Wolfenstein: Youngblood, nazis and surprises everywhere

 

Wolfenstein is a series that has been around since 1981, beginning with Castle Wolfenstein, released for the first desktop PCs. Although the series has had its ups and downs, one of the highs has been the reboot of the series thanks to Machine Games with the release of Wolfenstein: New Order in 2014 for PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and PC, which was followed by its DLC expansion Wolfenstein: The Old Blood in 2015 and the sequel Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in 2017 for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC, all starring William "B.J." Blazkowicz.

Shortly before the release of the Nintendo Switch version of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus in June 2018, Bethesda announced Wolfenstein: Youngblood at E3 2018, an adventure that would not star William "B.J." Blazkowicz. Blazkowicz but by his two daughters Jessica and Sophia Blazkowicz, yes, both, since it is a cooperative adventure that takes place 19 years after the end of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus where B.J. Blazkowicz freed America from the Nazi Regime available for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and PC. Without further delay, let's review this game in its Xbox One version:

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The story of this game takes place 19 years after the end of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, where the protagonist of that game, William "B.J." Blazkowicz, freed America from the Nazi regime during the Second American Revolution, killed Adolf Hitler off-screen, and went into retirement where he and his wife, Anya Oliwa, had two daughters. The daughters were named Jessica Blazkowicz and Sophia Blazkowicz, and both would be trained by B.J. and Anya in hunting and physical training in case they ever needed to defend themselves or attack the Nazis.

One day in 1980, B.J. suddenly disappeared, and Anya decided to call the FBI—that is, Grace Walker, the FBI chief who helped bring down the Nazis in America in Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. Grace arrives in a helicopter, bringing her daughter, Abby Walker, who is an expert in FBI and computer science and is also a close friend of Jessica and Sophia. Anya and Grace begin arguing about B.J.'s whereabouts, and the girls hear them from the room above thanks to a microphone Abby created until they realize there's something in the storage room above due to the noise. There, they find B.J.'s research on the remaining Nazis in Europe, and that leads them to Neu-Paris, specifically to the French Resistance in Neu-Paris.

To get to Neu-Paris, they steal the FBI helicopter, and Abby gives them some power-up suits she had made for the sisters. To begin the mission, the first thing they need to do is get information about a Nazi blimp, and the sisters succeed perfectly, defeating the general who had copied the FBI's power-up suit prototype. They are then swallowed by the blimp's propeller, and the blimp explodes shortly after. Next they discover that they have to find a secret Nazi site called Laboratory X and to do so they will have to download information from the 3 towers that control Neu-Paris, the Brother towers, while also helping members of the resistance to obtain information, objects or to be saved. In that information we will have important data about who Lothar Brand was. Will we be able to enter Laboratory X and find B.J.? Will the Nazis stand in our way?

The story is undoubtedly designed for co-op, with very few main missions—six to be exact—although they're quite long, lasting between one and two and a half hours each, depending on your level. There are also many side missions that take us to various locations throughout Neu-Paris to gather information, free people, obtain weapons, and a host of other things. However, that doesn't mean the story doesn't have some pretty big twists and turns, and the characters, especially the three main characters, Jennifer, Sophia, and Abby, have a significant amount of development throughout the adventure.

The game also covers very interesting themes for the saga, such as alternate dimensions, explaining a world where the Nazis were defeated in their time and there was peace—our own. The main story is quite good, complex, and enjoyable, especially because the two sisters and Abby add a more fun and complex touch to the darkness of the world they live in.

In terms of gameplay, it's clear that the game is designed to fully enjoy co-op and the gameplay of this Nazi Paris. To begin, you'll control the character you choose at the beginning of the adventure (Jessica or Sophia). While there's no difference except for the story, you'll control them throughout the entire game, with the other being either the CPU or the co-op user. When asked about your character, you'll also have to choose between two skills, and this is certainly important: Concealment or Overpower. One of these skills will be the one you'll have from the start, and the other can be unlocked through the skill tree. Through gears, you can acquire three types of skills: Intelligence, Muscle, and Power. These skills will have between three and four skill lines and include four columns for each line: one can be unlocked without anything, another at level 10, another at level 20, and the last at level 30.

