“That’s the one with Mecha-Hitler, right?” I asked myself this past E3 during Bethesda’s press conference. Until I saw Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus‘ debut trailer, I didn’t have the slightest interest in this beloved series. But now I’m obsessed.
A great reveal trailer is worth 10,000 words
What in the actual hell is this game? Why did that massive, bloodthirsty, robotic Lassie char roast that pick-up truck? When did the Nazi’s decide to terrorize American milkshake shops? Who let this Silent Hill-esque face cage explode into existence?
I hadn’t so much as thought about playing a Wolfenstein game until 2014’s warmly received Wolfenstein: The New Order came out. But even then, like, Watch_Dogs was about to come out, and we all thought that was gonna be the next big thing. Remember that? Simpler times.
But then the E3 2017 debut trailer for Wolfenstein II came out, and I was shaken to my core. What kind of game trailer starts with a bizarre homage to 1950’s TV shows and ends with a Nazi taking an axe to the face? Well, now we know.
This trailer hit all the right notes for me: a blasé guy casually playing the clarinet during a firefight, robotic limbs smacking cookies into their owner’s face, Nazi-killing. That one trailer was all it took to get someone who knew next to nothing about the series to anticipate every bit of news until release.
A steady stream of blood and laughs
Luckily, we didn’t have to wait long, as The Game Fanatics had a chance to go hands-on with Wolfenstein II during that E3. We were happy to report that, though the tone of the original had veered in a slightly more comedic direction, it still held the emotional depth of the original. And Nazi killing.
Then, by the end of July, Bethesda graced us with three lengthy developer playthroughs. One showed us the E3 demo of protagonist B.J. Blazkowicz mowing through Nazis in a wheelchair. Another took B.J. through an alternate reality Roswell New Mexico, overrun with Nazis that you get to shoot. The last showed off a boss battle against a Nazi Mech, which is just as satisfying to watch explode as any regular Nazi. It also ended with B.J. riding off into the distance on a dope South Park-like single-wheeled motorcycle.
Bethesda and MachineGames have also released quirky alternate reality pro-Nazi cartoon and television show snippets, showcased alongside developer commentary videos. They’re bizarre, unsettling, and informative. Don’t believe me: just watch.
Wolfenstein II’s second coming
Then this morning, MachineGames really drove home their case for buying Wolfenstein II day one with a new gameplay trailer.
No looking back.
So I’m buying Wolfenstein II. Despite never having played The New Order. Despite knowing next to nothing about the history of the franchise. And even despite it coming out the same day as Super Mario Odyssey, Assassin Creed Origins, AND Stranger Things: Season 2.
You’d better not let me down, Blazkowicz.
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