Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

MachineGames and Bethesda Softworks dropped Wolfenstein: The Old Blood on May 5, 2015 for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One. This standalone prequel to 2014's Wolfenstein: The New Order throws players into an alternate 1946 where B.J. Blazkowicz must uncover the location of a secret Nazi compound. Development kicked off right after the previous game shipped, and it shows in the tight, familiar feel of the combat.

You see everything through B.J.'s eyes, moving on foot through levels split into two connected campaigns. The story unfolds in chapters you must complete in order. Weapons range from pistols and shotguns to explosives, and most can be dual-wielded for extra chaos. Instead of locking into cover, you lean in and out, keeping the action fluid. The game balances stealth and all-out assault, letting you choose how to approach each firefight.

Critics generally praised Wolfenstein: The Old Blood for its intense gunfights and varied locations, though many found the story weaker than its predecessor. Still, the mix of fast-paced shooting and a decent cover system made it a solid entry in the series. For fans of first-person shooters, it's a tight, satisfying romp through Nazi-infested territory. [edit]

The game retains the core mechanics of The New Order with some refinements. Health and armor are split into segments that regenerate only if an entire section remains; otherwise you must scavenge for packs. A steel pipe serves double duty as a melee weapon and a climbing tool for scaling specific walls, adding verticality to level navigation. Weapons include a new sniper rifle alongside returning staples like the submachine gun and shotgun, all capable of dual-wielding. The cover system lets you lean around corners rather than snapping into place, keeping movement constant. Stealth options are robust: throwing knives and silenced pistols allow silent takedowns, while loud approaches trigger intense firefights with standard soldiers, Supersoldaten, and later zombie-like enemies. The campaign spans eight chapters, lasting roughly four to five hours, with ten challenge maps for score-based replayability. [edit]

Set in 1946, the game follows B.J. Blazkowicz and his partner Agent One as they infiltrate Castle Wolfenstein to steal documents revealing General Deathshead's compound location. The first campaign, Rudi Jäger and the Den of Wolves, sees the pair captured by the brutal warden Rudi Jäger, who feeds prisoners to his dogs. After escaping and killing Jäger, the second campaign, The Dark Secrets of Helga von Schabbs, sends B.J. to the town of Wulfburg. There, Nazi archaeologist Helga von Schabbs unearths ancient artifacts that unleash a supernatural force, introducing zombie enemies and occult themes. The ending directly ties into the opening of The New Order. [edit]