Return To Castle Wolfenstein

First off, this is the Xbox version, so it will be different from the PC version or PS2. The Xbox version is subtitled, "Tides of War", but I couldn't get it up top.

First, the graphics are great. I don't have a HD TV, but I was still wowed in a consistant baisis. The relections are good, character models are pretty, and the environments look great. To compliants here.

RTCW tries to balance realism with complete insanity, and manages to pull it off. With all automatic weapons from the MP40 to the Venom (more on this baby later) the aiming reticule gets larger as you shoot more. The larger the reticle, the less accurate you are. Good concept, and it isn't as anal as CS. It teaches you to fire in bursts, and crouch. Enemies don't take much lead to bring down (Except for the goons at the end of the game, which are a pain unlike no other).

The AI is good, taking cover, calling out your position and flanking you. Not bad. Howerver this game also tosses in "strange stuff" which happens to be zombies, and cyborgs. You also get a "Tesla Gun" which shoots lightning beams and can kill multiple targets at one time. I don't recall a gatling gun in WWII though.

Now, on to the weapons. You get tons of cool stuff, from the aforementioned Tesla Gun to the Venom (the gatling gun.) to Tommy guns and more conventional weapons. No problems, besides the flamethower is difficult to use (a little practice make this a deadly, scary weapon. The flame effect is really good looking though.) and you NEVER EVER carry enough .45ACP ammo. What does that mean? For those of you who aren't gun nuts, that means most of the time your trusty Tommy Gun and Dual Colts aren't used because you have no ammo. You find gadgets, which can be anything from wine (health recovery) to EMP emmitters (to stun the cyborgs). They are all easy to use and select.

The campaign is fun, with an Xbox exclusive level in the beginning, which is pretty cool. You'll travel all over Nazi territory, shooting them, knifing them, and gibbing them all over the place. There are a few stealth missions, but they aren't too frustrating. You can be stealthy when ever you want, as there is a handy "back stab" move. You sneak up behind the unsuspecting Kraut and pull the trigger. Bam, you knife him, and sometimes he dropps extra goodies.

As a bonus, once you beat the game, the original Wolfenstien 3D is unlocked. I won't talk about it too long here, as I will probably review it seperately. It's still manages to be fun and bear in mind, you also get 3 more episodes, so you really get the original game plus the expansion.

Multiplayer. I don't have anything to say, as I haven't tried it. You must either system link, or go on Xbox Live, and I can do neither.

In the end, this was a fun game. If you like you WWII FPS with a grain of salt, pick this up. If you want it more realistic, buy Call of Duty (I've never played it, but it has to be better then Medal of Honor). To top it off, Return to Castle Wolfenstein should be avalible for $20. You can't lose.

4 star(s) out of 5

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