Wolfenstein: The Old Blood Reviews
Did you like Wolfenstein: The New Order? If so, you'll probably like this standalone expansion.
A DLC care package that just underperforms
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood offers another serving of the action we saw with The New Order in 2014, but with the perspective as a prequel.
It feels a little unfair to have to compare this to another game so much, but The Old Blood runs off of the same frameworks, characters and style that the The New Order came to define. Shooting Nazis until they explode is a fun diversion, but there's a better game that does that, and it's called Wolfenstein: The New Order.
The New Order's returning gameplay carries the day here. The Old Blood's story spends too much time trying to be a tribute to an old game instead of its own adventure—and prevents this standalone expansion from being as deep or enjoyable as the main game.
Wolfenstein has always embraced gratuitous violence, but The Old Blood just feels a little gratuitous.
If you're a fan of first-person shooters, or want to experience a throwback to the glory days of the genre but with modern production values, then you can't go wrong with Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. It's an enjoyable romp that promises explosions, expendable Nazis, and gunfights galore. And isn't this that all we want from our video games?
What you're getting here is exactly what returning players will expect, a 6-hour or so prequel to Wolfenstein: The New Order, with exactly the same flow, tomfoolery, and smile-inducing shootouts you've come to expect. What is missing is that aforementioned heart. During its brief length there's never enough time to feel attached to any characters, and MachineGames has clearly focused on a more gameplay-oriented approach. To that end it can feel like a hollow experience, and The Old Blood is certainly far more throwaway than its fleshed-out forefather. If you haven't played Wolfenstein: The New Order yet then I don't hesitate in recommended you check that out first, before moving on to The Old Blood if you're still craving more Nazi-baiting gung-ho action.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood still retains all the satisfying gameplay that made The New Order one of the best shooters of 2014. It's not as long as the original; lasting around 4-5 hours, but it does include a decent challenge mode to increase longevity. For £14.99 digitally it's worth it for a nice afternoon of killing some Nazis.
The New Order is a far superior game in many ways, but take Wolfenstein: The Old Blood as a companion piece to its predecessor, and there is still the same great arcade FPS and stealth gameplay here that will satisfy fans of MachineGames' previous entry. It isn't as fleshed-out or exciting as the 2014 title, but it holds up well as its own standalone Wolfenstein game.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a great follow-up to The New Order, adding plenty of adventures for BJ, not to mention new enemies, weapons, and more. Throw in the Nightmare stages and you have a compelling package with great value for your money.
At the end of the day, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood checks the necessary boxes to make it a suitable follow-up to the prior game. In terms of the gameplay, level design and overall pacing, The Old Blood has learned a handful of lessons and made the appropriate tweaks to improve the play experience from its predecessor. Unfortunately some of the spark that make last year's game oddly inspiring is gone, which makes it decent fun for shooter fans, but ultimately unsatisfying for anyone beyond that.
Though not as thematically strong as its predecessor, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood still provides solid gameplay. The stealth and shooting mechanics are strong enough to create a great experience. The compromise between old and new mechanics in regards to health and weapon handling still feels fresh, while the AI battles remain exhilarating. The length and presentation value are also good, so fans of The New Order will really appreciate The Old Blood.
A great prequel to last year's surprise hit.
At £10-£13 for a six hour campaign and additional challenge maps, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is an absolute steal. The stealth options aren't quite as reliable as last time, but the core shooting experience is incredibly fun with meaty weapons, a ramped up pace and enjoyably over-the-top characters.
Hardcore fans of the Wolfenstein series can find a lot to enjoy with The Old Blood. It's practically much of the same when comparing it to The New Order, though it features none of those irritating 'errand boy' segments, and that's a very good thing! The Old Blood is nothing but action that can entertain for a few hours. Plus, completists will find that there are plenty of collectibles to discover.
The New Blood is a highly enjoyable old-school expansion that is slightly brought down by a weaker second half and some minor technical issues.
MachineGames hasn't taken a huge step forward with 'Wolfenstein: The Old Blood,' but nor have they taken any steps backwards. It is a solid expansion, adding more to the new 'Wolfenstein' formula without drastically changing it. Fans of last year's game will find a lot to like, as will FPS players who somehow missed it.
If you're looking for a Wolfenstein experience that has stark differences from The New Order, you're going to be heavily disappointed. But just look at the cover art that both Bethesda and Machine Games have designed for The Old Blood and you'll see exactly what you should expect.
Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is not a game you invest hundreds of hours into. This is a title that brings a guarantee of good action, shooting and fun temporarily. And when you finish it a few times, will you find all the collectibles and replay the old levels? I think you will certainly not regret the time and money invested. Wolfenstein has been with us for over 20 years. During that time, he's built up quite a following, and titles like this only help expand his fan base. The question remains whether this constant activity will lead to a gradual loss of quality. But let's leave that to the future.
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