Before reading my review, here are my criteria concerning review scores. I will call this game Nocturnal Missions throughout this review to make it more concise.
Here is the second half of the legendary Wolfenstein 3D (1992: MS-DOS), Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions. Nocturnal Missions is a prequel to the events of the first episode of Wolfenstein 3D, Escape from Wolfenstein. While the gameplay between Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions is identical, the latter is significantly more challenging than the base game. Like with Wolfenstein 3D, I played Nocturnal Missions via ECWolf (analogous to GZDoom). Let us see how good the Nocturnal Missions are!
Gameplay – 60 points
Controls:
Of course, the first part of Nocturnal Missions to discuss is its controls. Since Nocturnal Missions is an expansion of Wolfenstein 3D, its controls are identical. Nocturnal Missions on MS-DOS (or DOSBox) or Windows (via ECWolf like I played with) has customized controls, so I will reveal the control scheme I used:
- W, A, S, and D are the movement and strafe keys (i.e., the D-pad on classic controllers). I want to mention that while I played regular levels, I used Turn Left as A and Turn Right as D. For the three bosses, I used Strafe Left as A and Strafe Right as D.
- Left-click on the Mouse to use your current weapon.
- The Number 1 uses the knife.
- The Number 2 uses the Pistol.
- The Number 3 uses the Machine Gun.
- The Number 4 uses the Chaingun.
- The Tilde key displays the Automap.
- The Tab key displays your status.
- The Escape key pauses Nocturnal Missions.
- F1 allows you to access the Help Menu.
- F2 Saves your current state.
- F3 Loads any of your save states.
I will also display the MS-DOS and DOSBox controls (see below). However, the control scheme for Nocturnal Missions is excellent. While it takes some time to get used to the Wolfenstein 3D Engine (I got used to Doom’s controls in two seconds), the controls are some of the best I have experienced in a first-person shooter. The controls are comfortable and feature zero input lag.
My score for the Controls section is 12/12
Frame rate and Stability:
Nocturnal Missions runs at 17 frames per second (with zero slowdown) when you play on DOSBox or the following operating systems:
- MS-DOS
- Windows 3.0
- Windows 3.1
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
Modern computers can run Nocturnal Missions via ECWolf at 70hz with zero slowdown. A locked frame rate for first-person shooter games is essential, and Nocturnal Missions plays differently at both frame rates. When playing Nocturnal Missions at 17 frames, Nocturnal Missions plays similarly to a stealth game, which is unsurprising considering the origins of the Wolfenstein franchise. Playing Nocturnal Missions at 70hz is more customary or desirable for fans of the first-person shooter genre. I hope your computer has no problems running a first-person shooter from 1992.
Wolfenstein 3D System Requirements | System Requirements
My score for the Frame rate and Stability section is 12/12
Polish:
Nocturnal Missions is an exceptionally polished expansion, which goes without saying. According to the Wolfenstein 3D Wiki, the base game only has twenty glitches. Of course, there are limitations to the Wolfenstein 3D Engine since the engine is well over thirty years old! John Carmack’s immaculate programming is on display with Nocturnal Missions, and most of the glitches or programming errors will not discourage 95% of Wolfenstein players. However, be mindful of glitches related to the pushwalls since soft locking can result in an absolute mess.
Bugs and Glitches | Wolfenstein 3D Wiki | Fandom
My score for the Polish section is 11/12
Level, Game, and World Design:
Nocturnal Missions contains three episodes. Do not forget this: Most of the secrets behind the pushwalls include Treasure the Nazis confiscated, which will award you points. Other secrets include weapons, ammunition, First Aid kits, Food, or a One Up. 40,000 points will reward you an extra life (with you being allocated nine lives at a time). You will also be rewarded points for killing Nazis.
I will segment this portion similarly to my Wolfenstein 3D review:
A Dark Secret features a level design that combines the strengths and weaknesses of Episodes 2 and 3 from the base game. A Dark Secret starts with William J. Blazkowicz struggling to end the German chemical warfare campaign. Blazkowicz has to defeat Otto Giftmacher, the scientist behind the creation of said chemical weapons. Starting with Floor 1 (E4), Nocturnal Missions features columns dividing up numerous rooms throughout this three-episode campaign. Enemies will utilize these columns and sneak attack Blazkowicz in moments familiar to anyone who has dealt with Chaingunners in Doom II: Hell on Earth (1994: MS-DOS) or any of its mods.
I do not need to explain anything about Floor 10 (E4). Just watch this:
Besides Floor 1 and 10, Episode 4 features a rather expansive level design that tests the limits of the Wolfenstein 3D Engine. Floor 2 (E4), while an excellent level (in my opinion), features an infamous secret that most first-time players will not get without save-scumming or using the Official Wolfenstein 3D Hint Book and maps. Do not forget this particular secret since you can get four extra lives!
