Info about Wolfenstein: The New Order:

Official game description:
Wolfenstein®: The New Order reignites the series that created the first-person shooter genre. Developed by MachineGames, a studio comprised of a seasoned group of developers recognized for their work creating story-driven games, Wolfenstein offers a deep game narrative packed with action, adventure and first-person combat.  
Intense, cinematic and rendered in stunning detail with id® Software’s id Tech® engine, Wolfenstein sends players across Europe on a personal mission to bring down the Nazi war machine. With the help of a small group of resistance fighters, infiltrate their most heavily guarded facilities, battle high-tech Nazi legions, and take control of super-weapons that have conquered the earth – and beyond.
Key Features
------------
The Action and Adventure  
Wolfenstein's breath-taking set pieces feature storming a beachfront fortress on the Baltic coast, underwater exploration, player-controlled Nazi war machines, and much more – all combined to create an exhilarating action-adventure experience.  
The Story and Characters  
Hi-octane action and thrilling adventure weaved together into a tightly paced, super immersive game narrative featuring memorable characters.  
The History and Setting  
Set against a backdrop of an alternate 1960s, discover an unfamiliar world ruled by a familiar enemy—one that has changed and twisted history as you know it.  
The Arsenal and Assault  
Break into secret research facilities and heavily guarded weapon stashes to upgrade your tools of destruction. Experience intense first-person combat as you go up against oversized Nazi robots, hulking Super Soldiers and elite shock troops.

Release date: May 19, 2014

Categories: First-Person Shooter, Action Adventure, Story-driven Gameplay, Single-player, Alternate History, Character Interaction, Weapon Customization

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 10; verdict: Poor; summary: The primary issue identified in the user feedback is related to technical problems, specifically system freezes during cutscenes and bugs related to alt-tabbing. These issues are severe and significantly detract from the overall user experience.
- Proton/Linux: score 30; verdict: Minor Tweaks; summary: The game has a mixed experience on Linux. While some users report that it runs well out of the box with Proton and the latest Nvidia drivers, others face significant issues with Vulkan and account creation. These problems require additional steps or workarounds, indicating that while the game is playable on Linux, it may require some tweaking for optimal performance.
- Steam Deck: score 45; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience reveals a mix of positive and negative aspects. While the game is praised for its performance and controls, there are notable issues with stability and the lack of cloud saves. Graphics quality is a mixed bag, with some users experiencing issues with anti-aliasing. Overall, the game seems to offer a good experience on the Steam Deck but requires some tweaking and improvements to address the reported issues.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: The game generally performs well on higher VRAM configurations, with notable issues arising in lower VRAM setups. Players with 8GB VRAM or less often report performance problems, while those with higher VRAM configurations experience smoother gameplay with some requiring mods or tweaks for optimal performance.
  - Sample size: 128 (2% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (mixed, 79 reports): Performance varies widely, with some users experiencing smooth gameplay at 60 FPS while others report significant issues like crashes and freezes.
  - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (positive, 24 reports): Generally good performance, though some users report FPS drops and the need for mods to achieve optimal performance.
  - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (positive, 18 reports): Smooth performance overall, with some users noting the need for mods to unlock higher FPS and minor issues with certain tweaks.
  - Caveats: 128 of 5370 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $3.00 - $20.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence shows that users consistently mention the game being worth it when purchased on sale, with specific price points ranging from as low as $3 to around $20. The sentiment is that the game provides good value for money at these discounted prices, indicating that the community considers this range fair for the base game.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 19.0h
  - Story completion: 12.0h
  - Session length: 2.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple direct references to playtime metrics. The first quote mentions a base playthrough of just short of 19 hours, which aligns with the game completion time. The second quote provides a range of 10-16 hours depending on playstyle, which supports both the story completion and game completion times. The third quote mentions a playthrough on a higher difficulty, indicating a focused session length. The fourth quote explicitly states 16 hours to complete the storyline, reinforcing the story completion time.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially presents challenges and a steep learning curve, but becomes more enjoyable as players engage with its mechanics and progression systems. The mix of stealth and combat, along with a smooth progression system, contributes to a satisfying experience once the initial hurdles are overcome.
  - Stance: Clicks after
  - Anchor: Understanding and engaging with the game's mechanics and progression systems.
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Challenging initial missions; Repetitive stealth mechanics
  - Unlock drivers: Engaging with the game's mechanics; Progression system; Variety in gameplay styles
  - Conditions: Understanding the game's mechanics; Choosing a preferred timeline; Engaging with the progression system
- Player Archetypes:
  - Story-First Explorer (buy)
    - Motivation: Story and character development
    - Playstyle: Explores all narrative elements, engages with characters, and seeks out lore.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Franchise fan; Lore enthusiast
    - Reference games: Metro; Dishonored
  - Combat Thrill-Seeker (buy)
    - Motivation: Exciting and challenging combat
    - Playstyle: Seeks out intense combat scenarios, enjoys boss fights, and appreciates cinematic action sequences.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Action gamer; Adrenaline junkie
    - Reference games: Doom; Vanquish
  - Completionist Collector (sale)
    - Motivation: Completing all aspects of the game
    - Playstyle: Systematically explores all areas, collects all items, and achieves all in-game goals.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: Completionist; Achievement hunter
    - Reference games: Sniper Elite; Metro
  - Versatile Playstyle Adapter (buy)
    - Motivation: Flexibility in playstyle
    - Playstyle: Adapts playstyle based on the situation, enjoys both stealth and combat.
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: buy
    - Labels: Tactical gamer; Adaptive player
    - Reference games: Dishonored; Deus Ex


