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BLOG - Contemplative...
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RTCW - a nostalgic review.
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RTCW - a nostalgic review.
Writer Met* at 28-08-08 at 1:59 PM	Page: 1

Frantically tidying and cleaning recently I came across a forgotten gem; hidden underneath a mountain of mediocre and instantly forgettable siblings. The back cover of said gem, features the phrase: 'Wolfenstein, the legacy lives on!' - and it sure blisters on with style.
Wolfenstein 3D is widely acclaimed as being a benchmark. Before W3D gaming was seen as being far superior on consoles. After W3D graced us with it's presence, this no longer applied. Wolfenstein paved the way for other classics like Doom, and from that we became blessed with Quake. With W3D came a revolution of gaming awesome.

Fast forward a decade, 2001 is the year. More sophisticated computer systems, more tools to play with for developers, and game designers. The Multiplayer aspect of games began to take over, with the increased power of the internet. B.J Blaskowitz is reborn, and so the journey into Castle Wolfenstein re-commences.
You are an Army Ranger by the name of a true gaming hero: B.J. Blaskowitz. Sent by the 'Office of Secret Actions' you are ordered to investigate some reported strange goings on in Castle Wolfenstein - occupied by the Third Reich.

The plot for the single player is unique, but somewhat confusing. Along the way you'll encounter Zombies, Mummies, Nazis, super enhanced soldiers, amongst many more foes. Be prepared to come across super-advanced weaponry too.

Return To Castle Wolfenstein had excellent graphics, along with atmospherics for it's time. If seven years ago you could afford a top of the range computer, it looked simply beautiful. Due to this, it's also a game you can easily be immersed within. The game play and general feel of RTCW make it special, in a sense you actually feel as if you are Blaskowitz. Scampering around, shooting Nazis, unveiling Cults, and unholy paranormal activity. This was a game made before WW2 shooters were everywhere, and completely flogged for all it was worth. Even now, if I were to revisit RTCW, I'd enjoy my stay.

However, where RTCW sets the bar highest, is in it's Multiplayer. Even to this date, I'm yet to find a Multiplayer I loved as much as RTCW. It has it all. Brilliant maps like 'Beach'; running up a Saving Private Ryanesque beach, to retrieve stolen intelligence. Dodging incoming Mortar shells, and desperately avoiding incoming Machine Gun fire from bunkers.

This brings me nicely to the choice RTCW thrusts upon you in it's Multiplayer.
It was the first game that I had played which included a class system. Depending on what sort of a player you are, and what you enjoy doing - there is a class designed for you.
Are you the ultimate team player, who lives to complete objects, no matter how many times you die? Try an Engineer.
The Engineer class is equipped with the standard side arm, main weapon, but also comes with Dynamite and Pliers.
On most maps within RTCW, there will be a wall that is weakened. The Engineer's job, is quite simply to blow said wall up; creating a path for the rest of the team to run through to grab the objective. The objective of other maps are to blow structures up, like radars or a Nazi submarine. Without a diehard Engineer in your squad of merry men, you will not complete your objective. They are vital.
However, without the help of a Medic, an Engineer won't last five seconds. Medics are crucial, in everyway possible. They throw medic packs, regenerating health, but also wield a Syringe which will resurrect fallen comrades. The only drawback, is they get very limited ammunition. Therefore, an aggressive medic is useless.
My favourite class has to be the Lieutenant. Armed with the standard side arm, main weapon, and ammo packs to give out to greedy team mates, they too are a must in a team. Lts are also armed with Binoculars which they can call in airstrikes with. This function is incredibly accurate, and devastating if done correctly.
If you find yourself under heavy enemy fire and don't have the time to carefully zoom in on an enemy invested hot spot, you can simply throw the airstrike canister onto the ground to call one in too. Although this isn't as accurate or powerful, it still does the trick.

Pinned down by an enemy Machine Gun bunker, unable to move and desperate for some help? If you're lucky, one of your team mates has chosen the Soldier class. The Soldier class is the 'everything else' class. From this you can chose to be a Sniper, a Flamethrower, a Venom (mini gun), or a Panzerfaust dude. All four are incredibly handy when facing difficult defences.
A Flamethrower in the right hands, will devastate enemy bunkers, and all who are hiding within. Panzerfausts will clear out small rooms, whereas Snipers can pick off the remains. The venom is difficult to master, as it takes quite some time to heat up the barrels. Once this is achieved, wave goodbye to the enemy - it's deadly powerful.

What makes the class systems work so well, is the balance the developers carefully enforced. Each class has overwhelming strengths, and crippling weaknesses, which makes team play central to completing your objective; thus being victorious. Without a fair mix of the aforementioned classes, your team will fail...and fail badly.

Even then, if your team does fail don't worry - with the exception of Team Fortress 2, this is the friendliest community I've ever been a part of. Generally, you won't see twelve year old kids spamming hatred to the opposing team, or their own team. You won't be kicked for being a 'noob,' and you won't be victimised for using a Panzer, or a Flamethrower.

In my years of playing RTCW, I don't recall coming against a single hacker. Maybe I was naive, but aimbot and wallhack weren't screamed at players every time they pulled off an insanely skilled shot.
The hat was simply tipped, and a 'Good shot Sir,' was muttered pleasantly.

RTCW is a game I will always remember fondly. It started my interest in online gaming, and was genuinely fun to play. You felt like you were part of something bigger than just a computer game. Due to the intense team work needed to triumph, you made real friends - and a sense of camaraderie from each player was enough to tear-up over.
I'm hoping when RTCW2 is released, it'll continue with the same formula that made it's older brother so incredibly enjoyable. Naturally I am cynical though. Please prove me wrong RTCW2...please.

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Comments 3 < [1] >
Ninja 06-09-10 Location: - Posts: 124	# 1 - 28-08-08 at 2:22 PM i used to play this a long time back, was good fun
Met* 22-10-09 Location: Newcastle Posts: 106	# 2 - 28-08-08 at 2:26 PM That's probably the key word mate. It was 'fun.' I could happily play a few hours of RTCW and just chill out and enjoy the experience. With modern games now it feels more of a chore.
KillerB 16-01-10 Location: - Posts: 261	# 3 - 28-08-08 at 2:32 PM it was an amazing game in single player but very hard against the mutated creatures on its hardest level. Multiplayer i have no clue as i always got my games in a non legal way ^^

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