How Does Wolfenstein: Youngblood Compare to Previous Wolfensteins? [Spoilers]

This is a video review and critique of Wolfenstein: Youngblood, a co-op spin-off from the main trilogy of modern Wolfensteins. It tries to look at whether it's gained more than it's lost when by pivoting from a linear, story-driven shooter to a nonlinear casual shooter with a social emphasis or whether that shift drags it all down. Spoilers throughout.
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If you enjoyed this video and want to contribute to the production of others like it, please consider donating through the crowdfunding website Patreon: / noahcaldwellgervais

[@JustAndre92]

_"Youngblood_ simply doesn't paint in an emotional palette outside of neon." I love you, Noah.

[@phoenixzappa7366]

This video was very unfair ... to Spear of Destiny

[@Kane.JimLahey.]

...

[@thinkstoomuch4445]

It’s easy to say a game is mediocre, but it harder to explain that mediocrity in a way that is informative as in this video.

[@donniedarko2815]

Thus the video, in reality you’ve added nothing we all didn’t know. You think too much mister.

[@thinkstoomuch4445]

@@donniedarko2815 Yep, it's both a gift and a curse. :)

[@idrinkmilk282]

Explaining why this game is bad is not difficult lol. Too much credit, you have given.

[@_Rick___Grimes_]

@@donniedarko2815 and you haven't added anything by commenting this, congrats, all you did was make yourself seem petty

[@secritiveHalo]

Noah, I'm surprised you didn't bring up how Youngblood dropped the story for the third installment in the reboot series, a game that hasn't even been announced yet. I mean, Hitler is dead? Roth is dead? The world is dying because of some super weapon? A multi-verse is just casually explained like its something we should already know? How much of an absolute amateur do you have to be to spoil our own story in a sub-par social looter-shooter? edit: your* own story

[@WoodsBeatle]

I completely agree

[@manwithastick8756]

The thing about all of this is that even before Youngblood was released the writers at MachineGames have been very obvious that the lead-up to the end of Blaskowicz's story is that he fucking kills Hitler - and that this spinoff is completely separate from it. I find myself less worried about the "what happens" and more interested in the "how it's going to happen" for Wolfenstein 3. Wolfenstein 2 showed it's absolutely willing to kill off its cast (and then some) so even though Youngblood is spoilery it's not like it explains all the minutiae of their next game. I didn't go into Youngblood expecting it to be any more than a serious experiment in improving the combat formula , especially when they announced it was mechanically a collaboration between Arkane and MachineGames, asked players not to treat it like it was the actual sequel to 2, and then priced it at sub-$60. And honestly? I'm not a fan of the excessive RPG elements but on the whole I think the combat is actually an improvement over Wolfenstein 2, which somehow managed to be even worse than the first game at conveying player-critical feedback like health counters. The revive system makes the entire experience a much fairer process and while it doesn't necessarily fit Wolfenstein thematically it makes me optimistic that less of the third game will make me feel like I'm beating my head against a wall.

[@mementoa9025]

@@manwithastick8756 Youngblood falls into a weird position though, it's a spinoff but it takes place years later in the Wolfenstein reboot timeline and characters like Grace become head of the FBI with characters like Roth and Hitler died offscreen with America being liberated in that time frame. It causes some worries over how "canon" the events are, and while the combat is fun it becomes too stale quickly.

[@ethanstapley7018]

Absolutely.

[@secritiveHalo]

@@manwithastick8756 I too am more concerned with "how" rather than "what" with these things. I mean, it's fucking Wolfenstein, of course Hitler has to die (he better be Mecha-Hitler) and Roth is rather elderly. The other two things shouldn't have been so casually dropped in a spin-off. That's my issue here, how Blazkowicz almost literally starts with "PREVIOUSLY ON WOLFENSTEIN;" when he shows up in this game.

