wolfenstein: The New Order

Wolfenstein: The New Order, when it first was released back a few years ago, pleasantly surprised a lot of people. Many were critical even before its release, that the lack of multiplayer game modes would not bode well with gamers.

However, against all odds, The New Order managed to succeed where others failed.

An unfamiliar world ruled by a familiar enemy

Wolfenstein: The New Order is a semi-sequel to 2009’s Wolfenstein. The story is a “What if” scenario and is a blend of history and fiction where the Nazis win World War II.

You play captain BJ Blazkowicz, who has been in a mental asylum since the Allies were defeated in 1946. By the time he’s released in 1960, the Nazis have complete rule over the world, employing advanced military tech and brutal combat tactics to stay on top.

Once again, the American super-soldier sets out to take out his greatest foe, this time with the fate of the world on his back.

Classic first person shooter gameplay

Unlike other games in the Wolfenstein series, The New Order is solely a single player game. The gameplay is similar to that of other first person shooters and Wolfenstein games in the series. You have a wide arsenal of weapons that include pistols, shotguns, assault rifles, grenades, and knives to take down your enemies.

All weapons have a secondary fire such as a silencer for the gun, or a grenade launcher for the assault rifle. With some of these weapons, players have the ability to dual wield, giving them an advantage over enemies by dealing twice as much damage.

In addition to weapons, you have melee attacks that you can use to silently take down your opponents to avoid being detected. There is also a cover system implemented that allows you to learn around, under, and over cover to give you the tactical advantage against your enemies.

You’ll often have the opportunity to engage enemies by sneaking up on them. However, you’ll have to be careful as the game’s enemy AI is no slouch. Commanders will often radio for reinforcements if they spot you, which keeps you on toes at all times.

The level design is well thought out, which encourages you to explore for rewards. There are many secrets and treasures that are hidden in the levels, and the levels offer alternative paths that you can only uncover by playing the game again a second time.

The Tech 5 engine shines

The New Order is a three-year-old game. However, you really wouldn’t be able to tell just by looking at it. It was built using id Software’s id Tech 5 engine and holds up with 1080p resolution at 60 frames per second.

Rightly so, the game gets its inspiration from the movies of the 1960s and nails it. Environments are varied and the faces of the main protagonists and antagonists are well modeled.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

The second game in this two pack is Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. This was released approximately a year after The New Order and is a prequel. Again, the story takes place in an alternate reality where the Nazis won World War II but this time its 1946.

A mission to turn the tide of the War

Set 14 years before The New Order, you reassume the role of BJ Blazkowicz along with a British secret agent. Your mission is to infiltrate the famous castle of Wolfenstein to find a woman named Helga von Schabbs. It is Helga who has the information with the precise location of the main antagonist of The New Order, Wilhelm Strasse.

Along the way, BJ and the British secret agent are captured. However, BJ escapes and his mission to get the information on Strasse’s location gets him involved in Helga’s plans to revive the dead. BJ must now stop Helga and save the Allied cause.

Familiar gameplay

Gameplay in The Old Blood is very similar to that of The New Order with very little changes. Your health is divided into separate sections that regenerate, health and armour. The Old Blood adds new weapons into the mix to take down your enemies. Quite possibly the biggest new addition to the weapon system is the steel pipe.

It consists of two small steel pipes that can be combined together to make one large pipe. In turn, this can can be used to break open weak environmental surfaces. Alternatively, the two small pipes can be used to climb rocks walls.

The game is divided into two parts, the first takes place in the heart of the castle of Wolfenstein. You find yourself walking through the many corridors and rooms of the castle, which is an incredible recreation of the atmosphere of the old fortress. The second part of the adventure, takes us to the city of Wulfburg for a completely different atmosphere.

Updated visuals

From a visual standpoint, both The New Order and The Old Blood look very similar. There are slight improvements in The Old Blood. The environments in The Old Blood are larger and more detailed, while the character models have seen a very slight upgrade.

Final Thoughts

If you have never played either The New Order or The Old Blood, then the Wolfenstein Two Pack Bundle is an amazing value. Both games offer a deep narrative and immersive first person shooter combat that fans of the series will enjoy. Although the games are a few years old, they both are every bit as good and enjoyable as games released this year.

Furthermore, at its value price, if you enjoy first person shooters and don’t mind that there is not a multiplayer component, the Wolfenstein Two Pack Bundle is worthy of a purchase.

+ Value priced
+ Immersive story
+ Familiar gameplay mechanics
+ Plenty of secret items and paths to explore to keep you coming back

– Lack of any multiplayer modes may turn off some people

OVERALL

Gameplay: 4/5
Graphics: 4/5
Sound: 4/5
Lasting Appeal/Replayability: 4/5

Overall Rating 4/5 (80%)

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