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Let me begin this review by saying that Wolfenstein is, indeed, not a "clone" of Halo as many uninformed gamers are thinking it is. For those not in the know, Wolfenstein 3D is considered to be the granddaddy and main inspiration of many other first-person action games with Doom coming in a close second. id Software - developers of these two highly acclaimed FPS's, as well as the Quake series - would certainly have a lot to say about their beloved series being compared or argued a clone of a vastly inferior console shooter.

Enter Wolfenstein (no... the new one). Developed by Raven Software (Heretic, Hexen, Soldier of Fortune, and Soldier of Fortune: Double Helix) and published by id Software (they honestly need no introduction though I have already given them one), this game takes place after the events of Return to Castle Wolfenstein and is considered to be the series' only true sequel. You see, Wolfenstein 3D was later remade in 2001 under the name Return to Castle Wolfenstein. But for those who haven't played the classic original or its excellent remake, don't fret. This is as much a sequel as it is a fantastic stand-alone FPS. Franchise fans, however, will definitely get more out of it than those unfamiliar with the series.

So how exactly do you keep a treasured shooter series relevant 17 years after its first incarnation and eight years after its remake? Favoring old school game play over new school ideals, this new Wolfenstein is about as simple as shooters come. Surprisingly enough, Raven have not opted to go the route of "updating" the game with an abundance of modern touches (aside from a pseudo-open environment and regenerating health) and have kept it as the twitch shooter the series started and stayed as. Granted, some FPS fans, as well as those that got their first taste of the first-person shooter genre on the original Xbox, will find that there is really nothing new to see or do here. You do have the Veil powers but the game play itself is decidedly old school.

Many will probably ask what the purpose is of making a shooter with it’s play aesthetics firmly planted in the early ‘90s when so many newer FPS's are vying for supremacy with top-of-the-line visuals, brand-spankin'-new ways to play the single-player campaign (such as co-op or heaps of unlockables), and multiplayer modes that are keeping youths worldwide up to the wee hours of the morning. Case in point, Wolfenstein has none of these things and doesn't need them. Where it succeeds is with its single-player campaign that is both involving and fun. There's little to do besides going from room to room and blowing away those ghastly Nazis, but that’s the beauty of it.

I very rarely find action games that place such firm emphasis on keeping the action this satisfying. Game developers of today seem too worried about sales, multiplayer/co-op modes and finding interesting, albeit vein ways of keep the gamer playing without actually offering much in the way of a fun, memorable experience. Wolfenstein dishes out some of the most intense firefights I've had the pleasure of playing through so far this year. Raven was obviously unconcerned with current facets of game development and opted instead to create a game that was rewarding to those favoring fantastic single-player experiences over a fantastic multiplayer one. Wolfenstein brings us back to the good ol’ days of cool weapons, great level design, and huge boss fights. Gamers looking for that extra drop of icing on the cake won't find it here but those of us that grew up on old school shooters will certainly dig the new face put over an all-too-familiar canvas.

Going into the Veil powers that you will have to master as the game ramps up in the difficulty; they are a unique addition to the game but ultimately amount to very little. Watching time slow to a crawl as you slam through waves of enemies while watching them fly through the air via Havok physics is insanely cool, but too much of the game relies on the Veil powers as a sort of gimmick instead of a helpful aid to completing levels. There are a number of enemies that require you to use different Veil abilities to defeat them, but I can't help wondering if the game would have been even better without these obvious inclusions created simply to pander to the modern gaming audience. Wolfenstein was meant to be a pure, unfiltered run-and-gun shooter and I would have definitely preferred it that way.

There's also the issue of what would appear – at least on first playthrough - to be an open environment. Gunfights take place in larger areas than seen in past Wolfenstein games and there are just as many open-locale firefights as there are ones set in tight corridors. I really did like this approach, but I could have done without the gimmicky (there's that word again) "open-world" game play. As with most modern games, you accept missions from a couple of different locations that you must travel to throughout the game, then rush out to complete them. Raven could have just as easily made Wolfenstein a level-based shooter instead of a mission-based one. It brings nothing new to the table, but because this feature is so dumbed down it doesn't affect the overall feel of the game much.

And as much as I enjoy open-world games and love innovative game play features and jaw-dropping graphics, I just can't get into the mindset that Wolfenstein adhere to these rules, too. I loved playing the previous two games because they were so simple and a nice break from more complex shooter fare. Wolfenstein is still unapologetically simple, but you get that feeling that id was having Raven shed their old school roots instead of embracing them.

Wolfenstein is also not a visually stunning game. It does look good, but gamers will find nothing here that begs them to tap their friends on the shoulder and say "Holy shit! Look at this!" As visually stunning as Return to Castle Wolfenstein was eight years ago, I half-expected to see the same kind of visual quality for its sequel. The various lighting effects are nice and water looks good, as do most character models, but there's only so much Raven was able to squeeze out of the aging Doom 3 engine. Enhanced it may be, but this is simply not a game where graphics were the forerunner.

As old school as Wolfenstein is - even with the inclusion of some new school elements - that will ultimately be the deciding factor between buy, rent or ignoring it completely, I loved nearly everything it threw at me. I bought the game on release day and haven't looked back. It's a rewarding, well-programmed, intense, and unbelievably fun experience that I have been awaiting for eight years. It's nothing new, nothing extraordinary, and won't win any awards for originality, but what it does offer is some of the best twitch shooting since PC favorite Painkiller. If a game lacking any sort of complexity and/or plot turns your stomach, it's best to not even give Wolfenstein a second glance when passing by it in the aisles.

8/10