If you thought Wolfenstein: Youngblood was the only new entry in the long-running franchise, you’re wrong. Alongside Youngblood, Bethesda also released Cyberpilot, a PlayStation VR game. Killing Nazis on your big television screen is great but it doesn’t even come close to killing them in VR while controlling an enormous robotic spawn from hell.
Enter Brother 3
Compared to the big release of Youngblood, Cyberpilot is a lot lighter on the story. You’re stuck in an electric wheelchair that got hacked by the French resistance. Since you’re inside Brother 3, one of the Nazi’s biggest bases in the center of Paris, you’re able to hack into their mechanical killing machines. Once you managed to hack one of their machines, you turn it against them, killing as many Nazis as possible. Your end-goal is to take down the Nazis in Paris and eventually even take down the Brother 3 tower, which isn’t always going to be an easy job. As you can see, the story isn’t that special and it’s a lot more straightforward than what you’re used of in a modern Wolfenstein game but the high-paced action certainly makes up for this.
The game is divided into four main missions, three of those revolve around three different machines: the Panzerhund, Zitadelle, and Drone. Before you start the missions, you’re forced to play a short tutorial where you’ll learn the ropes of your new machine. It’s never hard to follow or master but it’s still important to pay attention during this tutorial. Since all machines operate differently, you’ll need to understand them as good as possible. The Panzerhund is rather quick and can easily destroy enemies with its flamethrower while the Drone is extremely vulnerable for gunshots. Thanks to these differences, the game never feels like it’s constantly repeating itself, there’s a lot of variation and you’ll enjoy playing this until the very end.
Three machines, three ways to play
This variation certainly is the main feature in the game. It never feels the same and the first three missions really feel like three completely different worlds. Inside the Panzerhund, you’re able to deliver a lot of damage while still being fast enough to dodge your enemies. The Zitadelle, on the other hand, is your most powerful machine equipped with a minigun and grenade thrower. Since this machine is a lot stronger, you’ll face a lot more powerful enemies while controlling this one too. Last but not least, the Drone offers a more stealthy approach. Since this machine is easily taken down by the enemies, you’ll need to sneak your way to your target. Dodging enemies or vanishing in the smoke is the way to go and once again, offers a completely different way of playing.
In between controlling those machines, you’re also tasked with a couple of smaller missions inside the Brother 3 tower. These consist of fixing or hacking certain machines or weapons. Again, it’s nothing really special and it isn’t the most thrilling thing to do but it really keeps the variation high. When it comes to gameplay, Cyberpilot really delivers, it’s a shame the game is over rather quickly. In just a couple of hours, you’ll reach the end of this VR adventure and your only replay value is replaying the entire thing on a higher level of difficulty. The game does come at a lower price but this might still be a bit too steep for the actual gameplay hours you’ll spend in Cyberpilot. The team nailed the gameplay aspect but Cyberpilot is far from a perfect Wolfenstein entry.
A bit rough around the edges
Although the gameplay really is top-notch, the game is a bit too rough around the edges, especially the graphics could have been better. The enemies and machines all look great but the environments are a bit too empty. The team wasn’t able to create the same atmosphere other PSVR games managed to create. Compared to more recent PSVR games, this one is even a step back. It looks similar to the first PSVR games I played and that’s simply a bit disappointed if you see what we’re getting on the platform nowadays. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still extremely fun to play but it could have looked a lot better, especially for its price.
The same goes for the controls. If you don’t own PlayStation Move controllers, you’re forced to use the DualShock 4 instead, which will feel like handcuffs while playing. It’s clear that the game is made with the Move controllers in mind since you’re constantly pushing buttons to control the machines. With the Move controllers, it’s all very intuitive and fun but with a DualShock 4, it’s never the same. If you don’t own Move controllers, you might want to skip this since you’ll never get the same amount of fun. That being said, the Move support is great and the controls are greatly programmed, never did I face input lag or weird glitches while controlling my machines, which, of course, is a good thing.
Conclusion:
Wolfenstein: Cyberpilot is a fun entry in the franchise and a thrilling game to play in VR thanks to its variation. It’s still a bit too rough around the edges and a bit too short but it, in the end, I had a lot of fun with it. It’s definitely not the best entry in the franchise but there’s no other VR game currently on the market that can give you the same Nazi killing fun. If you’re a fan of the franchise, this one is a no-brainer if you own a PSVR and Move controllers. If you’re looking for a high-paced shooter, this might be added to your list too, just don’t expect the fun the last forever.
