Wolfenstein 3D - Gameplay

Gameplay

The following section describes aspects of the original MS-DOS versions. The various ports often implemented changes.

Each episode features nine levels (or "maps") which have to be finished sequentially. Levels are completed by reaching an elevator which leads to the next level. The player must combat numerous guards and other enemies while maintaining ammunition and health supplies. If the player's health is reduced to zero, one of the player's lives as well as all guns and ammo (except a pistol with 8 rounds) are lost. The other two weapons are a submachine gun and a rapid-firing chaingun, all using the same ammo type. The player begins each episode with three lives, and more lives can be acquired by finding extra-life tokens or earning 40,000 points. The original version of the game allows saves at any point, while most console versions only allow saves at the completion of each level. In addition to completing levels, the players can collect various treasures scattered in the levels to boost their score; the player can also search for secret push walls which lead to caches of treasure, ammunition, and/or health refills. Percentages for treasures collected, enemies eliminated and secrets discovered are displayed at the end of every level. Earning a 100% kill, secret, or treasure ratio, or completing the level in below-par time results in additional bonus points.

Each episode has a different boss who has to be killed in the final mission to complete the episode. Unlike normal enemies, boss enemies are drawn from one angle instead of eight, so the player cannot sneak up on them or take them by surprise; when first encountered they are always facing the player. Bosses are initially stationary, and do not become active until they see the player. When most bosses are killed, a replay (called a "deathcam") of the boss's death is shown; the episode then ends. In other levels, behind the boss is an exit from the stronghold; entering it causes the camera to rotate around to face Blazkowicz and show him running out and jumping in elation (complete with a freeze frame of him in mid-air). There is also one "secret" level per episode that can only be accessed by the player uncovering a hidden elevator. The secret level of the third episode recreated one of the original Pac-Man levels, complete with ghosts, seen by the player from Pac-Man's perspective.