I have played hundreds, if not thousands of games on a myriad of different platforms, starting with the Atari 2600, and coming all the way up to my iPhone and Wii today.  A lot has changed, but at the same time…a lot has stayed the same.  One of the earliest games I remember playing was Castle Wolfenstein on my Apple II+.  This was an incredible game, a multi-screen maze, in which you are a prisoner during World War II.  Armed initially with nothing more than a six shot pistol and your wits, you must evade the guards and make your way through the maze.  This 2D action game even incorporated synthesized voices as the guards yelled at you to Halt and even swore (in German) when you evaded them.

This game, which was released by Muse software in 1981, was simply revolutionary at the time.  On a platform which was dominated by text based games, with static images, this one brought a whole new level to the action.  It also introduced the stealth-based game, which would not really grab hold for several more years (screencap compliments of Wikipedia).  After a quick sequel, however, the Wolfenstein games faded into that digitized trash heap where great games go when they are replaced by newer…more graphically intense games.

Fortunately, in 1992, ID Software revived the Wolfenstein name with Wolfenstein 3D.   Relying on a more cartoonish format, Wolfenstein 3D carried on the tradition of staying well ahead of its time, introducing one of the original first-person action shooter games.  Now, this fantastic franchise has made its way to the mobile format (over 25 years after its inception) with Wolfenstein RPG.

The biggest difference between the current version and previous incarnations of Castle Wolfenstein is that this one is a turn based game, rather than the free for all firing frenzy of previous versions.  While it did take me a little time to get used to this scheme, I have to admit that it made good sense for this format.  Let’s go ahead and see what else this one has to offer.

Just as in all of the games in this family, you are a World War II prisoner of war.  For reasons unknown, you have been left in an unlocked cell with a pistol.  Unlike some of the previous versions, however, this game will find you trying to break into Castle Wolfenstein, rather than out.  Specifically, as you make your way through the mazes, you hear rumblings of some strange experiments going on over at the Castle.  Your missions lead you from the prison into the Castle, where you will ultimately have to either put a stop to the experiments…or die trying.

Other than the storyline and turn based play-style, the look and feel of the game pick up right where 1992’s Wolfenstein 3D left off.  It starts with the same comic book-style graphics, and goes straight into the somewhat offbeat cast of characters.  Along the way, as any Wolfenstein fan might expect, are plenty of weapons and other supplies for you to find and use. 

I thought the developers did a fantastic job of keeping the storyline moving through the progressively difficult levels in this game. One of the things that really impressed me was the lack of significant cut scenes.  Sure, there were a few, but some games seem to have a hard time remembering that you came to play a game, not watch a movie.  Wolfenstein RPG kept the watching to a minimum and told the story through the action in the game.

One of the other things I really liked was that the game does not end when you complete the game.  After the credits roll, you will have the option of saving and continuing.  Go ahead and do that and you can wander through all of the levels as much as you want, complete with minimal bad guys and plenty of firepower.  I did think it would have been nice if you could have simply selected the level you wanted to play, but wandering through the mazes did not take all that long. 

The ability to go back and replay any level is fantastic. Not only does it prolong the game indefinitely, but it also allows you to leisurely search for any hidden secrets you may have missed.  Find all of the secrets to earn ribbons.  There are five ribbons on each level, and a sixth bonus on several as well.  I enjoyed this secondary mission almost as much as I enjoyed running around shooting bad guys.

The Wolfenstein series is probably the first real computer game I ever enjoyed, way back on my Apple II+ in 1981.  Playing it today, I found the game on my Apple iPod Touch was every bit as good.  Like every member of the Wolfenstein family to date, this one manages to stay well ahead of the curve with innovative gameplay and a creative storyline.  Wolfenstein RPG is available from the iTunes App store for $2.99.

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