Wolfenstein Young Blood


There really is no bond tighter than that of a family. Let's face it, a family that slays together stays together. 


Youngblood opens with an introduction into family Blazkowicz some nineteen years after BJ ignited the second American revolution. BJ and Anya have settled down with a farm and raised their twin daughters Jess and Soph into strong self sufficient young women. 
Fast forward a bit and BJ has gone missing and Jess and Soph have gone off after him into NAZI occupied France showcasing their bravado for all to see. 

Growing up with the constant threat of another NAZI invasion can't have been easy. Luckily BJ and Anya have been preparing the girls since they were born.




Young Blood is not only a continuation of the story but also a bit of a side story evident with a few changes to gameplay style. Most noticeably is the option to play the entire game in co-op with a friend or AI partner. Bethesda has also introduced the buddy system, quite simply a friend can download the demo and play the entire game as long as one of you has the full title. Not a bad deal if you ask me. 

Gameplay is as you would expect. First person shooter and very much a Bethesda title. Good strong basics as would be expected from a Wolfenstein game although it feels much more sluggish this time around forcing me to bump up the sensitivity for a more free flowing feel.

Playing on the PS4 Pro Wolfenstein: Youngblood looks brilliant however not overly optimized. Frame rates were noticeably fluctuating with substantial screen tearing in parts to the point it was frustrating to play. 




Enemies are walking bullet sponges and the more skilled who enjoy moving through enemies quicker with head shots will be disappointed as there really isn't much use for them. While this is touted as a first person shooter, it kinda is but kinda isn't too. RPG mechanics have been thrown in there to help with level progression but they don't really work. Too often Young Blood gives you a choice, boringly grind out the levels to progress easier, or struggle through till you get to a point where you have to grind to meet the min level to progress. Open world elements are a fresh take on the hallways and linear track of previous Wolfenstein titles that Arkane and MachineGames will learn from for their next titles. 

The main characters are a unique pair. Strong, resourceful and ready to kill NAZI's everything you would expect from a Blazkowicz unfortunately they have been let down by a lackluster story and cringe worthy dialogue. To begin with the banter and bravado between the pair was good. Little moments made me laugh out loud on more than one occasion and the sisterly bond was ever so present, but that wears away quickly to leave behind a shallow barrel of school yard quips that get old very quickly. 





Let's be honest Wolfenstein has always been about killing NAZI's and taking back a world taken and despite its shortcomings Wolfenstein Youngblood has this in droves. The feel of the resistance taking the fight to a superior force is still very much alive and if that is all you focus on you will have a good time. 

Wolfenstein Youngblood is a side step from the main series and tries some new mechanics that don't quite work this time around but there is room to move and grow. Bethesda will hurt due to the microtransaction backlash that is a current hot topic but as I've always said, don't use them if you don't want to. If you want to spend more money after buying a full priced game that is up to you. 


Arkane Studios and MachineGames have taken some risks with a much loved series. Some have paid off, others haven't nonetheless switch your brain off and have a bit of fun because at the end of the day that's what gaming is about. Better yet, this time around bring a friend. 


Developed: Arkane Studios & MachineGames

Published: Bethesda
Available: Now
Platforms: Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, Microsoft Windows, Google Stadia, Xbox One 

Platform Reviewed on: PS4

Reviewer: Snoogs



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