[@WritingOnGames]

"Why does BJ do what he does in TNO and TNC? Hope, desperation, revenge, a whole range of real options to choose from. I did what I did in Youngblood to make my numbers go up high enough that I could reach the credits roll." YES, my thoughts exactly. I couldn't agree more on the worrying precedent this potentially sets for whatever comes next in the franchise. "Amorphous, anonymous replayability" is the perfect way to put it. It's hard to think of a game more profoundly disappointing to me. The premise was so, so rich with potential and they do NOTHING with it, precisely because the game's design forbids them from it. The quest-giving resistance NPCs have less than zero reaction to the twist that they've been working for Nazis the entire time, because after all, you still need to be able to transport back to the hub. They still need to be able to give you menial quests regardless of your progress through the story, because you need to have the option of going back and grinding if the final mission is too much for you. The team does nothing to justify it and like everything else in Youngblood, throws the unbelievably careful theming of the previous Wolfenstein games under the bus in the process. This game really got to me, in case you couldn't tell. Your video perfectly captured the reasons why. Great job as always!

[@George-zj9rr]

This is why I'm terrified of Dishonored or Prey sequels. If Bethesda smells microtransaction money to be squeezed out of something, they'll demand it gets put in.

[@Bentley109]

I agree with everything you said. To me, what made TNO and TNC so satisfying was that the killing felt personal for BJ. Shooting Nazis is fun on its own sure, but turning them into generic shoot-n-loot enemies feels passionless and disconnected from history. All the excessive gore and shooting was satisfying largely because it was intimate to BJ in a sense. TNO even felt like a losing battle for BJ, but every kill, every gorey Nazi dismemberment, felt like a personal victory for him. A refusal to surrender to tyranny in a world that overwhelmingly decided to. That personal element was what made the first two games resonate and stand out so much and be so unique in a sea of first person shooters. I hope they continue with that in Wolf 3.

[@armedwombat6816]

One sign that your game's story is weak: when you could easily replace the main enemy with something else and it would make just as much sense. The nazis could have been replaced by killer robots, by the Combine form Half-Life, and a dozen other villains... and absolutely nothing would have changed.

[@dewittbourchier7169]

One thing they did get right was some of the atmosphere and the readables are still good. Lothar Brandt and the Fourth Reich were also good in that it was the one thing consistent with other games that came before in making the point about Nazism. Namely that 'reform' or 'renovation' in this instance means, being Nazis, that they will just get even crazier and omnicidal. Everything else is bad, wrong or a missed opportunity. For example one level up could have been a random save when all seems lost with a member of the French resistance killing an enemy causing you misery or sacrificing their life to save you - showing that as you fight the French Resistance is becoming bolder, more active and that you are having an impact on people such that they will go out of their way to save you. They also should have made a Nazi villain that is personal to the sisters and that represents either a warped version of themselves or a handsome, charismatic Nazi who appeals to their blooming sexuality - but who says things in the midst of this to remind them and the player lest anyone get any ideas that this is a Nazi and he regards them as completely inferior. Well that is just one of many things that are missed opportunities or stupidity in this.

[@Grandmaster-Kush]

@@George-zj9rr As a huge fan of Dishonored 1 I fear the magic of Dunwall is already gone

[@johnoneil9188]

When the New Order came out I was not really interested for a long time. Being German the Wolfenstein games have always been either banned or heavily cut and censored here so I had not actually heard of the franchise before. More on a whim I watched an LP of it and was very much surprised and astonished by not only how good of a game it is but by how engaging the story, characters and world of it are. When the New Colossus came around I bought it uncut with the help of an American friend and played it on my PS4 because, differently to PC, it doesn´t have a region lock. I loved New Colossus to bits, even if some people complain about it as being worse than New Order and it is one of my favorite shooter games to date. So I did the same with Youngblood when it came out but found myself very disappointed by it. It is a lot more gameplay with a lot less substance. I just hope that it was an experiment and not the way future games will be like.

[@dewittbourchier7169]

Ouch, doubly disappointing as Youngblood was the first uncensored Wolfenstein game in Germany and TNC made that possible as people pointed out, as I understand it, that the game highlighted how stupid German federal law on this was because the game takes the Holocaust and the Nazis very seriously, so having to edit out Hitler clearly being Hitler and replacing his ravings about Jews with 'traitors' was ITSELF creepy and minimising the past. Too bad it was Youngblood - a missed opportunity of a game.

[@ephemeraldisle]

I just finished the Outer Worlds video, guess I'll strap in for one more

[@AGFuzzyPancake]

it's not like you ever regret it.

