Wolfenstein: The New Order is finally out on the shelves. The solid title is overshadowed by others much-anticipated, though, such as Ubisoft's Watch_Dogs.
Initial gameplay is satisfactory, but expected and slightly unimpressive, considering the current generation of hardware's capabilities. Wolfenstein is available on PC and in the popular consoles, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. It's also back ported and optimized for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360.
Actual gameplay screenshots confirm the title runs at maximum resolution and frame rate, at least for the consoles. At 1080p and 60fps, other titles struggle to maintain the integrity of gameplay, especially open-world games like the Grand Theft Auto installments.
Given the relatively limited environments of Wolfenstein: The New Order (the game is basically a corridor shooter), developers enjoy more leeway in terms of graphics. Characters and objects, effects may optimized to full capacity without affecting the dynamics of gameplay.
There are differences between the PlayStation 4 and Xbox One versions, understandable with the hardware's different specs. PS4 screenshots have a glossy, airbrushed feel, while the Xbox One versions offer crisper, grittier graphics. The technical aspects of the game are still relative to players' appreciation.
The potential of Microsoft's Kinect is showcased in Wolfenstein: The New Order; players can toggle through weapons with voice commands instead of using the menu and the weapon wheel.
The feature comes in handy in the thick of the battle, which requires split-second timing and response. The voice command option doesn't put the game on pause when switching weapons, maintaining in-game momentum.
Wolfenstein: The New Order offers a different take on fantasy, first-person combat games. Set in an alternate universe, the game takes place in the 1960's, and the Nazis have prevailed in World War II. Bethesda claims the heavy references to a Nazi Germany was prohibited in the country involved, and has thus released a different, non-Nazi version of the game (gamepur.com).