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Engaging and immersive story (weight 0.79): The game features an engaging and immersive story with well-developed characters and an intriguing plot. Players appreciate the character-driven narrative and the depth of the storyline, which sets it apart from typical action games.
- Fun and varied combat (weight 0.57): The game offers chaotic and fun combat with a variety of gameplay styles. Players appreciate the fast-paced and satisfying gunplay, as well as the diverse enemy and weapon variety.
- Enjoyable Nazi-killing gameplay (weight 0.29): A significant aspect of the game that players enjoy is the ability to kill Nazis in various ways. This includes using different weapons and methods, which adds to the enjoyment and fun of the gameplay.

Common complaints:
- Issues with cutscenes (weight 0.11): Cutscenes are criticized for being long, having low audio, and not being well-received in terms of quality.
- Inconsistent AI behavior (weight 0.11): The AI in the game is noted for being inconsistent and having behavior issues, particularly with enemy AI.
- No online multiplayer (weight 0.09): The game lacks any form of online multiplayer, which is a missed opportunity for many players.
- Performance and pacing issues (weight 0.09): Players have reported various performance issues and problems with the game's pacing.
- Bullet sponge enemies (weight 0.08): Enemies in the game are often criticized for being 'bullet sponges,' requiring too many hits to defeat.
- Limited save options (weight 0.08): The game offers only one save slot and lacks cloud saving, which can be inconvenient for players.
- Controversial enemy choice (weight 0.06): The choice of Nazis as the primary enemies has been a point of contention among players.
- Uber difficulty too easy (weight 0.06): The highest difficulty setting, 'Uber,' is criticized for being too easy, not providing enough challenge.
- No localization (weight 0.05): The game lacks localization and translation, which can be a barrier for non-English speaking players.
- Awkward weapon selection (weight 0.05): The weapon selection wheel is noted for being awkward and difficult to use.
- Increased difficulty (weight 0.04): The game is noted for being somewhat hard, with more difficult gameplay compared to other titles.