In terms of gameplay, the game is a typical frenetic Bethesda first-person shooter, similar to the rest of Wolfenstein and its other series. In the game, there will be a maximum of 8 weapons, 4 of which will be special weapons that we will encounter throughout the game, and the other firearms will be standard, in addition to the melee weapon. The armor, weapons, and the melee weapon will be fully customizable with skins, and even the Deluxe Edition of the game includes several skins. The others can be purchased with silver coins earned throughout the game.

On the other hand, all weapons except the melee weapon will have 4 upgradeable areas: the muzzle frame, the sight, the ammunition (or fuel) magazine, and the grip. There will be several types for each of the areas, each of which can be upgraded twice depending on the level you have. For example, the Machine Pistol can be equipped with a magnifying, red dot, or tactical sight, depending on the type of weapon you want to create. It can be upgraded once more, and it works the same way with the other 3 areas of the weapon. Be careful what kind of soldier you are fighting with because if you don't have enough level or enough power in skills and weapons, the Nazis will hit you in all the protective suit.

The Catacombs will be the safest place in the entire game and the base of the French Resistance, where we can heal, resupply, and complete both main and secondary missions, including the timed missions given by Abby. The world will be divided into sections, each connecting to a Brother zone without having to fast travel. Fast travel will also be blocked for Brother zones and blocked for nearby zones, so we'll have to find a way to enter the Brother zones, either through the game's Underground (which also contains Nazi bunkers, so be careful), through the main door, which will even be guarded by soldiers in giant robots, or through secondary missions that will help us enter in different ways (and which will usually be the easiest). Once inside, don't forget to unlock the subway fast travel from the Brother zones to return to the Catacombs when necessary.

Finally, we have the collectibles, of which there are many: concept art from the game hidden in boxes with codes, documents, floppy disks that provide information that we'll have to decipher on a computer to read, cassettes with songs or interesting facts, 3D glasses that show us 3D models of the game's characters, and UVK covers of Nazi films, which are reimagined from our world.

On the other hand, in co-op mode, we'll have to focus on two things: Motivation Signals and Shared Lives. Motivation Signals will give you and your partner a boost; there are many types, and they're all purchasable via silver coins. On the other hand, Shared Lives are the number of lives you and your other partner have. Once you are defeated, your partner can come and revive you at no cost, but if you both die, you will have to spend a shared life and go revive the other. Be careful, as there are missions where you will have to start from the beginning in some areas if you die.

Ultimately, the game's gameplay is defined by a completely frenetic first-person shooter that's also incredibly complex and specifically designed to be fully cooperative. In fact, you'll even have to open large doors simultaneously. Relax and improve in the Catacombs, explore Neu-Paris in search of collectibles, destroy Nazis to level up, and complete missions. Whatever you do, this game is a lot of fun.

In terms of graphics, the game is very well designed, with realistic graphics, excellent cinematics, and well-designed optical effects. The soundtrack, on the other hand, is quite average but includes several interesting songs, and the regular ones are also very well-placed at the right moments.

Do we recommend Wolfenstein: Youngblood? Of course. Although it has a fairly simple yet complicated story, it has quite frenetic and fun gameplay that will have us pulling our hair out at times. The graphics are very well adapted to the game and are very well designed overall. While the soundtrack is somewhat average except for a few pieces, it's very well-placed when it should be playing. If you like Wolfenstein or are looking for a cooperative Nazi-killing game that also tells an interesting story, this is the game for you.

The game is available in two versions: the standard edition, which includes only the game for €30 and is only available digitally. The Wolfenstein Youngblood: Deluxe Edition, available in both physical and digital formats for €40, includes the Cyborg Pack with skins and the Buddy Pass, which allows you to play the entire game with a buddy on the same console completely free of charge. This pass never expires; it can be used with different people, allowing the person without the game to play the entire game while playing with the person who has allowed them to play via the Buddy Pass.

It is available for PS4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch, and PC. If you're interested, you can also play Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot on VR headsets for PC and PS VR for PS4 for just €20 in physical or digital format, as the game takes place just before Youngblood's first mission.

Worst parts of the game

• The story is very simple, which can be a very good thing or a very bad thing.
• The gameplay can get quite technical at times.
• It's clearly a step down from the single player big budget Wolfenstein games

Best parts of the game

• The gameplay is fun, fast-paced, and exciting.
• The co-op mode brings the world of Wolfenstein to life.
• The graphics and soundtrack aren't as impressive, but they're really well done.
• Although it's a smaller game than traditional Wolfenstein titles, the formula fits perfectly.

Score

7.75