Wolfenstein: The Old Blood

The Story of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood has received a mix of opinions from critics. Some positive aspects highlighted by reviewers include the engaging narrative that explores Nazi occult history and adds depth to the Third Reich, as mentioned by Gaming Nexus. The game features unexpected twists and provides additional context through environmental storytelling, enhancing the overall experience for players. Additionally, critics like ZTGD appreciated the interesting characters and fantastic dialogue, which added humor and depth to the storyline, making it more engaging for the players. On the other hand, several critics expressed negative views regarding the story of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. IGN and Gameplanet criticized the narrative for being forgettable and lacking memorable moments, indicating a lack of impact and emotional connection with the storyline. Furthermore, critics such as games(TM) and Worth Playing noted that the story took a dip compared to The New Order, lacking the same sense of futility and frustration. The mission to take down a Nazi archaeologist and destroy occult relics was seen as lacking tension and coherence with the main game, diminishing the overall storytelling experience. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the Story of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood leans towards a mixed reception. While some reviewers appreciated the engaging narrative elements, unexpected twists, and well-developed characters, others criticized the story for being forgettable, lacking depth, and failing to create a strong emotional impact on players. The game's focus on action and fast-paced gameplay seemed to overshadow the storytelling aspects for some critics, resulting in a narrative that did not reach the same heights as its predecessor, The New Order. Despite some positive aspects, the general sentiment suggests that the story of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood falls short in delivering a truly compelling and memorable narrative experience for players.

The gameplay of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood received praise from multiple critics for its fast-paced, satisfying combat encounters, and versatile approach to gameplay. Critics like Game Informer and Eurogamer Poland appreciated the variety of weapons, including new instruments of death, such as the semi-automatic shotgun and rocket pistol, which added depth to the combat experience. The ability to choose between stealthy and aggressive playstyles, as highlighted by Game Informer, allowed players to tackle obstacles in their preferred manner. The gunplay was commended for being excellent, with impactful weapons and the option to dual-wield, as noted by GameWatcher and Cheat Code Central. Additionally, the perk system, as mentioned by ZTGD, encouraged players to experiment with different strategies, enhancing replayability. On the downside, some critics pointed out issues with the gameplay of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. Digitally Downloaded and Game Revolution noted that the stealth sections could be frustrating due to enemies easily spotting the player, impacting the stealth gameplay experience. Gamestyle mentioned that the initial focus on forced stealth could be off-putting, although the shooting mechanics improved later on. Games(TM) and PC Gamer highlighted that some levels devolved into repetitive combat arenas, potentially leading to a grindy and unenjoyable experience, especially on harder difficulties. Additionally, PC Gamer mentioned that the transition between stealth and violence lacked escalation, affecting the overall pacing of the game. Overall, the consensus among critics indicates that Wolfenstein: The Old Blood offers a mix of intense combat and stealth mechanics, with innovative gameplay moments that showcase creativity within the first-person shooter genre. The game excels in providing a satisfying shooting experience with impactful weapons, diverse playstyles, and challenging AI, as emphasized by Hardcore Gamer and Worth Playing. While some critics pointed out flaws in the stealth mechanics and level design, the majority appreciated the game's fast-paced action, variety of weapons, and the ability to choose between stealth and all-out action. Critics like ZTGD and Game Informer highlighted the excellent gunplay and versatile gameplay mechanics that contribute to a fantastic overall experience. Ultimately, Wolfenstein: The Old Blood succeeds in delivering an engaging and enjoyable gameplay experience for fans of the FPS genre.

The opinions of the critics regarding the Graphics and Visual Design of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood are generally positive. Many critics praised the game for its impressive visuals, detailed environments, and artistic design. Arcade Sushi appreciated the varied environments and attention to detail that made the world feel believable. Everyeye.it commended the refined graphics that stayed true to the Wolfenstein franchise's authenticity. GameCrate highlighted the exquisitely designed stages, fast frame rate, and 1080p resolution, contributing to a visually pleasing experience. Gaming Nexus noted the impressive artistic design that blended medieval architecture with the starkness of Castle Wolfenstein, creating visually striking vistas reminiscent of Dishonored. On the other hand, some critics pointed out certain negatives regarding the game's graphics. GameWatcher criticized the game for being badly optimized, with issues like texture pop-in, fixed indestructible backgrounds, and technical problems such as lagging cutscenes and crashes. PCWorld mentioned that the second half of the game with Nazi zombies felt less inspired and visually repetitive, impacting the overall visual experience. Pure Xbox noted that while the game started well with visually appealing segments, the levels began to feel familiar and lack variety, affecting the overall visual appeal. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Wolfenstein: The Old Blood offers a visually appealing experience with detailed environments, impressive character models, and attention to artistic design. Critics like USgamer and COGconnected praised the terrific graphics, well-designed environments, and stunning visuals that provided excellent visual appeal. Despite some technical issues and repetitive elements, the game's blend of modern visuals with nostalgic charm, as noted by MondoXbox, and the attention to detail in settings, as highlighted by GamesRadar+, contributed to an immersive and enjoyable visual experience for players. The game's ability to evoke a sense of authenticity, blend retro and modern graphics, and create visually striking vistas resonated positively with critics, making Wolfenstein: The Old Blood a visually engaging title for fans of the franchise.

