Zero Punctuation Season 8 Episode 22 The New Order

In this episode of Zero Punctuation, entitled "The New Order," Yahtzee reviews a first-person shooter set in an alternate timeline of the 1960s where the Nazis won World War II and now rule the world with an iron fist. The game follows a soldier named B.J. Blazkowicz as he joins the resistance movement and fights to overthrow the Nazi regime.

Yahtzee begins by praising the game's story, noting how it provides a fresh take on the typical World War II setting by exploring an alternate history. He also commends the game's characters for having more depth than the typical one-dimensional soldiers often found in first-person shooters.

Moving on to gameplay, Yahtzee remarks that the game is a mix of old and new mechanics. The game's run-and-gun gameplay is reminiscent of classic first-person shooters, while the game's stealth sections and use of cover provide a more modern feel. Yahtzee also approves of the game's weapon selection, praising the game's creative alternate history designs for weapons such as the LaserKraftWerk, a gun that shoots lasers, and the Kampfpistole, a rocket launcher disguised as an oversized pistol.

Yahtzee also commends the game's level design, stating that the game offers a good balance of linearity and openness with multiple paths for players to take. He also praises the game's use of shortcuts, which allow players to return to earlier areas of the game faster, as well as the game's hidden areas, which reward players for exploring.

The game's graphics also earn praise from Yahtzee. He notes that the game's environments are incredibly realistic, and the game's use of color is very effective in depicting the bleakness of a world under Nazi rule. However, Yahtzee does criticize the game's character models, which he describes as "plastic doll people."

Lastly, Yahtzee analyzes the game's difficulty, stating that the game is "a true test of a player's skills," offering a challenge without being unfair or frustrating. He also notes that the game offers multiple difficulty levels for players of all skill levels.

In summary, Yahtzee concludes that The New Order is a well-made game, incorporating old and new mechanics while telling an engaging alternate history story. He praises the game's characters, level design, graphics, and difficulty, while noting that the game's weak point is in its character models. Overall, Yahtzee recommends the game to fans of first-person shooters and alternate history stories.