[@Pumunke]

I happened to already be up late when I saw first one had dropped and was very tired by the time I finished the second. Hahahaha

[@karlklein2263]

The most disappointing thing about youngblood is that the 80's in general is so chock full of fun and interesting weird futuristic stuff to explore, and we get little to none of that.

[@steviegilliam5685]

Plus it technically spoiled Wolfenstein 3 if it was to exist cause they'd have to make mecha Hitler in the 3rd installment

[@TheDepressedTurtle]

Wow two videos in two days! Thanks Noah, rock on 😊

[@tralalalashalalal]

third one is coming soon

[@ExeErdna]

My #1 problem with Youngblood is that 18 or so years have passed since the last game and they STILL haven't dealt with all the Nazis. This game to me always seemed like an excuse to keep playing in a universe that should have at least started to heal when really it's just as bad if not worse than when we first returned here. So much of this game to me screamed "why are we still here doing this?"

[@bowserinhojackson456]

Everytime I see your name at the top of my feed, I alway light up with joy. Thank you kind sir

[@idrinkmilk282]

You alway light up with joy?

[@ghaspar]

These are sooo well done. Please don't stop. On a side note, I really appreciate the reading of patreons list. Dedication!

[@Felixicity]

thank you so much, I need something soothing to watch today so much. I'm so glad you do these

[@murrygatchen1196]

On fire with these Uploads man.

[@ndm8225]

Oh my, Mr. Gervais, am I glad you rang twice today.

[@cyrilchannie5120]

Oh Noah got 2 in the tuck? We move!👌🏾

[@fatmando82]

Thanks for your thoughtful critique as usual! I am always eager to hear your thoughts and am grateful that you have the ability to explore deeply (as in your longer videos) but also can succinctly express yourself in these shorter videos as well. I hope the pressure to make long form analysis subsides and you are able to continue making content at the pace and length that is appropriate for the subject as well as your own personal needs. Take care!

[@skrotosd]

Glad you have all those patreons, you channel is criminally underrated.

[@GreebusBleeb]

I was just browsing my feed when I saw this and just lit up. Two in a row, thanks Noah!

[@WoWKackorot]

Always appreciate your thought provoking deep dives Mr.Gervais.

[@PyramidHACK]

Twofer, yes! I don't care how long I ever have to wait for one of you videos, it's always worth it.

[@ThatResolves]

You're looking super healthy right now, that time on the road has done you well! and it's great to see you rapid firing content out! 💜

[@alexanderthemagnifcent2573]

Fuck me ! That was fast. Was not expecting the next video so soon. Good work.

[@sidremus]

I was really glad how Noah talked about difficulty. I'm the kind of gamer who usually plays on highest difficulty too, at least in shooters. But it's experience I can hardly share with a lot of people, especially not many gamers I play together with. Playing with people who haven't spent the thousands of hours I have, maybe even those who may play a shooter for the first time, it's ridiculously hard to find a game they can play. Like, I started shooters with Unreal Tournament 2003. But I did so as an early teen, with the time, patience and reflexes to get good at them fast. But when my partner says she wants to give Wolfenstein a shot, even on the lowest difficulty, the only struggle she would have is with the controls. Never a chance to experience in any way close to the way I did.

[@zoologyisboring]

You are absolutely right about the ammo problem with the last boss fight. It was a nightmare to solo that fight.

[@XavierGrim]

Hearing you compare the set pieces to that of Dishonored 2 just makes me want to dive into that series again. I'd also love to hear your thoughts on its DLC.

[@OMGWTFBBQ1090]

So many videos have been released in such a short time its taken me 2 days to realise they are new videos and not old ones I've forgotten about.

[@huwguyver4208]

Hey, I'm not planning to play this game so I can watch all of this video! You're the man Noah!

[@afluffywhitekitty8589]

You make me care about games that I never would have cared about otherwise. Love all your videos

[@No20six]

NOAH! awesome videos, yet again!

[@burhanudinzamri2772]

Two NCG videos in two days? Amazing. Phenomenal. Count me in.

[@generalkrang7138]

Great essay!! Thank you Noah!

