Wolfenstein: Youngblood will be released today, on July 25 on PC. Shortly thereafter on PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch. During the pre-test, our author Benedict noticed an Easter egg that everyone should see.
What is this Easter egg? While playing and testing the new Wolfenstein, I noticed some slot machines that are standing around in the catacombs, the resistance base, during my second session. You don’t even need co-op for them.
Unlike the machines elsewhere, these can be used. And they run “Elite Hans”, a quite old-looking but very amusing game that proves to be a fantastic Easter egg at first glance.
Elite Hans, or: The Story of Wolfenstein
Who or what is Elite Hans? Elite Hans is a character in Wolfenstein: Youngblood who has a game series of the same name. You can play “Elite Hans 2: The New Order” at the machines. (Note: The character is written with a hyphen, the game without)
The games are integrated with old 3D graphics with many pixels and rudimentary controls. You can aim left and right and move on a level, similar to the old parts of Serious Sam or DOOM.
Elite Hans himself is a blue-eyed, blonde fighter in his games who fights against Americans, Soviets, and other opponents to escape from buildings that look heavily like prisons.
The character has existed in Wolfenstein for a longer time. He was already used as propaganda in the direct predecessor “Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus” and even a video game about Elite Hans was playable.
That’s why the game is so important: The “Elite Hans” series and specifically “Elite Hans 2” is visually almost an exact copy of the classic game “Wolfenstein 3D” from 1992. Almost everything looks identical.
The only difference is that you play as a war veteran in “Elite Hans” who takes on the Wiesenau Circle and fights B.J. Blazkowicz – that very Blazkowicz who is the protagonist of the Wolfenstein games.
A major and important factor is: The game is a lot of fun. In my first session, I needed nine levels and 15 minutes for the first of the two episodes (“Escape from Wolfstone”). I haven’t quite finished the second episode (“Operation: Terror”). However, after my impressions of Wolfenstein: Youngblood, Elite Hans really captivated me.
How does Youngblood handle this? What I find splendid about the Easter egg is how Youngblood implements “Elite Hans”. There is quite a bit of backstory available for “Elite Hans” here, unlike in the predecessors.
You can find a cassette in the game where a Swedish resistance fighter explains the character of Elite Hans and the game series. A sequel to the game called “Return to Castle Wolfstone” was also supposed to be released, but it never came due to the revolution in America.
He also says that he would like to access the source data. He would then want to create a game where you play as a resistance fighter. And to make it sound a bit more Germanic, he would name it “Castle Wolfenstein” … Well, does it ring a bell?
Anyone who wants to see Elite Hans can play Youngblood on PC starting July 25 at 7:00 PM. The release for PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch is on July 26.
