KMGR of "Wolfenstein RPG"

Image via Wikipedia

EA and id finally managed to bring Wolfenstein to the mobile with the Doom RPG/ Orcs and Elves engine. Does it meet the high standards set before? Absolutely, and then some. Thus, this is one of the best games to come along in a while.

As Sergeant B.J. Blaskowicz, you've been sent by the Allies to find out what are the Nazis doing at Castle Wolfenstein. However, your team was captured, and you are determined to finish your mission... By fighting your way out... escaping, then back in. Along the way, you'll need, enemies, allies, Nazis, nasties, and some bad guys that will look very familiar to other id game fans.

The engine is the same... You actually move on square grids, though the actual squares are almost invisible. You can make 90 degree turns (face N, S, E, or W), and move back, forward, as well as step left or right without turning (side-strafe). The engine has been modified to add a lot of 3D feel, such as multi-story rooms, sloped ceilings, sloped floors to go up to platforms, or lower to sublevels, even elevators and spiral staircases (though it's actually just Doom-style 3D tricks). The textures are better and enemies are better animated.

The weapons have been increased in number as well. You start unarmed, just your fists and boot. You later get pistol, twin pistols, Tommy Gun, Sten Gun, Chain Gun, Panzerfaust, Tesla (lightning) Gun, flamethrower, and a very familiar weapon to Wolfenstein 3D fans.

As you go through the level, the amount of loot, secrets, kills, books, and so on are recorded. If you manage to locate 100% of one item, you're given the appropriate award. All books will give you "book worm" medal. All enemies will get you "Enemy destroyer" medal, and so on. Secrets now comes in two varieties, though... the normal 'secret door' (look for dirty marks on the floor) that opens with a kick, and now, "cracks in the wall", to which you must apply a set of dynamite (which goes off in 3 turns). There are even a few bits where you need to go underwater. And yes, secrets can exist underwater as well.

The catacombs that exists under Castle Wolfenstein is haunted, and going through it is the only way you will get out, as the Germans are too scared of the place, people keep disappearing, and all that. Yes, there are various nasties down there, and the foolish Nazis are attempting to harness the occult powers of the undead! Let's just say you WILL need a very familiar enemy, and you will discover your relations to another famous ID character, and see cameos of many more before the game ends.

The levels are varied, and the new "syringe system" is pretty interesting. Instead of just randomly finding syringes that you'll never use (you'll still find them of course), if you come to a synthesizing station and you have empty syringes, you can synthesize the exact syringe you want by applying the three ingredients in proper doses. For example, 3 red is "heal", while 3 blue is "soldat" or soldier, which enhances your damages and decrease damages taken. Try other combinations to discover "recipes" to other syringes.

In your way are various types of Nazi soldiers, sergeants, paratroopers, officers, elite guard (female!), scientists, and the nasties like various undead types, including undead chicken(!) Then there are the bosses. You REALLY want to save just before you see the bosses... And load up on the syringes before you meet them... It's the only way to beat them, except that last one. That last boss is only vulnerable to TWO weapons, that's it. Take that as a hint.

You also get to play two minigames... War, the card game, where you randomly pick card and the other guy picks a card... who has the bigger card wins. The other is "Chicken Kick", try to land the chicken in the center square for max points. Neither is required, but they do add flavor to the game.

As as with other mobile id games, if you finish the game, you are allowed to go back and try to find all the secrets and whatnot you missed the first time through. That's actually quite a bit of fun. And remember, you can turn up the difficulty up, WAY up. Even on EASY you'll probably die a few times before you make it all the way through. So, enjoy the challenges.

All in all, Wolfenstein RPG is a bit of MOTS, but the presentation is so slick and so much fun you don't mind being fed the same stuff. Remember, save game all the time!

Overall rating: 8.5 out of 10 (!)
Pros: Wolfenstein on phone! Kill Nazis and undead! Lots of weapons!
Cons: nothing really really new here...