Gameplay feedback:
- Focus on defeating Nazis (weight 0.28): A significant portion of the gameplay and story revolves around fighting and defeating Nazis, which is a central theme.
- Story-driven gameplay (weight 0.22): The game features a strong narrative focus with multiple storylines and character-driven storytelling.
- Alternate history setting (weight 0.18): The game is set in an alternate timeline where Nazis won World War II, featuring diverse locations like a Polish asylum, Nazi London, and even a moon base.
- Polished and intuitive gameplay (weight 0.16): The gameplay is noted for being solid, intuitive, and polished, with strong mechanics that are enjoyable and well-executed.
- Intense and satisfying combat (weight 0.16): The combat is described as loud, chaotic, intense, and brutal, providing a dynamic and satisfying experience.
- First-person shooter campaign (weight 0.15): The game features a fun and engaging first-person shooter campaign, reminiscent of classic 'boomer shooters'.
- Multiple difficulty settings (weight 0.15): The game offers various difficulty levels, catering to different player preferences and providing challenging gameplay.
- Enemy AI behavior (weight 0.12): The game includes intelligent enemy AI with scripted behaviors, although some feedback mentions basic AI pathing.
- Fun and fast-paced gunplay (weight 0.11): The gunplay is described as fun and fast-paced, contributing to an enjoyable and lengthy gameplay experience.
- Variety of weapons (weight 0.11): Players have access to a wide range of weapons and customization options, adding depth to the combat experience.
- Dual-wielding weapons (weight 0.1): A unique feature of the game is the ability to dual-wield weapons, adding to the combat dynamics.
- Progression and perk system (weight 0.1): The game includes a progression system with perks and achievements, enhancing player engagement and replayability.
- Dystopian dieselpunk setting (weight 0.08): The game is set in a dystopian atmosphere with a dieselpunk aesthetic, contributing to its unique visual and thematic style.
- Fast-paced movement (weight 0.08): The gameplay is characterized by fast movement and a linear progression, keeping the action dynamic and engaging.

Performance notes:
- Smooth performance on various hardware (weight 0.38): The game runs smoothly on a range of hardware, from older systems to maxed-out settings on modern PCs.
- Mixed graphics feedback (weight 0.25): Opinions on graphics vary; some find them good or impressive for the time, while others note they are dated or have minor issues.
- 60 FPS cap frustration (weight 0.23): Many players are frustrated with the game's locked 60 FPS cap, which prevents higher refresh rates even on capable hardware.
- Stability and optimization praised (weight 0.22): The game is noted for its stable performance and good optimization, even on lower-end hardware.
- Sound design praised (weight 0.15): The game's sound design, including atmospheric soundscapes and voice acting, is highly praised.
- Mods for performance improvements (weight 0.06): Players mention using mods like idTweaker to improve performance and unlock additional graphical settings.
- Ultrawide and multi-monitor issues (weight 0.06): The game has issues with ultrawide displays and multi-monitor setups.
- Positive feedback on controls and battery usage (weight 0.06): The game is praised for its controls and being gentle on battery life, making it suitable for portable devices like the Steam Deck.
- Detailed environments and lighting (weight 0.06): The game features richly detailed environments and striking lighting effects, contributing to its visual appeal.

Recommendations:
- Highly recommended game (weight 0.23): The game is highly recommended by many players, often described as a must-play and given high ratings such as 10/10.
- Modern masterpiece with great storytelling (weight 0.14): The game is described as a modern masterpiece that demonstrates how shooters can tell great stories.
- Play 'The Old Blood' first (weight 0.14): For a complete narrative experience, it is recommended to play 'The Old Blood' before this game.
- Worth the price even without a discount (weight 0.13): Some players feel the game is worth the price even without a discount, while others recommend buying it on sale.
- Recommended for action and war game fans (weight 0.12): The game is particularly recommended for those who enjoy action-packed campaigns and war games.
- Worth checking out (weight 0.12): Many players suggest that the game is worth checking out and having the experience.
- Difficulty tips for players (weight 0.11): The game offers difficulty tips for both casual and hardcore players, suggesting different difficulty settings for optimal enjoyment.
- Best reboot of the series (weight 0.09): The game is considered the best reboot of the series and is highly praised.
- Recommended for fans of specific genres (weight 0.09): The game is recommended for fans of games like DOOM, Quake 4, and strong-stomached players.
- Recommended for narrative and single-player FPS fans (weight 0.07): The game is recommended for fans of story-driven games and single-player FPS experiences.
- Recommended for fans of alternate history (weight 0.07): The game is suggested for those who enjoy alternate history and FPS action shooters.

