Wolfenstein multiplayer modes detailed

By Robert Purchese Published 31 July, 2009

Supernatural powers, persistent upgrades.

Endrant Studios has detailed the online portion of the new Wolfenstein game, which arrives on 21st August on PC, PS3 and Xbox 360.

The key differentiators are supernatural veil powers and a persistent upgrade unlock system, both of which help protagonist BJ through the single-player campaign where very big and very Nazi baddies await.

But game designer Matt Wilson told GameSpot that Endrant doesn't want multiplayer characters to be as powerful, so BJ has been split into three classes - soldier, medic and engineer - and each has a unique set of appropriate veil powers.

Upgrades won't stack like in single-player either, but be restricted to use one at a time. Will you go for power over accuracy or reload time over recoil-kick, for example? Or perhaps you will pick faster heals over heals that help both your target and yourself?

The slow-motion power Mire won't translate to multiplayer, as having some people experience slow-down and others seeing a character moving at super-speed is technically very difficult to pull off, and not actually that fun.

Similarly, some of the more exotic veil weaponry won't make multiplayer, as Endrant doesn't want match focus on obtaining those super guns.

Modes will be a mix of familiar deathmatch and team deathmatch, plus Objective and Stopwatch modes. The latter are based around one team accomplishing objectives while the other team tries to stop them. In Stopwatch, however, the roles are reversed half-way through, and the winner is the team that accomplishes the objectives fastest.

Wolfenstein multiplayer will have eight maps, each of which is separate from the single-player game and has its own set of goals.

The Facility map has Resistance forces breaking into a workshop via a disused railway in order to disable a prototype tank before the Axis forces can transport it to a safety, for example. And in the Rooftop map the Axis forces have found a list of Resistance safe houses, so Resistance must warn the operatives within before the Axises get to them.

Head over to our E3 hands-on impressions of Wolfenstein to find out more.

Picture of Robert.

About Robert Purchese

Bertie is Eurogamer's Senior Staff Writer. When he's not hunting down news stories he's often found playing with his kids or gabbling about fantasy games and strange online worlds.

Read more articles from Robert by visiting the Robert Purchese archive page.

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Comments (11) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • thegamesthething #1 3 years ago

    Anything close to RTCW / ET would be fantastic. The inclusion of medic and engineer is a very good sign.



  • cockknobs #2 3 years ago

    @MrMarc

    I just registered to agree with your comment. Wolfenstein: Enemy Territory is one of the best, most underrated online FPS games EVER.

    I wasn't excited for the new game until I read:

    ""Wolfenstein multiplayer will have eight maps, each of which is separate from the single-player game and has its own set of goals.

    The Facility map has Resistance forces breaking into a workshop via a disused railway in order to disable a prototype tank before the Axis forces can transport it to a safety, for example. And in the Rooftop map the Axis forces have found a list of Resistance safe houses, so Resistance must warn the operatives within before the Axises get to them."

    "FIRE IN ZI HOLE"
    "ENEMY, IN THE SKIES"

  • Eraysor #3 3 years ago

    This has 6/10 written all over it.

  • RedSparrows #4 3 years ago

    If it's like RTCW, as mentioned, yes plx. Just better, obv. I really liked the SP of that game, it was creepy.

  • skillian #5 3 years ago

    anybody else past caring about wolfenstein or is it just me?

    Even now, W:ET is a better game than nearly every recent multiplayer FPS IMO.

    I'm sure it's not just you but there are definitely a lot of people excited about this release and hoping beyond hope that it might be as good as that game.
    Edited by 1 at 31/07/09 @ 13:56

  • UberFrog #6 3 years ago

    It's funny how there's relatively few that even know of the old W:ET game, although it has a far better gameplay than other great games like CS and CoD. Being a fan of FPS games and not tried W:ET yet, is like being a fan of RPG genre and not tried AAA games like Fallout3, Baldurs Gate or Diablo2 yet.

  • DerAlte #7 3 years ago

    ETQW, W:ET and even RTCW are definitely the best online FPS. BF2 is ok for the vast landscapes, planes etc. but if you like objective-based teamplay, which is always the most interesting mode, there's no way around the Big 3.

  • DUFFKING #8 3 years ago

    Wolfenstein and Wolf ET were brilliant, hope this is similar.

  • Harmonica #9 3 years ago

    An upgraded W:ET (/Tides of War) would do just fine - and I assume that's what we're getting.

    The single player will no doubt be average, but that's fine, just as long as the multiplayer does what it says on the tin.

    I'm hoping they bring back some of the old maps. Not Trenchtoast, obviously.

  • Trafford #10 3 years ago

    I could get quite excited about this.RTCW was excellent on line.
    Dammit I am excited!

  • mcbain23 #11 3 years ago

    Bit disappointed to hear that field ops and covert ops have been dropped..