Anyway, the rest of the floors, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8, emphasize the mazey trope the Wolfenstein franchise is known for. A Dark Secret makes Blazkowicz feel as if he is stuck in a looping castle and struggling to survive, something Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions are excellent at doing, conveying its atmosphere. Perhaps Wolfenstein 3D and its expansions are where the Doom crew got the idea for Map 11: Hunted in The Plutonia Experiment (1996: MS-DOS) or the maze section in Map 18: The Courtyard in Doom II: Hell on Earth.
After endeavoring through the cleverly designed mazes of A Dark Secret, you will finally approach Floor 9 (E4) and challenge Otto Giftmacher. After overpowering Otto Giftmacher and foiling the Nazi’s development of chemical weapons, your next mission is to find the plans for the Giftkrieg (poison war) and defeat Gretel Grösse.
Trail of the Madman is the second episode of the Nocturnal Missions and the fifth episode of Wolfenstein 3D overall. I consider this the strongest episode of the Nocturnal Missions and almost as good as Escape from Wolfenstein (Episode 1) and Die Führer, Die! (Episode 3). Most levels in Trail of the Madman feature straightforward gameplay and cleverly placed secrets that will make players nostalgic for Episodes 1 and 3. One highlight of Trail of the Madman is its environmental details, which make it obvious where the secrets hide, similar to Doom (1993: MS-DOS) (think of the brown door in E1M1: Hangar in particular). Do not forget the Chaingun in the excellently designed Floor 1 (E5), which makes the rest of Trail of the Mountain less challenging! Hallways are more prevalent in Trail of the Mountain, which makes for unique combat against the Nazis since Dogs become more ubiquitous compared to previous episodes.
Floor 2 (E5) has Nazis hiding behind barrels, making for an intriguing design similar to A Dark Secret, although spacing is less of an issue in Trail of the Madman since you can pop in and out of the room like a mole and kill each Elite Guard one-by-one. Floor 3 (E5) is another straightforward yet excellent level capturing everything good about classic Wolfenstein-level design. One thing I have to remind readers is that id Software placed Nazis in corners that new players may miss and get snipped by, a classic Wolfenstein trope that makes the pseudo-stealthy nature of this game more understandable. Floors 4, 5, 6, and 7 feature a central hub area that divides each level into four major sections, reminiscent of Episode 2, Operation Eisenfaust, except without Mutants to ruin your day. Interestingly, Floor 6 feels similar to a cavern. Just be careful in Floor 4 of the overabundance of Dogs and the increased prevalence of Officers, considering they move similarly to Arch-viles in classic Doom.
Floor 8 (E5) is rather rudimentary for a penultimate level, which makes Trail of the Madman an overall breeze compared to the rest of Nocturnal Missions. While Floor 8 is rather mazey, one factor that makes this level more tolerable is each section is color-coded, making your path more apparent than expected. After endeavoring through Trail of the Madman, you will encounter Gretel Grösse in Floor 9 (E5), the sister of Hans Grösse (from Escape from Wolfenstein). After defeating Gretel Grösse in an easier-than-expected fight, Blazkowicz’s next mission is to assassinate General Fettgesicht to prevent the Giftkrieg.
Confrontation is the final episode of the Nocturnal Missions and by far the most challenging. The difficulty of Confrontation is on par with both Final Doom IWADs, TNT: Evilution, and The Plutonia Experiment. In particular, Floor 1 (E6) is notoriously difficult for a first level in a Wolfenstein Episode with its high enemy count (137 on the highest difficulty) and low amount of health packs. This picture should look familiar to Doom players:
If you recall Map09: Stronghold from TNT: Evilution, you are correct! That was the first thing I said when I played this level myself. (06:19 in the video below):
Anyway, back to Nocturnal Missions! Stealthy gameplay is essential unless you want to frustrate yourself. While this section is rather challenging, I thought its design was clever and a change of pace from a faster, action-oriented level compared to those in Trail of the Madman. Of course, Nazis and Officers are hiding in corners like before, so make sure you play carefully and do not play hastily.
Floors 2 and 3 are legitimate mazey slogs that will make even hardcore Wolfenstein enthusiasts sweat. Throughout both levels are Nazis hiding in corners that will surprise attack unsuspecting players. Both levels will force you to play stealthily, which harkens back to the origins of the Wolfenstein franchise in the 1980s. Remember that on Floor 2 (E6), the shorter the corridor is, the closer the exit is! Floor 4 (E6) is a relatively straightforward level with two hub-like areas for those looking to retrace their steps. Do not forget the secret Chaingun, which will make the rest of the Confrontation significantly easier! Floor 5 (E6) is similar to Floor 4 in its straightforwardness. However, players should be careful when approaching the open areas with numerous Nazis and a lack of cover, especially when obtaining the Gold Key.
