Shacknews Best Narrative of 2017: Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus

There have been a lot of rich stories across gaming throughout this year, but there's one story that will likely permeate beyond this year. That story is centered around a single, simple idea of resistance. Also, that Nazis are terrible people. We are proud to award Wolfenstein 2: The New Colossus the title of Shacknews Best Narrative of 2017.

While Wolfenstein: The New Order was a fascinating tale of alternative history, The New Colossus takes the idea a step further. If The New Order was a story of a Nazi military victory, The New Colossus was a tale of a world in which the Nazis succeeded culturally. Nazism had become an element of everyday life. Blazkowicz isn't fighting a war anymore, because the war has already been lost. He isn't considered to be killing terrorists, he is considered the terrorist. He is now trying to resist against an unjust, but ultimately powerful, regime.

But the other thing that ultimately makes Wolfenstein II resonate so well as a story is how it highlights everything that makes America truly great. From the very beginning, with Blazkowicz overcoming personal adversity and rising above his paralysis to accomplish great feats. It's seen in the freedom fighters, all diverse and rich with their own experiences, philosophies, and outlooks on the Nazi occupation. It's in the spirited Grace Walker and the passionate Horton Boone. It's in those who have fallen, like Caroline Becker. Blazkowicz isn't fighting the war by himself and it's the bravery of the downtrodden that make this story particularly inspiring.

But at the end of the day, it's Blazkowicz who serves the symbol of hope. He's the one who pushes through with his journey, knowing his body would eventually give out on him. But even in the face of that, he carried on as a symbol of hope and inspiration for others brave enough to stand up to the Nazi regime.

While The New Colossus doesn't go to some of the far-out locations that The New Order did, it doens't make its story hit home any less. It's a classic story of American grit, perseverance, unity in a time of crisis, and the belief that the principles that made America truly great can stand against any bigotry and any tyranny. Just try not to crack a proud smile after this game's final minutes.

Be sure to keep up with the rest of The Shacknews Awards as we celebrate the Year of the Games: 2017.

Ozzie Mejia

Senior Editor

Ozzie has been playing video games since picking up his first NES controller at age 5. He has been into games ever since, only briefly stepping away during his college years. But he was pulled back in after spending years in QA circles for both THQ and Activision, mostly spending time helping to push forward the Guitar Hero series at its peak. Ozzie has become a big fan of platformers, puzzle games, shooters, and RPGs, just to name a few genres, but he’s also a huge sucker for anything with a good, compelling narrative behind it. Because what are video games if you can't enjoy a good story with a fresh Cherry Coke?