Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a first person shooter (FPS) video game developed by grey Matter Interactive and originally released by id Software in 2001. It is a remake of the original game Castle Wolfenstein, released in 1981. The game follows the story of William "B.J." Blazkowicz, an American agent and a war hero, who is tasked by the Office of Secret Actions (OSA) to investigate the mysterious activities of the Nazi Forces located in the fictional Castle Wolfenstein. The player must navigate and survive through a variety of levels located in the castle, fighting against both the Nazi forces and supernatural enemies.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein is considered to be one of the early pioneers of the FPS genre, and is notable for being one of the first major FPS games to feature an extensive story-driven mission-based structure, instead of the traditional “deathmatch” style of play found in most FPS titles up to that point. It also introduced a number of innovative features such as bullet-penetration, environmental traps, enemy reinforcements and customizable controls. In addition, the game was praised for its atmospheric environments, voice performances and intense gunplay.
Return to Castle Wolfenstein has gone on to become one of id Software’s most beloved and critically acclaimed entries in the FPS genre. It has been included in numerous “Greatest FPS Games Of All Time” lists and is fondly remembered for its intuitive design, engaging story and intense gunplay.
This year, Raven Software and Nightdive Studios, in cooperation with Endnight Games, has remastered Return to Castle Wolfenstein for the 21st century. The game has been updated with new visuals, improved AI, modernized controls and support for a higher resolution.
The core of the game is still the same; you take on the role of B.J. Blazkowicz and battle your way through Castle Wolfenstein’s myriad of levels and settings, encountering both human and supernatural enemies, as you attempt to make your way to the castle’s dark secrets.
The visuals have been improved significantly, going from the muted and murky palette of the original game to the new Remastered edition which features brighter, more detailed environments and diverse lighting. Character models have also been updated to reflect their modern equivalents, with more detailed textures and animation.
The game also supports a higher resolution, allowing the game to look even better when played on modern gaming televisions and computer monitors. Depending on the users monitor, the game can be played in resolutions up to 4K.
In addition to the improved visuals, Return to Castle Wolfenstein’s AI has been completely overhauled. Enemy soldiers are smarter, better equipped and more difficult to take down, providing an added element of challenge for even veteran players. The game also features new enemy types, such as mutant zombies and enhanced warriors, who must be taken down with more strategy and finesse.
The developers have also refined the game’s control scheme to better suit modern gaming setups. While the original game featured various control methods such as keyboard and mouse, gamepad and joystick, the Remastered edition now supports all of the aforementioned devices, as well as gamepads with analog sticks and gyroscopic controls. This is especially welcome news for fans of console gaming, as it allows them to experience the game as it was meant to be played.
In conclusion, Return to Castle Wolfenstein Remastered is an upgrade over the original game that is sure to please both veteran players and newcomers alike. With its updated visuals, improved AI and modernized control scheme, Return to Castle Wolfenstein can now be experienced in a whole new way. Whether you’re a fan of the original or looking for an introduction to the Wolfenstein series, Return to Castle Wolfenstein is the perfect way to experience the horror of Castle Wolfenstein in 2021.
