Wolfenstein Reloaded

The people at id first planned to create Wolf 3D as a more complex game. They were considering more tactical features like dragging dead bodies, stripping and changing uniforms, silent attacks, etc.. I guess the creators at id really liked the original Wolfenstein 2D games and wanted their 3D versions to have the same intellectual appeal as their predecessors. They say that although the above feature codes were completed, they nevertheless dropped it because they drastically slowed down the gameplay and made the controls too sophisticated for a mouse or joystick.

That interesting tidbit is found here. It creates a picture of a more sophisticated game, with more strategy than run and shoot. However as also pointed out, these and more features (other sources mention things like planting mines) were dropped because they made the game too complicated.

I always wondered if someone would get around to basically REMAKING the game, with pretty much the same storyline and all that, but with all the features that hit the cutting room floor, and then some.

While it has been released for over a year, I had never really gotten around to playing Codetech and Megabyte's mod Wolfenstein Reloaded. I had followed production since it was announced on the DHW Forums, but after release it was like "I'll download it later".

Later evidently meant 13 months, as I only just downloaded the game last week. Playing it, I was blown away by some of the "original" features. It was apparent that this was a remake of the original Wolfenstein storyline, but almost everything else had changed. You start in a jail cell where a guard walks in to check on you. Killing him, you attempt to escape your nazi-captors clutches.

While it starts similarly, there are many substantial differences. For example, in Wolf3d you start off with just the basic guards stopping you, and the game gets more difficult as time goes on, with new enemies as you get deeper. In Reloaded, you are thrown straight into the action, with many types of enemy within the first 2 minutes. The maps occasionally seem reminiscent of the original (mainly in E1L1 with the jails), but they are really engaging and interesting.

Even though you could easily go in guns blazing, the game is obviously made with strategy and stealth tactics in mind. Ammo is surprisingly scarce in that I found myself more often than not running out of SMG ammo and having to rely solely on the rifle for awhile. One of the great things about the game is Codetech added the ability to pick up the dead bodies of your victims and dump them elsewhere, to prevent patrolling guards from being alerted by your presence. This is a great feature and I am personally surprised it took until this mod for it to be implemented; it adds a great element to gameplay.

Weapons were really well thought out too. While the pistol and SMG seem normal as compared to other mods, the rifle and chaingun have been given disadvantages to combat their power, such as taking awhile to load between shots. I would talk more but there are no doubt others who haven't played yet who don't want it ruined for them.

I'm yet to complete the game, but I can see myself sticking with it. I haven't enjoyed playing a mod this much since Orb.

 

As an added note:

We think we should tell that we will expand our "Reloaded" theme with two more titles. We decided to remake Spear of Destiny and it's first mission pack Return to Danger. Key maps have allready been designed in our minds and you will definately see some interesting new features.
So as of now, we reserve titles Spear of Destiny Reloaded and Return to Danger Reloaded...

That is some good news from April 2007 from Codetech, which leaves me waiting expectantly. If WR was good, surely SODR will be just as excellent.

As yet another added note while I'm here, another quote from yesterday by Codetech:

But it has not been all quiet after WR, there's something that not many know about but it should become public next weekend. Spare your questions though, my lips are sealed.

No clues on what this secret is, but I can't wait to find out.

 

NB: No screenshots this time, I'm trying to work out why they wouldn't work.