EXCLUSIVES

Return to Castle Wolfenstein is a breathtakingly exciting game with such a rich story line that it redefines the first-person shooter game genre in the same way that Marathon did almost 10 years ago.

While this game is not for everyone - it deservedly carries an "M" rating and is intended for gamers ages 17 and older - Return to Castle Wolfenstein has some of the smoothest animations and most sophisticated artificial intelligence models ever seen in a computer game.

Captivating 3D & Sophisticated AI

From the moment the game begins, you are immersed in an environment realistic enough to make the hair stand up on the back of your neck. When an enemy soldier is standing outside, you can see the fog from his breath. Your own footfalls echo down dank castle hallways, convincing you that someone is sneaking up behind you. However, the look of the game is only part of what makes Return to Castle Wolfenstein such a memorable experience. Movements are captured so precisely within the game that you will swear that you are watching real people. Thanks to an advanced artificial intelligence model, the "people" in the game act an awful lot like real people. Don't expect the bad guys to come running straight at you down long corridors in easy-to-strafe groups. In this game, the bad guys hide and shoot from behind cover. They run for help. They snipe at you through rifles with telescopic sights. If you throw a hand grenade at one of them, you're likely to have it kicked right back into your lap before it explodes.

Challenging Single & Multiplayer Gaming

Return to Castle Wolfenstein tests all your gaming skills, including stealth. In fact, there is one level you automatically fail if a guard merely spots you. But as much as there is to the single-player version, there is that much more waiting to be discovered in the multiplayer version.

Multiplayer "Axis vs. Allies" gaming adds a new level of enjoyment not found in the single-person game. In Internet/LAN gaming, groups of players can choose sides and player specialties, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Online gamers compete in one of three modes: objective, stopwatch, or checkpoint.

3D Acceleration Required

Return to Castle Wolfenstein runs under OS 10.1 or 9.2, which opens the door for gamers using older Macs. However, some of the other system requirements slam that door shut again, such as the 500 MHz G3 processor and 3D graphics card requirements. Sadly, considering that many older Macs running third-party processor upgrade boards cannot use a 3D graphics card, a fair amount of Mac gamers may have to sit this one out until they can afford to purchase a newer machine.

Item: Return to Castle Wolfenstein Manufacturer: Aspyr Price: $49.95 www.aspyr.com/mini-sites/rtcw/ Pros: Challenging game play; breathtakingly realistic environments Cons: Violent game with disturbing images; not for kids

Mac OS 9.2 or later with virtual memory active or Mac OS X, version 10.1 or later, Power Mac G3/G4/iMac (Flat-Panel or later)/PowerBook G4 (Gigabit Ethernet or later), 500 Mhz or faster processor, 128mb of RAM (256 MB under Mac OS X), Graphics Acceleration Required (ATI Radeon, Nvidia GeForce or later)

http://www.activision.com/games/wolfenstein