Description:
It's been nearly 10 years since Wolfenstein 3D forever popularized the first-person shooter, and at long last everyone's favorite Nazi killer, B.J. Blazkowicz, is back in Return to Castle Wolfenstein. Set during World War II, Return to Castle Wolfenstein finds the Nazis dabbling in the black arts in an effort to create an army of supersoldiers. Naturally, Blazkowicz is the only thing standing in the Nazis' way, so he's set behind enemy lines in an effort to end the madness. On the surface, the single-player game seems like pure gold--after all, everyone loves killing Nazis. But the story jumps all over the place, the enemy AI is less than impressive, and most gamers will be able to finish the game in a mere 10 to 15 hours. The single-player game falls short of the standards set by titles such as Half-Life and No One Lives Forever. In fact, the best thing about Return to Castle Wolfenstein is its team-based multiplayer mode. Each multiplayer adventure features Axis vs. Allies, and both sides offer four character classes: engineer (removes obstacles), medic (heals and revives teammates), lieutenant (calls in air strikes and replenishes ammo), and soldier (only class able to use sniper rifles, flamethrowers, and other unusual weapons). The game includes only eight multiplayer maps, but they are all perfectly designed, and in order to be successful teams have to work together. The result is a great gaming experience that fans of Counter-Strike or the Day of Defeat mode for Half-Life will really appreciate. Graphically, Return to Castle Wolfenstein looks amazing. It uses the powerful Quake III engine to great effect, and the character models, explosions, and lighting effects are all perfectly done. Alas, pretty graphics and a great multiplayer game don't quite make up for an exceptionally average single-player experience. --William Harms Pros: - Amazing graphics
- Great level design (including secret passages)
- Awesome multiplayer mode
Cons: - Lackluster AI
- Single-player game is very short
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