Floors 6, 7, and 8 epitomize the mazey tropes of the Wolfenstein franchise in these are the most difficult levels of the first six episodes of Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions. In addition, players should be careful when they see Officers behind columns or Nazis hiding in corners since these factors are what make Floor 7 (E6) in particular challenging. One strategy I would recommend for Floor 8 (E6) is to kill all the Officers in the first area before tackling the main maze of this level so you do not get surprised when you attempt to rush the exit. For Floor 6 (E6), be careful of the excessive number of Dogs that could corner you. One bizarre facet of Wolfenstein 3D is even dogs can open the doors (although Pinkies and Spectres in classic Doom can do the same thing).
After slogging through those three mazes, you will encounter General Fettgesicht, the final boss of Nocturnal Missions. While playing Floor 9 (E6), you should be careful trudging through since numerous enemies hide in corners or alcoves that legitimately surprised me on my first playthrough. Two secrets are placed within the steel islands and guarded by Officers. These secrets (and the secret at the start of the level) are essential in completing this level. Floor 9 (E6) is an excellent finish to the Nocturnal Missions, and the battle with General Fettgesicht does not disappoint either. Just be careful of the Officers and SS Officers hidden in several alcoves. After this endeavor, the Giftkrieg fails, and Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions concludes.
Overall, Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions has rather an expansive level design that will challenge veterans of not only first-person shooters but also Wolfenstein veterans. While A Dark Secret (Episode 4) and Confrontation (Episode 6) have occasional hiccups, I cannot ignore the fundamentally solid gameplay of these episodes. The mazey structure of many levels throughout these two episodes plays into the classic 1980s Wolfenstein design. Then Trail of the Madman is as excellent as Escape from Wolfenstein and Die Führer, Die! with its relatively straightforward gameplay and focus on action.
My score for the Level, Game, and World Design is 10/12
Difficulty, Enemy AI, and Competitive Balance:
While not an elementary game, Nocturnal Missions is what you make of it. Nocturnal Missions incorporates four difficulty options, which are the following:
- Can I play, Daddy? (The Easiest)
- Don’t hurt me (Normal mode)
- Bring ’em on! (Hard mode)
- I am Death Incarnate! (The Hardest)
Bring ’em on is the default hard mode for Nocturnal Missions, although it is not as challenging as Castlevania or Mega Man on the Nintendo Entertainment System. I will attempt I am Death Incarnate during my next playthrough. However, Nocturnal Missions is more challenging than the original trilogy of Wolfenstein 3D. I recommend playing the Nocturnal Missions when you have mastered Wolfenstein 3D. In addition, do not play Wolfenstein games like Doom because you will only fail and become increasingly frustrated. The narrative of Wolfenstein hints at you having to play stealthily, not hastily. However, secret areas away from Nazis and Dogs contain Health Packs and ammunition, giving Blazkowicz the occasional reprieve.
Wolfenstein 3D had state-of-the-art artificial intelligence for 1992 standards, but this artificial intelligence looks primitive compared to even DOS-era Doom. Other factors to consider while playing Wolfenstein 3D are the enemies do not infight like in Doom and try to keep your distance while fighting even regular Guards since their shots deal a shocking amount of damage compared to enemies in Doom.
Difficulty levels | Wolfenstein Wiki | Fandom
My score for the Difficulty, Enemy AI, and Competitive Balance is 11/12
The overall score for GAMEPLAY is 56/60
Story – 10 points
As expected, Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions contains a rudimentary narrative. However, as mentioned in my review of Wolfenstein 3D, the overall background and lore add intrigue to the franchise. In addition, the events of Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions precede the events of Escape from Wolfenstein, the first episode of Wolfenstein 3D. Anyway, the Nocturnal Missions starts with A Dark Secret, technically the first episode in the chronology of Wolfenstein 3D. In A Dark Secret, Blazkowicz’s mission is to assassinate Otto Giftmacher, the Nazi scientist responsible for creating chemical weapons. After tracking through the previous floors, Blazkowicz encounters Otto Giftmacher and assassinates him shortly after, ending the development of the Nazi’s chemical weapons.
After the assassination of Otto Giftmacher, the events of Trail of a Madman start, in which Blazkowicz has to uncover the plans for the Giftkrieg and the location of General Fettgesicht (who I will talk about shortly). Blazkowicz storms Castle Erlangen to seek out the plans for the Giftkrieg and Gretel Grösse, the sister of Hans Grösse (from Episode 1, Escape from Wolfenstein). After blazing through Castle Erlangen, Blazkowicz encounters Gretel Grösse, assassinates her in a battle identical to Hans Grösse, and takes the documents detailing the location of General Fettgesicht.