[@mikedrop4421]

Another upload? Noah are you ok? Producing feature length retrospective is a video game analysis takes time. He's not just reacting to a song or music video, and, movie trailers. A little NCG is exactly what I needed today. Thanks again

[@terminatrix5444]

Holy hell so much content. Two in two days.

[@Heywoooo]

great vid as always. i 100 percented this solo recently, it isn't actually too difficult if you just soak up as much experience as you can in the early levels, and for all the flack it gets for including microtransactions the reason i played this one whilst i missed the previous games in the franchise is because this was released at a lower price point, and i more than got my money's worth

[@sandwichdelta]

Back to back review videos? Noah you spoil us.

[@Ikcatcher]

Two vids in one day? You’re really spoiling me here

[@yabo_san]

diggin the disco in the intro

[@tobiaseriksson475]

Great vid, have a like! I went through the whole thing solo on normal difficulty, no problem, even the final fight. It's a shooter and the shooting is still fun. Almost gave up once though, when 3 missions in a row were in the same location. This is not what anyone wants from a Wolfenstein game but it's ok compared to the division 2 etc. God i love The new order and the chaos of The old blood. More of THAT pleeease!

[@Yfr28]

Holy shit, Aron Dembski-Bowden is donating to your patreon

[@dapper7486]

i think the timeline thing is the wyatt/fergus split. the youngblood one is fergus where they never find the key or something like that.

[@williamransom940]

Whoo more Noah!

[@talkingtoast1200]

omg so sneaky Noah I LOVE IT

[@DerUnglaublicheFrank]

NANI?! Two videos in two days?! Noah you are the best!

[@willrigby8202]

Two videos in one day? You really do spoil us Noah.

[@Narokkurai]

And here I was, thinking I was going to get to go back to sleep. Thanks Noah.

[@noelv1976]

This was a strange game. Only 4 major missions, side missions was just going through the same 4.locations, story was short, no real emotion after beating the final boss, didn't know you couldn't go back to the first crate in Riverside because I didn't have that slam ability, soldiers could see in the dark underground tunnels....it was alright shooter.

[@TheOwlslayer]

Another wonderful video, thanks for making these, Noah!

[@calderhall1794]

Honestly this game is a perfect reason for the middle market title. Imagine if this game was sold for 30 usd and had a run time of about 8-12 hours. I think that would almost be worth it.

[@aragoonn]

"a strange and experimental deviation" is a nice way to say "a game compromised by the Bethesda's greed and need to ride the live-service train."

[@Gruntvc]

Remember their "save player one" marketing from a few years ago? Man, did that prove to be a load crap in the long run.

[@JINORU_]

@@Gruntvc It was also a few years ago.

[@davidcolby167]

Ah... yeah, that's basically it.

[@avshzjkncffj8652]

@@Gruntvc Yes, because they are only making multiplayer games now. You know that Bethesda aren't the only company that tried to take the Fallout IP online?

[@mortman200]

I do think they're weighing whether or not to do the dimension hopping storyline because Jess and Soph knock BJ out of his reverie by telling him that he can wish for a different world all he wants, but the world they're currently in is the one they have to fight for. I hope they stick with that.

[@Henrik_Holst]

When I came to that part of the game I just thought that they used it to convey that he happened to glimpse into our world where the Nazis lost the war and that there was nothing more to it. Interesting how people can come off with so different thoughts and ideas :)

[@MollyGermek]

Oh no. Are they going to have us go into an alternate dimension and find that the Soviets won the cold war and then make us kill communists? God, that would be the absolute worst way this franchise could end.

[@PandleHandle]

You're spoiling us, Noah ;)

[@Lycosa]

Banger intro... Bayyhhd giiirls. Funky, groovy. Disco.

[@mr.t7846]

Oh man, Noah you're spoiling us! Too bad that you were disappointed twice (albeit mildly in the case of The Outer Worlds). Let's hope you get something more exhilarating next time.

[@Necroskull388]

Aka, "Hopefully he experiences Disco Elysium soon"

[@luska5522]

Oh my god, Noah is quick firing a ton of videos

[@codyeversole3745]

The hardest working man on KZbin at it again with another banger

[@DrCaesarMD]

2 for 1? Who do you think you are? Some kind of critique God? Love it man, keep up the good work.

[@warraupe9373]

Love your videos.

