Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus is a first-person shooter set in an alternate 1961 where Nazi forces control the United States. Players control BJ Blazkowicz as he leads efforts to rally resistance fighters and challenge the occupation through direct combat across American locations.
Gameplay
The core loop centers on first-person combat against Nazi soldiers and mechanized units. BJ can dual-wield any two weapons from the arsenal at once, allowing combinations such as a silenced submachine gun paired with a pistol for quieter approaches or heavier options for direct assaults. Weapons include traditional firearms with technological modifications alongside specialized tools like the Laserkraftwerk laser weapon and the Dieselkraftwerk grenade launcher.
Health consists of separate sections that regenerate only partially on their own, requiring health packs to restore full capacity or to enter an overcharged state temporarily. Armor collected from defeated enemies or scattered items provides additional protection that does not regenerate. Players earn perks across stealth, mayhem, and tactical categories by completing specific challenges during missions, which grant advantages like increased hatchet capacity or other combat benefits.
Weapon upgrade kits found in levels allow three modifications per gun, such as added capacity, damage boosts, scopes, or suppressors, with no restrictions on distribution. Midway through the campaign, players select one of three contraptions that alter movement and interaction: the Constrictor Harness for navigating tight spaces, Ram Shackles for breaking obstacles and charging enemies, or Battle Walkers for reaching elevated areas. Seven difficulty settings adjust enemy damage, available resources, and detection behavior, with the highest unlocked after an initial playthrough.
Game Modes
The experience consists entirely of a single-player campaign. Missions unfold in a mix of linear objectives and hub-based progression aboard a resistance submarine, where players return between operations to manage upgrades and interact with characters. Side objectives and collectibles appear throughout levels, encouraging exploration for weapon kits, records, and other items that support replay attempts on higher difficulties.
An integrated arcade cabinet provides access to Wolfstone 3D, a full playable recreation of the original Wolfenstein 3D episodes that serves as an optional diversion within the main hub area. No separate multiplayer or competitive modes exist.
Story and Setting
The narrative follows directly from prior events, placing BJ in Nazi-occupied America during 1961. He works to recruit resistance leaders while confronting personal history and key antagonists. The campaign emphasizes character interactions with returning allies and new figures, set against iconic American backdrops repurposed under occupation.
Progression involves forging alliances and executing operations that advance the broader resistance effort, with dialogue and cutscenes providing context between combat sequences.
Is It Worth Playing?
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus delivers a focused single-player first-person shooter campaign built around responsive gunplay, meaningful weapon customization, and a perk system that rewards varied playstyles. The health and armor mechanics add tension to encounters, while the contraption choices and dual-wielding options support different approaches from stealth to aggressive assaults.
Reception has been strong, with critic aggregates near 87 and widespread player praise for the shooting mechanics and narrative delivery on platforms including PS4. The title remains available as a complete experience without ongoing seasonal content or required updates beyond initial patches. It suits players seeking a story-driven shooter with substantial replay value through difficulty adjustments and collectible hunting rather than multiplayer features.