If games are typically meant to serve as a nice bit of escapism, then stepping out in a parallel universe where the Nazis actually won World War II might not seem all that appealing.
On second thoughts, given the current state of the world - botched elections, reality TV stars becoming president, and chocolate bars scandalously becoming ever-smaller while costing just as much - that parallel universe doesn’t seem quite so depressing after all.
That could well be Bethesda’s thinking, with the games giant using E3 - the huge gaming expo taking place in Los Angeles - to lift the lid on Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus, an epic new shooter that casts some light on a 1960s America beholden to The Third Reich. Think The Man In The High Castle, but with more guns and less arty panning shots where absolutely nothing happens.
This, of course, isn’t the first game in the Wolfenstein series. Ever since the early 80s (ask your parents), the franchise has tackled almost every aspect of the Nazi state, running right up until 2014‘s acclaimed and award winning Wolfenstein: The New Order, where the Nazis finally turned the tide against the Allies and took control of the world’s major powers.
This, of course, isn’t the first game in the Wolfenstein series. Ever since the early 80s (ask your parents), the franchise has tackled almost every aspect of the Nazi state, running right up until 2014‘s acclaimed and award winning Wolfenstein: The New Order, where the Nazis finally turned the tide against the Allies and took control of the world’s major powers.
It’s a mission that sweeps up iconic locations like the early skyscrapers of Manhattan, the boulevards of a still burgeoning New Orleans and the infamous Roswell, New Mexico. All are depicted not as we know them today, however, but rather under the thumb of an oppressive and totalitarian order, with Nazis roaming freely through the streets of a defeated and deferential United States.
Against all odds, up steps BJ Blazkowicz - an American spy of Polish descent who sports the kind of sharpened jaw and muscle mass that suggests BJ spends all of his spare time intimidating anyone who even steps near the weight machines in his local PureGym. BJ puts all that testosterone to good use, using the power of the bullet to spark a new revolution in the US - a revolution he hopes will overthrow the Nazis forever.
Only problem is, to achieve any of this, he’s going to need you to direct his every move, his every shot, his every step into enemy territory. If the latest trailer, released by Bethesda this week, is anything to go by, that territory is an America where all the worst elements of society - persecution, segregation and all out racism - have come to the fore and dominate day to day life.
If that doesn’t whet your appetite, then Wolfenstein’s signature cast of unforgettable characters just might win you over. Freedom fighters such as Anya, Caroline, Bombate, Set, Max Hass, Fergus or Wyatt all return and spark BJ into life, while new characters such as Horton and Grace come to your aid to take on the evil Frau Engel and her Nazi army.
Tough as that sounds, Bethesda has dropped in some pretty serious weaponry to help you gun down the enemy; from the Laserkraftwerk, a high-intensity laser weapon that disintegrates your foe, through to the rapid-fire gas-powered Dieselkraftwerk, which launches grenades capable of smashing your opponents to smithereens. Throw in some close quarter weapons, and you have a full range capable of pulling the rug from underneath the Nazi Reich.
Perhaps even more exciting than all of this, however, is the fact that none of this is very far away. As the whopping eight and a half minute trailer reveals, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is set for release on October 27th - on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Yes, you could be gunning down Nazis in between glasses of mulled wine and mince pies - arguably a palatable alternative to chatting with relatives you can barely remember the name with and dislocating your arm pulling a cracker with your freakishly strong Gran. Those who splash out on the Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Collector’s Edition will also receive a 1/6 scale 12-inch BJ action figure amongst other goodies, ready to tear the world apart presumably from inside your pocket. Not bad, eh?
Just make sure you use the months between now and October to fully prepare for the new American Revolution.
Trust us, it’s going to be colossal.
Pre-order your copy here.
Perhaps even more exciting than all of this, however, is the fact that none of this is very far away. As the whopping eight and a half minute trailer reveals, Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is set for release on October 27th - on Xbox One, PS4 and PC.
Yes, you could be gunning down Nazis in between glasses of mulled wine and mince pies - arguably a palatable alternative to chatting with relatives you can barely remember the name with and dislocating your arm pulling a cracker with your freakishly strong Gran.
Those who splash out on the Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus Collector’s Edition will also receive a 1/6 scale 12-inch BJ action figure amongst other goodies, ready to tear the world apart presumably from inside your pocket. Not bad, eh?
Just make sure you use the months between now and October to fully prepare for the new American Revolution.
Trust us, it’s going to be colossal.