[@vardukaspavardukas7909]

oh shit, two episodes in a day... thanks fam.

[@GameLimbs]

I've played some 250 hours of Destiny 2 the last few months, and it's scary how easily the final points of this video could be applied to that game without changing a thing. What have I done with my life? XD

[@RiotWoolf]

Two videos in a day? You spoil us, Noah.

[@chipsdubbo3555]

Hey noah's back

[@BladePHF]

Regarding "We had fun.", I mean, isn't that true of a great deal of quote-unqoute bad media? Especially if beer is involved? You're with someone you gel with, you're shooting the shit, frustrations become more than what they are, they become excuses to joke or gripe to someone who's there with you and is presumably receptive. What I mean to say is, companionship is the element that elicits fun, in other words: you're having fun DESPITE the game, not because of it. I wonder how many people who love The Room watch it solo, sober, and how many watch it with friends and other people in the know, for example.

[@termitreter6545]

Jep. Thats the difference between a subjective experience and trying to discern a more objective standard of quality.

[@KarolaTea]

The "you're bad at games, so your opinion doesn't matter" argument makes no sense. People want game reviews to gauge whether they'd like it themselves (or for pure entertainment). And people are are bad at games would also like to be bakle to gauge whether they'd like a game, which they can probably best calculate based on the opinions of someone who's also bad at games. That doesn't necessarily mean the game itself is bad, but that it's _not for them_. (But I guess that level of nuance is beyond the people who make that sort of argument anyway.) Interesting video, thank you!

[@themediumcheese]

You're spoiling us Noah

[@dainchi.]

I love your videos!

[@nostradamusofgames5508]

wolf 1- damn this is GOOD! wolf 2- ehhhhh ok wolf 3- dafuq is dis shit

[@dynamicpenguin55]

Thank you for some actual good critque I haven't played this yet, and I don't really plan to anymore. Loved all 3 new games so this is a major let down I was so sick of all the criticism at the time though, so much of it was just people crying over the fact you play as women rather than men, so some actual good nuanced critque is a breath of fresh air Keep up the good work!

[@mrbigglezworth42]

The criticisms about the 2 protagonists of Youngbloods isn't because they're women, it's because they're insufferable idiots who also happen to be controlled by a moronic AI. To claim that it's sexism is to completely miss the fact that much of the problems with both girls is that both have about as one dimensional as Duke Nukem, but split between the two of them. The part about the AI is also rather telling as people love Elizabeth or Ellie who are both women and both primarily AI driven, but actively assist the player during moment to moment gameplay, of which neither Soph nor Jess do. In fact in many ways having to deal with one or other as a solo player causes even new problems as the AI is again moronic to the point of either messing up your stealth, standing in front bullets and getting downed (which causes you to fail if your sister dies) and otherwise not contributing much to any given fight. They'd be better received if they weren't a constant thorn in the players side during the action. Look, the criticisms of the two have nothing to do with them being women, it's just that we've seen better written women elsewhere and better characters in general to know what a bad one looks like. That it's from Machine Games and Arkane Studios is even worse as they should know how to write characters.

[@yuuneeq9494]

I can't wait for tommorrow's video.

[@ralphrainwater]

I played the Wolfenstein games when they came out, back on an IBM 286 with only computer beeps. When I upgraded to a 386 system, and added in an 8 bit Creative sound card, that moment when BJ's prison door slid open, and from the speakers came a sound like metal grinding on concrete, I was hooked. Bought and played each and every Wolfenstein game since then -- except for this one. Had no interest in the premise from the beginning. Noah's review certifies that decision as correct.

[@theechothief5594]

Welcome to the best part of the gaming KZbin niche.

[@Snufflegrunt]

I’m digging the beard. And I’m digging he new content.

[@fnkyron]

TWO VIDS IN TWO DAYS, NOAH YOU BLESS ME

[@nolan6183]

Two uploads two days in a row, what a treat

[@gryndyl]

Thanks for showing the end cutscene. I hit that Lothar fight, got killed and promptly uninstalled the game.

[@veevingveever]

Noah my love, my little bee, my pericardial effusion. I loved this review but please please please take a look at Pathologic 2. I'd love to listen to your lo-fi infused thoughts on it. xxx yours forever number one Dog Faced Hermans fan.