The Sound Design and Music of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood received generally positive feedback from the critics. GameCrate appreciated the atmospheric tunes that fit the Wolfenstein mold, while GamesRadar+ highlighted the impactful weapon sounds and atmospheric audio cues that enhanced the gameplay experience. Hardcore Gamer praised the superb voice-acting that added depth and entertainment to the game, and USgamer noted that great voice acting and music contributed to an excellent atmosphere in the game. XGN also commended how the sound design complemented the action-packed gameplay, enhancing the immersive experience of fighting against Nazis and zombies. Additionally, Eurogamer Poland considered the music, voice acting, and sound effects as a definite asset of the project, enhancing the mood and experience of the game. On the other hand, Twinfinite pointed out inconsistencies in the sound design, mentioning issues such as sounds and conversations missing the mark and weapon sounds lacking impact, which detracted from the overall immersion. Push Square noted that the sound effects for the weapons were described as "weedy," indicating a lack of impact compared to other aspects of the audio. Pure Xbox did not specifically mention the music in their review, suggesting that it might not have stood out as a significant aspect of the game's audio design. Overall, the majority of critics praised the voice acting, atmospheric tunes, and impactful sound effects in Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. The consensus among the critics is that the audio elements, including voice performances and sound design, effectively contributed to the immersive experience of the game. While there were some criticisms regarding inconsistencies in the sound design and the lack of emphasis on the music in a few reviews, the overall sentiment leans towards the positive, with the audio being considered a strong point that enhanced the gameplay and atmosphere of the game.

The voice acting in Wolfenstein: The Old Blood has received a mix of positive feedback from various critics. Critics like Hardcore Gamer, Impulsegamer, and Eurogamer Poland praise the voice acting for its effectiveness in conveying emotions, immersing players in the game's world, and contributing to an enjoyable and immersive experience. Characters like B.J. and Helga von Schapps are highlighted for delivering standout performances, with actors effectively bringing humanity to their roles, as noted by Softpedia. The gruff-voiced protagonist and new big bad character are also positively mentioned by PlayStation Universe for their contributions to the narrative. On the flip side, there are some criticisms regarding the voice acting in Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. Digital Trends criticizes the protagonist's monologues as overstuffed and detached, detracting from the mood of the action. DarkZero notes that characters aren't given enough room to breathe, leading to voice acting not being a focal point. These critiques suggest that there may be inconsistencies in the delivery of lines and character development, which could impact the overall immersion and engagement for some players. Overall, the consensus among the critics leans towards the positive side in terms of the voice acting in Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. While there are some mixed opinions, with a few critics pointing out flaws such as overwritten monologues and lack of character depth, the majority of reviewers appreciate the voice work for adding depth to the storytelling, enhancing the immersive experience, and complementing the B-movie vibe of the game. The general sentiment is that the voice acting, particularly from key characters like B.J., contributes positively to the overall quality of the game, as highlighted by GameCrate, Push Square, USgamer, COGconnected, and Worth Playing.

In terms of positive feedback for the technical performance of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood across different gaming platforms, critics generally praised the stability and smooth gameplay on consoles. Dealspwn noted on the PS4 that the game had no performance issues and did not require any patches, indicating a commendable level of optimization. Similarly, Destructoid mentioned that the game ran smoothly on both consoles with slight enhancements to the engine on the Xbox One. The Washington Post highlighted that the game maintained a solid 60 frames-per-second and 1080p resolution on both consoles, showcasing good technical performance. On the other hand, there were some negative aspects mentioned by critics regarding technical performance on specific gaming platforms. GameWatcher criticized the PC version for technical and optimization problems such as lagging cutscenes, crashes, and checkpoint issues. Gameplanet also highlighted teething issues on PC with visual fidelity and texture pop-in. Multiplayer.it mentioned technical issues like stuttering and frame rate drops on the PC version, indicating room for improvement. Twinfinite further added that the PC version faced challenges with texture streaming, vertical sync issues, and sound synchronization problems, requiring additional effort from players to address these issues. Overall, the consensus among critics regarding the technical performance of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is mixed. While the console versions, particularly on the PS4 and Xbox One, were generally praised for their stable performance and smooth gameplay, the PC version faced more criticism for technical issues and optimization problems. Critics like games(TM) and Everyeye.it highlighted the glitchless and bugless experience on consoles, while GameWatcher and Twinfinite pointed out the technical challenges on PC. Despite some issues on certain platforms, the game's technical performance seems to have been a more positive experience on consoles compared to the PC version, as noted by the majority of critics.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood are largely positive, with many highlighting various features that contribute to its replayability. Critics like Arcade Sushi, Dealspwn, and Digital Trends appreciate the inclusion of challenge maps, nightmare stages, and secret areas that offer additional content and encourage players to revisit the game for different experiences. The variety of gameplay modes, collectibles, and multiple difficulty levels mentioned by critics such as Digitally Downloaded and GamesBeat also add to the game's replay value, providing players with options to tailor their gameplay experience to their preferences. On the other hand, some critics express concerns about the game's limitations in terms of replayability. Critics like GamesRadar+ and Polygon note the game's short length and lack of significant branching paths or choices, which may hinder long-term engagement for some players. Additionally, critics such as Everyeye.it and Slant Magazine point out specific issues with certain sections or acts of the game that may not hold up well upon repeated playthroughs, potentially diminishing the overall replay value for those players. Overall, while there are mixed opinions on specific aspects of the replay value of Wolfenstein: The Old Blood, the general consensus among critics leans towards the game offering a decent amount of content and variety to warrant replaying. Critics like Game Informer and Game Revolution acknowledge the game's reliance on nostalgia but also highlight the versatile gameplay choices and enjoyable shooting mechanics that can keep players engaged across multiple playthroughs. The inclusion of challenge modes, collectibles, and bonus levels from Wolfenstein 3D mentioned by critics like GameCrate and MondoXbox further enhance the overall value of the game, making it a worthwhile experience for fans of the series looking for additional content and replayability.