Other player notes:
- Content warnings needed (weight 0.09): Reviews mentioned the presence of sexual content and other potentially disturbing elements like thanatophobia and helplessness.
- Concerns about graphic violence (weight 0.07): Multiple reviews highlighted concerns about the graphic violence present in the game.
- Accessibility issues (weight 0.06): Some players pointed out issues related to photosensitive epilepsy and visual shocks, suggesting a need for accessibility considerations.
- Nostalgia for original game (weight 0.03): Some players mentioned playing the original Castle Wolfenstein on the Apple II Plus, indicating a sense of nostalgia.

Emotions:
- Enjoyment (weight 0.2): Players enjoy the game's engaging story, satisfying gunplay, and the variety of gameplay mechanics, including stealth and action. The theme of killing Nazis, character development, and the mix of alternative history with well-optimized performance also contribute to the overall enjoyment.
- Excitement (weight 0.15): The game's fast-paced action, intense combat, and engaging story generate excitement. Players are also thrilled by the unique setting, creative storyline, and the variety of enemies and weapons, which make the gameplay experience dynamic and immersive.
- Frustration (weight 0.11): Frustration stems from high difficulty levels, unclear objectives, and performance issues such as crashes and bugs. Poorly designed levels, enemy AI behavior, and specific challenging sections like boss fights also contribute to player frustration.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.11): Players feel satisfied with the game's smooth performance, engaging story, and satisfying combat mechanics. The variety of missions, well-optimized gameplay, and the cathartic experience of killing Nazis add to the overall satisfaction.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.06): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's connection to the Wolfenstein series and memories of playing earlier titles. The game's vintage aspects, its impact over time, and comparisons to classic games bring back fond memories for players.
- Disappointment (weight 0.05): Disappointment arises from the game not meeting expectations, with criticisms directed at the story, lack of certain elements like supernatural aspects, and gameplay issues. Some players also express dissatisfaction with the game's difficulty and design choices.
- Appreciation (weight 0.05): Players appreciate the game's deep and emotional story, unique setting, and detailed world-building. The themes, compelling characters, and well-balanced pacing are also highly valued.
- Excited (weight 0.05): The game's fantastic ending, excellent graphics, and immersive gameplay generate excitement. Players are also thrilled by the engaging plot, intense combat, and the overall gripping experience.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): Admiration is directed towards the game's amazing storylines, detailed setting, and the combination of intense action with emotional narrative. The powerful mix of alternative history and deep drama is also highly praised.
- Satisfied (weight 0.02): Players are satisfied with the game's smooth performance, enjoyable story, and satisfying gameplay. The fast gunplay, excellent weapon variety, and overall quality contribute to this feeling.
- Joy (weight 0.02): Joy comes from the fun combat sections, solid gameplay mechanics, and the overall enjoyable experience. Players find happiness in the intriguing story and the engaging gameplay.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Enthusiasm is driven by the positive experience with the game's combat mechanics, story, and level design. High recommendations and the enjoyment of the game's language diversity and fun gameplay contribute to this feeling.
- Engaged (weight 0.02): Players feel engaged due to the dynamic and fast-paced story, well-refined characters, and captivating gameplay. The strong storytelling and varied gameplay elements keep players immersed.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise comes from the game's story and characters exceeding expectations. The unexpected emotional depth and the overall effort put into the game's narrative are also surprising elements.
- Frustrated (weight 0.01): Frustration is caused by strange timeline selections, repetitive cutscenes, and performance issues. Difficult challenges and saving issues also add to the frustration.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement is driven by the strong storytelling, character development, and fascinating alternate history. The impactful narrative and memorable characters keep players engaged.
- Disappointed (weight 0.01): Disappointment arises from the story getting goofy towards the end, buggy audio, and a weak ending. These elements do not meet the players' expectations.
- Nostalgic (weight 0.01): Nostalgia is evoked by the game's iconic status and the history with the character and the game series. The game holds a special place in the reviewer's heart, bringing back fond memories.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from the humorous storyline summary and the critique of the American hero narrative. The reviewer's wife watching and laughing also adds to the amusement.
- Fear (weight 0.01): Fear is generated by jump scares, terrifying moments, and horror elements in the game. Real-world issues mentioned in the review also contribute to this feeling.}