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The mentality most often found in the mainstream video game space tends to be “out with the old, in with the new” - but in the case of Wolfenstein: The New Order, the developers at MachineGames have decided to honor both. The cinematic, sepia-toned warfare of the new game may share little in common with the original entries in the franchise, but it seems the horrors of World War II were too terrible for B.J. Blazkowicz to forget, regardless of which reality he finds himself in.
For players, that means a chance to relive a (brief) portion of Wolfenstein 3D game in a nightmare sequence, and it’s quite easy to find. Once B.J. and friends have found their way into a well-stocked safehouse (after the decision which splits the game into two replayable timelines, and the chilling train ride to Berlin), take a trip to the upper level, and find a mattress next to a familiar poster to let B.J. step back in time.
Polygon has supplied a video walkthrough in the video above, which shows that while the section of classic 3D gameplay may be small, it’s enough to take players back to their roots - and show younger gamers just how treasured the graphics of the surrounding game should truly be.
The New Order may not be the most visually groundbreaking of next-gen shooters, but it’s overflowing with charm and personality. And hopefully, this video shows that in rare cases, stepping away from a game’s source material can be a wise decision in the end.
It may not be the most difficult easter egg to unlock (for which many gamers will be thankful), but it’s nice to see that the developers aren’t trying to cast off the heightened sense of humor or fiction that the series became known for, embracing the outlandish roots instead of seeking to rewrite them. We’re still hard at work on our review, but suffice to say that is a trend continued across the game as a whole.
Will you be picking up Wolfenstein in the coming weeks, or is this video a reminder that the early installments will always be your favorite? Sound off in the comments.
Wolfenstein: The New Order releases May 20, 2014 for the PC, PS3, PS4, Xbox 360, and Xbox One.
Follow Andrew on Twitter @andrew_dyce.
