I think it was maybe earlier this year when I happened to stumble upon the Wikipedia article about The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus, a sonnet that is cast onto a bronze plaque mounted inside the pedestal for the Statue of Liberty. So that's the significance of Wolfenstein II's subtitle, I then learned. I had been so unaware.
B.J. Blazkowicz in fact recites the poem partially in the ending cinematic of Wolfenstein: The New Order as he's watching Anya guide people away from, uh, somewhere -- I need to replay that game; I have forgotten most of it.
A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame
Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name
Mother of Exiles.
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,
The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.
Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me."
I was oblivious to the reference back then, too. But Brian Bloom's Blazkowicz is always nice to listen to. And so is the soundtrack for the games too, thanks to Mick Gordon. Due to his fallout with the suits of Bethesda, he probably won't be making the music for the next game (which might happen at some point). That is quite unfortunate.
Replaying Wolfenstein II over and over on Mein leben, I did have to lower the music volume, though. That was mainly because of the track in Manhattan before the Penthouse. It was so anxiety-inducing when you're not even in combat yet. Cinematics still had music at full volume and one I never skipped was where B.J. drives away from Area 52 and detonates the nuke he left behind. That track hits so hard. It's at the same time uplifting and melancholic, like you've decided to move on from something bad.
Reading the comments on the clip taught me the track is re-recorded I Learned How to Fly, originally from The New Order. In that game, the track is used in the cinematic where the Kreisau Circle captures the VTOLs. I had forgotten about that too. B.J. asks Caroline what happened to her as he had thought her dead. The dialogue ends with him saying: "I'm sorry about your legs", to which Caroline replies: "Don't be. I've learned how to fly." I get shivers from that part, music again being what defines an audiovisual experience. I really need to replay that game.
On my post about The New Order, I wrote how some of the cast felt like they were old acquaintances. I think I meant Caroline in particular. But I never went on to actually check if any of the characters, besides B.J., had appeared in the series before. Turns out, Caroline Becker was in Wolfenstein (2009). They're talking about that game's events in the clip.
She's supposed to be German but never speaks the language. I think she's also mispronouncing Grösse in the cinematic, although the name is apparently spelled Grosse in many of the games. Caroline was reimagined and is twice as old in this soft reboot universe. MachineGames have apparently stated that she's lesbian as well, although I don't think that ever comes up in the games. And is this a South Park episode? "Put a chick in it and make her lame and gay!" However, even though crippled, I recall her being pretty cool.
In Wolfenstein II, one of B.J.'s early game mutterings goes: "Caroline. I'm hurting. Will you lend me your wings?" I thought that was referencing the Da'ad Yichud power armor B.J. inherits but I guess it's a bit more than that. Before jumping into the VTOL at the Penthouse, you can hear B.J. say: "Caroline. Look! Another angel." And once B.J. is reborn, so to speak, he mutters: "Caroline. Thank you. You can have your wings back. I don't need them anymore." Some people don't like B.J.'s monologue, the Advanced Options mod even has an option to mute them, but I think they're one of the best things in the games.
The 2009 game can't be currently bought anywhere even with Activision and Bethesda both under Microsoft, meaning they shouldn't have licensing issues anymore. It wasn't a huge hit back in the day, though, so I guess they're not in a hurry to put any effort into that.
A comment I read somewhere suggested the next Wolfenstein to be subtitled 'The New Revolution'. That would certainly fit the 'new' naming scheme. The New Colossus had a great hanging plotline with General Engel but it having been resolved, I don't think there's anything as personal to continue with. I don't know what MachineGames' current plans are: a new Indiana Jones or Wolfenstein III. Whatever it is, it's still years away from happening.
Bonus: They didn't flip Blazko's model in the "mirror" for the cinematic at the start of The New Colossus. The things you notice when you repeatedly replay a game.
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