Wolfenstein: Youngblood Review

Wolfenstein: Youngblood is the latest entry in the iconic Wolfenstein franchise, developed by MachineGames and Arkane Studios. The game is a spin-off that takes place in an alternate 1980s Paris, where players take on the role of Jess and Soph, the twin daughters of B.J. Blazkowicz. While playing a Wolfenstein game without B.J. may seem like a daunting prospect, Youngblood manages to hold its own and deliver a solid, enjoyable experience.

One of the biggest strengths of Youngblood is its setting. The alternate 1980s Paris is incredibly interesting, and the game does a great job of immersing players in this world. The game is a welcome attempt to break the cut-and-paste formula that we’ve seen in previous Wolfenstein games. The story is engaging, and the characters are well-written, making it easy to invest in the game’s world and narrative.

When it comes to the gameplay, the game’s attempt at emulating Destiny’s formula is both its strength and weakness. The direction is welcome, and the addition of RPG elements, such as character progression and loot drops, gives players something to work towards. However, it feels like the game didn’t have quite enough ambition to pull it off. The game would have worked well as a larger online shooter, and it’s a shame that the developers didn’t try to take the game in this direction.

That being said, the game is still enjoyable as a cooperative experience. Players can team up with a friend and take on the game’s challenges together, and the addition of AI companions ensures that the game can still be played solo. The game also features a hub area, which players can return to between missions to interact with characters, purchase upgrades, and access new missions.

Visually, the game is stunning. The game’s strong artistic style gives it a unique look, and the attention to detail is impressive. The game’s environments are well-designed, and the characters are well-animated, making it a real pleasure to play. The game also features a great soundtrack, with an 80s-inspired score that fits perfectly with the game’s setting.

The game’s attempt at making end-game content is a good idea, but it lacked the depth needed for this kind of thing. It further proves that the game wanted to be like Destiny but lacked the ambition or budget. The game has a few issues, such as the lack of variety in mission types and some repetitive gameplay, but overall, it’s a solid entry in the Wolfenstein franchise.

The gameplay remains the same, high-intensity, lead-spewing, explosive fun that we have come to expect from the franchise. B.Js children sure have inherited their father’s talent for killing Nazis. The gun play is solid and very easy to get to grips with. A nice selection of different weapons allow you to blast your way through a range of horrifying and threatening Nazi inventions.

Compared to previous games, the story was really lacking here. The setting of 1980s Paris was nice from an astetic point of view, but the story wasn’t all there. The underground rebels, fighting back against the Nazis is perfect but since you play alone, there is no sense of this being a bigger rebellion and just feels like a solo game. This is another reason why this needed to be an online shooter where you and 1000s of others were all part of this incredible resistance.

THE VERDICT