Return to Castle Wolfenstein (PC CD)

Set during World War II, Return to Castle Wolfenstein finds the Nazis dabbling in the black arts in an effort to raise a demonic prince from the dead and create an army of uber soldats. Naturally, Blazkowicz is the only thing that can stop this supernatural onslaught, so he's set behind enemy lines in an effort to stop Himmler and his evil lieutenant Deaths Head.

On the surface, the single-player game seems like pure gold--after all, everyone loves blowing away Nazis. The graphics look great and the catacomb levels are non-stop action as the armies of the undead are intent on sucking your brains out and serving them up on a nice bit of Melba toast. But it’s not the longest game in the world and in the end does fall a little short of the standards set by titles such as Half-Life and Max Payne.

In fact, the best thing about Return to Castle Wolfenstein is its team-based multiplayer mode. Each multiplayer adventure features Axis vs. Allies and both sides offer four character classes: engineer (removes obstacles), medic (heals and revives team-mates), lieutenant (calls in air strikes and replenishes ammo) and soldier (only class able to use sniper rifles, flamethrowers and other unusual weapons). The game includes only eight multiplayer maps, but they are all perfectly designed, and in order to be successful teams have to work together. The result is a great gaming experience that fans of Counter-Strike or the Day of Defeat mode for Half-Life will really appreciate.

Graphically, Return to Castle Wolfenstein looks amazing. It uses the powerful Quake III engine to great effect and the character models, explosions and lighting effects are all perfectly done. --Jason Trebegger

You must first escape from imprisonment in the castle to report the strange creatures and happenings in and around Wolfenstein to the OSA. Your mission takes a drastic turn as you learn the depth of Himmler's plans and what you must do to defeat the evil he has unleashed.

This is what you have been trained for. Your surroundings will be dangerous and hostile. We are currently tracking activities believed to be associated with Himmler in locations throughout Germany including; villages overrun by the occult, hidden crypts, forests, air bases, secret weapons facilities, and genetic labs, to name only the few we are aware of. There are more, and you must find them.

Failure is not an option. If Himmler succeeds, the war is over for the Allies... and the war is over for everyone.