[@andrewjerome8729]

I would love to se that as well. It just feels like something in his wheelhouse

[@WritingOnGames]

DOG FACED HERMANS YES

[@donatodiniccolodibettobardi842]

You are insanely awesome.

[@coffeefox5703]

14:48 PUPPY!

[@theengine]

Is this Great Noah Deluge Part 2?

[@momo0451]

honestly, i came into this game expecting very little. i think i understood what this game was from the very first piece of marketing. so, i spent 9 hours in it and I don't plan on ever touching it again, but i really enjoyed it. i even played it in single player. 7 hours was enough to finish the main story, so I recommend it for just that amount of time. that final boss def suck shit tho

[@saintjamesent.866]

Dope video

[@ethanchand7202]

Return to Castle Wolfenstein is one of the best or probably the best of the series and games around the early 2000s, I’ve never played the newer ones like New Colossus or the 2009 game but I bet they are really good...

[@TheBeird]

A boring comment but one that still applies; TWO Noah videos in two days? Nice

[@shawklan27]

This game's time travel plot went absolutely *NOWHERE* and I will not accept the fact that they killed *HITLER* off screen in a *WOLFENSTEIN* game! Like Fuck The What?!

[@andrewjerome8729]

I'd love to see a Pathologic 2 video

[@asiamatron]

Thanks mate.

[@demilembias2527]

12:58 I think you mean dopamine. If finding boxes in games could give me serotonin hits my life would be a lot easier

[@NocturnalNick]

Holy lol I think this is the most venomous I've ever heard Noah, the disappointment is palpable

[@nexusshark]

I hope you also cover the original Doom games before talking about Eternal.

[@Deadlife47]

Hot damn Noah two times in one day?

[@aaronbacon9087]

Noah's spoiling us again boys!!😄

[@HeffyG]

2 new videos in 2 days? What a great Friday the 13th!

[@TicTacPilgrim]

Will you be trying out Far Cry New Dawn for another spinoff game

[@kyletrout3828]

I got all the new Wolfenstein games in a bundle. I burned through the main 2 and old blood DLC and was riding so high on these awesome games that I got for a total of 25 American Dollars. I made it about an hour into Young Bloods before uninstalling with a "What the fuck is this???"

[@mload45]

why the dead space three diss at the start? That game had some stellar environment, musical, character and atmospheric design. not sure on why'd you'd pick out its aesthetic qualities of all things.

[@G4meBust3rLP]

He made a Dead Space series retrospective video in which he explains if you are interested

[@zarrg5611]

I am a bit worried about the comparison to The Man In The High Castle, sure in Wolfenstein the alternative reality may be cheap but there is a lot more going on it PKD's book and the alternative universe there is most certainly not a "we can go back and fix it" scenario.

[@hmspolio]

I took it as more a reference to the series. I don't know it particularly well, but I largely understand this to be the thrust of it. I don't think Noah was throwing shade at that story though.

[@zarrg5611]

​@@hmspolio​Possibly, but he did mention the book as well, it is a bit strange to juggle both a depiction of a Nazi/Japanese controlled America with plenty of refections on the absolute destructiveness of facism and also include a major plot-line about counterfeit reality and nested universes but A. Its Phillip.K. Dick and thats what he does and B. It actually works perfectly

[@Aliexster]

About the only way the Timey-Whimey stuff could work is if it ends up a cross over with Command & Conquer: Red Alert. Mecha Hitler vs Gene Altered Wrestler Stalin!

[@KarlosMorale]

I wonder who hurt the people who watch Noah's videos, hear his in-depth thematic discussions and then think to themselves, "I must tel that guy that he no good at gaems."

[@franciscor390]

Just a difference of opinion, some people play to become the best others to immerse themselves. Naturally these very different types will collide.

[@e2rqey]

Thank you Noah!

[@CharcharoExplorer]

How can you play this on minimum settings :O ? 100 USD GPUs can max it (without RTX) out at 1080p.

[@Tsar_NicholasIII]

Only $100.wow

[@CharcharoExplorer]

@@Tsar_NicholasIII Actually, its more like 40 USD now. RX 550s with 4 GB can enable medium settings.