Return to Castle Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory

"One of the best games in life IS FREE!"

Wolfenstein ET is definitely one of the better first-person shooters out there. It is very fast paste and very addicting, not to mention, very fun! While it shares the same name as RTCW, it is an entirely different game. Its an online multiplayer FPS, relies more on teamwork than individual run-and-gun tactics (while sometimes it is that), and the best part is that it is COMPLETELY FREE. For a game like this, or just about any game, you cant beat that kind of deal.

Gameplay 9/10 : The game itself isn't altogether too hard, unless you're going against people with aimbots or just really stink at FPS/games. It becomes very addicting, very fast, and with 6 maps plus many, many 3rd party maps, it keeps on going. Like most, if not all, shooters, it does involve the run-and-gun tactics, but it also involves alot of teamwork. If you are wounded, you can call on a medic to help you out, call a field ops for ammo, or call for an engineer to help you and some buddies get past a certain area. To put it short, one person cant do everything in the game, or can not do those things well. Alot of the game requires the help of your buddies.
There are also five special classes of playable characters, each one different. Soldiers are the ones who handle the heavy weapons such as Panzerfausts, Portable MG42's, and Mortars, all which serve well for covering fire. Field Ops can help out other classes by handing out ammo packs or calling air strikes or artillery support onto enemy troops. Medics are pretty much self-explanatory. They can revive downed troops, heal wounded ones, and can even dose themselves with adrenaline to fighter harder. Engineers are the builders. They can repair broken machinery, plant and disarm dynamite, and build all sorts of helpful objects like command posts, assault ramps and barriers. Covert Ops is the class you need to have if you want to sneak into the enemy base. Covert Ops can where enemy uniforms, dish out smoke grenades, provide sniper fire, and even come equipped with satchel charges capable of taking out smaller enemy fortifications or command posts (or detonating the average soldier, whichever you prefer).
In addition to these classes, there are also rankings. You start out as a Private and can eventually work your way up with higher XP point to gain the rank of a 3-star general. Not just for bragging rights, these higher rankings or level-ups will award you special abilities (breath-control, faster reload, etc.) or extra ammo.
The controls are a pretty standard WASD for FPS and work very well. I have found no issues in the controls for this game at all.

Graphics 8/10: The graphics aren't revolutionary but they aren't 8-bit blocks, either. Not much eye candy, but overall they are good for the game.

Sound 8/10: Nothing you'll be humming along the road or anything but most of it sounds great. The weapons, the bits of music and sound effects, and probably the best is the quick chat voices. Its really great to gloat it up at the end of the game with the "Ja haa!", "Woo!", or "The Enemy is Weakened!"

Replay Value 7/10: Pretty good, especially since you start with only six maps but can go and download many 3rd party maps. While it is fun for a while or longer, it can get monotonous unless you meet more of a challenge in players. There could definitely be a bit more variation and more replay.

Final 8/10:
definitely worth it. What are you possibly going to lose, you don't even have pay for it. While you may get tired of it, as you would any game, it is definitely worth the download wait.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 06/03/04