When it comes to videogames, nostalgia can be powerful thing. When done right, it can evoke a feeling that will reach even those who have no memories of the distant past. It can create a deeper bond with players, regardless of whether they experienced the original events being referenced. It sets the stage, defines the mood. It makes a game… special.

Such is the case with Wolfenstein: The Old Blood. In the sure hands of developer MachineGames, this standalone game is, unequivocally, nostalgia done right.

This is apparent right from the game’s breathtaking opening scenario. When The Old Blood begins, we’re introduced to a decidedly less grizzled B.J. Blazkowicz, who’s en route to a secret compound: the mysterious yet majestic Castle Wolfenstein. We see this medieval behemoth rising in the distance, on a crisp wintry day, with wispy clouds softly obscuring the soaring snowcaps. As we get closer, we see a Nazi patrolling at a checkpoint, a Panzerhund at his side. We make it through security (we’re undercover), and eventually we find ourselves in a cable car, climbing toward the castle entrance.

And that’s when we see the sign: WOLFENSTEIN. And we know. We realize we’re someplace special.

Regardless of whether or not you played the 2001 classic Return to Castle Wolfenstein, you’ll feel it. You’ll understand that you’re stepping inside a monument of gaming history. Soon enough you will explore this wondrous castle. Once inside, you will shoot many Nazis. And it will be amazing.

The Past Is Prologue

Unfolding across eight sizable chapters, The Old Blood offers a heaping helping of Nazi-killing gameplay. The first four chapters deliver a discrete tale that leads directly into the second half, which is set outside the castle in the quaint village of Wulfburg. But before we get there, we have to survive “Rudi Jäger and the Den of Wolves.”

Survival is key, because the first full level begins in the prisons buried deep in the dank underbelly of castle Wolfenstein. B.J. is captured, alone, without weapons, at the bottom of a roach-infested pit. That’s when he tries to climb a wall and ends up tumbling down with a broken pipe in his hands. Of course, this quickly translates into an all-new weapon for our intrepid hero – a brutal melee device that can be split into two parts for single- or dual-wielding action (and some wince-inducing takedowns), as well as a key progression tool. The pipe not only protects you, but can be used to climb certain walls, reach distant hatches and even bust through weak areas. It feels comfortingly familiar while changing up the gameplay in nifty ways.

And it comes in handy with one the initial new enemies we meet: a first-generation Supersoldaten (super soldier). These hulking behemoths are tethered to a power source and follow set paths (based on their wiring). This leads to a new twist on the sneak-em-up formula: in some cases B.J. will need to avoid these powerful foes altogether, but at other times he can locate their power source, turn it off, then rush in for a quick finishing move. (Hurry, before the power comes back on!)

While the first chapter is very heavy on stealth, The Old Blood shares a strength with Wolfenstein: The New Order – excellent pacing. You’re never doing too much of one thing. The following chapter is marked with some all-out firefights, followed by bits of puzzle-like exploration, and then even more firefights. The next two chapters introduce more new enemies, including a mini-boss who destroyed me about a half-dozen times until I figured out how to defeat him – and then provided me with a fabulously fun in-game challenge every time I encountered his cohorts later in the game. The castle environments also showed great variety: musty subterranean levels where you could almost choke on the stale air; eerie catacombs that evoked an Indiana Jones vibe; lofty chambers and comfortable libraries, complete with crackling fireplaces; and retro-tech workshops rife with noisy machinery and crawling with heavy-footed Nazi soldiers. It all culminates in a blowout battle and thrilling escape that’s on par with the very best that The New Order offers. After which B.J. finds himself in the village of Wulfburg for a very different gameplay experience…

Bring Out the Dead

While the variety of settings and gameplay in first half is noteworthy, the way The Old Blood takes a hard shift in “The Dark Secrets of Helga Von Schabbs” – while feeling like a part of a larger experience – is commendable.

Without giving away any of the story, it’s here in the village that we encounter the undead. After an initial chapter sneaking around through the open-air environments (all of which have a distinctly different color palette – warm browns, pastels, fiery sunset colors), an event occurs and the Nazi undead horde is unleashed.

And what a horde it is! Whereas the first half of the game is a nostalgic blast, the second half offers unadulterated old-school fun. While it gets tough at times, there are moments when B.J. is just firing away at close range with a sawed-off shotgun, or picking off undead that are literally raining from the skies using his trusty assault rifle. This is power-fantasy stuff – and it’s a gory good time. There are even moments of classic B.J. dialogue, including a laugh-out-loud exchange with Blazkowicz and Kessler. Yes, it gets poignant at times. MachineGames knows how to tug at the heartstrings with their narrative. But it never gets too heavy. Instead, the focus is on finding new ways to shoot, gank and smash Nazi undead (look forward to a special treat in Chapter 7). Keep in mind that these aren’t your typical undead: some carry rifles, and others will aggressively charge at you. It keeps things varied, surprising and astoundingly fun.

And that’s the crux of The Old Blood. It’s an old-school trip back to what makes shooters great, but with all the fixings we’ve come to expect in a modern game. It’s a nostalgic look back at a storied franchise, but it’s delivered in a way that will appeal to all players – whether you’ve experienced the originals or not. It’s packed with subtle references to The New Order, but these moments also stand on their own. Even the two supporting characters from 2001’s Return to Castle Wolfenstein – Kessler and Agent One – are fully fleshed out: you don’t need to know why they’re back in order to enjoy their presence in the game.

It’s nostalgia done right, and that’s what makes The Old Blood a memorably grand time.

Wolfenstein: The Old Blood is a standalone game releasing on May 5, 2015, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC for $19.99 / £14.99 / €19.99 / AUD$39.95. The Old Blood will also have a physical release in Europe on May 15, on PlayStation 4, Xbox One and PC.