Confrontation, the final episode of the Nocturnal Missions, takes place in Castle Heidenheim (or Offenbach, if you prefer), where General Fettgesicht resides. After endeavoring the mazes of Castle Heidenheim, Blazkowicz encounters General Fettgesicht, the mastermind of the Giftkrieg to be unleased on the Allies (the same as real life). Eventually, Blazkowicz assassinates General Fettgesicht and the remaining Nazi forces (for now), and the Nazi chemical program ends.
Overall, the overarching narrative for Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Mission is rudimentary, but it gets to the point quickly and does not bore players, which always deserves praise. Technically speaking, the events of this game lead into Wolfenstein 3D, which makes the events of Escape from Wolfenstein (Episode 1) make more sense when you play the games in the following order: Dark Secret, Trail of the Madman, Confrontation, Escape from Wolfenstein, Operation Eisenfaust, and Die Führer, Die!
The overall score for STORY is 7/10
Graphics – 10 points
Since Nocturnal Missions is an expansion of Wolfenstein 3D:
As for the graphics, while younger players will think they are crude or rudimentary, Nocturnal Missions had graphics unlike anything preceding it. The sprite work is iconic, the animations and effects are excellent, and the environments give off a foreboding and ominous vibe that impresses me in 2024. Nocturnal Missions uses the following colors amazingly: red, blue, gray, brown, purple, and teal. I wish Nocturnal Missions had something similar to the gorgeous skyboxes in the classic Doom games.
The overall score for GRAPHICS is 10/10
Music – 10 points
Since Nocturnal Missions has the same soundtrack as Wolfenstein 3D, I will parse the Music section from that review:
While the music in Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions is not as iconic as Doom’s, both have an excellent soundtrack. Bobby Prince’s work for Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions is fantastic and gives a heroic vibe. Of course, most of the music in Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions is like this (Get Them Before They Get You, The March to War, and The Ultimate Challenge are examples). However, some themes subdue the mood and make the environment depressed or isolated. Examples of such themes include:
- P.O.W. (prisoner of war)
- Wondering About My Loved Ones (the pause theme)
- Kill the S.O.B.
- Lurking…
- Enemy Around the Corner
- Twelfth Hour
These themes are stark reminders that you are an American (United States) spy during World War II and that you only have yourself, your knife, and a few weapons as means of defense. The contrasting yet complementing styles within its soundtrack make this soundtrack an underrated classic.
The overall score for MUSIC is 10/10
Wolfenstein 3D Soundtrack – YouTube
Wolfenstein 3D Music Remastered – YouTube
Replay Value – 5 points
The all-important question is, is Nocturnal Missions a fun game/expansion? Despite its difficulty, yes, of course, it is! During my first-ever playthrough of Nocturnal Missions (alongside my playthrough of Super Mario Eclipse (2024: Nintendo GameCube), I realized that stealthy gameplay is essential when playing Wolfenstein games instead of playing hastily like in Doom. While it takes time to get used to the Wolfenstein 3D Engine compared to games developed in the id Tech Engine (1 and 2) or the Build Engine, Wolfenstein 3D includes clever maze-like design and pseudo-stealthy gameplay that kept me on my toes the entire time.
The overall score for REPLAY VALUE is 4/5
Bonus Content – 5 points
Nocturnal Missions contains near-infinite Bonus Content due to easily accessible modding tools and downloadable mods playable on most computers. ECWolf and similar tools let players play Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions on almost any computer without MS-DOS support. The only unfortunate thing about Wolfenstein 3D and Nocturnal Missions is that they are not available on the current generation consoles (the Nintendo Switch, Sony PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X) and do not see nearly the support that classic Doom does.
The overall score for BONUS CONTENT is 5/5
My overall Score for Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions (1992: MS-DOS) – 92% or an A–
Overall, I enjoyed Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions significantly more than I anticipated. Even though some levels epitomized the word MAZE, Nocturnal Missions was an expansion that kept me on my toes with elements that separate Wolfenstein from most first-person shooters, especially in the stealth department. However, only play Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions if you have mastered Wolfenstein and understand its fundamental gameplay and design. After reviewing and replaying a Super Nintendo classic, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars (1996: Super Nintendo Entertainment System), I will return to the Wolfenstein franchise with Spear of Destiny and the Mission Packs.
Links to keep in mind:
Nocturnal Missions | Wolfenstein Wiki | Fandom
Wolfenstein 3D | Wolfenstein Wiki | Fandom
Wolfenstein 3D – The Doom Wiki at DoomWiki.org
Wolfenstein 3D Windows, DOS game – ModDB
Nerdly Pleasures: How many FPS? – DOS Games and Framerates
Wolfenstein 3D: Nocturnal Missions (1992)
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