Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus review
Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus review
The words of Dee Snider’s semi-rebellious teenage anthem have rarely felt more emotive than they do at the end of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The original version of We’re Not Gonna Take It is a light and fluffy number: the soundtrack to an argument about vegetables at the dinner table rather than the beginning of a debate on the political landscape. After the bloodshed of the first-person shooter is over, a metalcore rendition of the glam rock hit plays out, and summarises the thoughts of many in 2017, as well as the resistance in 1960s America. And there has to be a resistance: the Nazis had a far more successful World War II in this timeline than in ours.
The words of Dee Snider’s semi-rebellious teenage anthem have rarely felt more emotive than they do at the end of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus. The original version of We’re Not Gonna Take It is a light and fluffy number: the soundtrack to an argument about vegetables at the dinner table rather than the beginning of a debate on the political landscape. After the bloodshed of the first-person shooter is over, a metalcore rendition of the glam rock hit plays out, and summarises the thoughts of many in 2017, as well as the resistance in 1960s America. And there has to be a resistance: the Nazis had a far more successful World War II in this timeline than in ours.
Wolfenstein 2 picks up right after the events of the first game, with former Allied forces soldier B.J. Blazkowicz and his fellow freedom fighters still looking to spill the blood of those persecuting the American people, abolishing the world of Nazi rule in the process. This is over 10 years after U.S.A.’s concession, though, and some Americans are happy under German rule. While taking a stroll through Roswell, New Mexico, you’ll see youngsters queuing up for propaganda movies at their nearby cinema, Ku Klux Klan members looking to impress Nazi soldiers with their pronunciation of German words, and locals whooping and hollering at a parade celebrating the day the war was won – not lost. Of course, you also come across others who recognise you, not as the awful Terror Billy that the Nazis claim you to be, but as the man who is America’s last hope. While occasionally faltering, Wolfenstein II mostly steers clear of nationalist ideology, because Blazkowicz and his buddies’ aim is to free the entire world from the oligarchy, not just the good ol’ U.S. of A. And that’s an important distinction to make, because of those who have welcomed the Third Reich into The Land of the Free, like those Roswell residents mentioned as well as B.J.’s dad.
The New Colossus delves deeper into Blazkowicz’s past, fleshing out the character who, prior to MachineGames’ reboot, was purely a vessel for violence. While oppression would be seen as explanation enough for many, there’s more to B.J.’s hatred of the Führer’s beliefs. Developer MachineGames explores his childhood and the relationships he had with both his parents, including a powerful opening scene that outlines his father’s distorted views on race, religion and sex, on top of some disturbing moments involving B.J.’s Jewish mother. Wolfenstein’s quieter sections are what see it stand out from similar in the genre. While you could still appreciate the frenetic action without them, the carnage holds more weight if you break it up with heartbreaking scenes exploring B.J.’s upbringing, and moments of tension involving the likes of the returning General Engel.
The best villains are those who truly believe in their goal. They aren’t evil in their own minds, because what they’re doing is right, morphing the truth into whatever they want. Through spot-on writing General Irene Engel is cemented as one of the most deplorable, sadistic characters in recent video game history, and made to come alive via the sublimely uncomfortable, and antagonistic, portrayal by actress Nina Franoszek. Making the Nazis look untoward might be played down as something quite simple by some, but their depiction here expertly straddles a fine line between brutal and theatrical. To be fair, that doesn’t just apply to the baddies.
Aboard your U-Boat base you’re able to walk around and converse with fellow guerrillas, or just observe them and see what they get up to in between missions. Like most housemates in an enclosed space, there are tiffs about both minor and major things, flings that result in aggrieved parties, and a game of chess that’s interrupted by a man’s excitement at a working toilet. The safety of B.J.’s crew feels as important as the liberation of the American people for the Steve Rogers-like action hero, because as much as they each fill a vital role in the team, they’re his dysfunctional family. The new characters are an utter delight and flawed enough that they fit right into the land of misfit toys, but the focus on the likes of Super Spesh, Grace, and Sigrun does almost make input from some of the returning members of the Kreisau Circle a bit redundant. Regardless, whether they provided some much needed levity, or a poignant tale, spending time with them is a joy. Mowing down the enemy evokes a similar feeling, funnily enough.