***This piece contains specific spoilers for the narrative of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus***
How do you properly represent Adolf Hitler as a character in your video game? Arguably the most evil man in the history of humankind, responsible for the death of millions of incident lives, Hitler is synonymous with the absolute worst that a human can be. Wolfenstein has previously utilized Hitler in the series as the final boss in Wolfenstein 3D, stuffing him inside a mechanized armor suit as the infamous Mecha-Hitler. The conclusion of Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus hints a new showdown with Hitler is imminent in the trilogy’s final chapter. Before that, however, we are faced with one of the more shocking moments Wolfenstein II — we have to act for Hitler.
Wolfenstein II is no stranger to controversial decisions in its narrative, and never shies away from the most graphic violence. Even still, sitting down face to face with Adolf Hitler, in a space station on the moon no less, is nearly unbelievable. In order to successfully infiltrate a Nazi space station, BJ Blazkowics has to disguise himself as a famous actor auditioning for a role in a film about himself. Unbeknownst to BJ and the player, the film is to be directed by Adolf Hitler himself, and he just so happens to be overseeing the auditions personally.
This entire scenario, as bizarre as it may seem, fits comfortably into the tone of Wolfenstein II, which constantly shifts effortlessly between strange and harrowing. Upon entering the room where BJ is to audition, the player is handed a script and told to memorize their lines. The lines are vile and disgusting propaganda, an attempt to further demonize BJ’s Nazi slaughter as the act of a demon, engorged with nothing but hatred and bloodlust. Looking over the script and speaking with the assistant leads itself to the unceremonious reveal of Hitler wandering into the room.
The moment is great, as there is no indication of any in-game that Hitler would be showing up, making the reveal all the more powerful, assisted greatly by his presence. Wolfenstein II takes place in the 1960’s, placing Hitler in his mid 70’s, and it shows; the man is frail and sick, both in mind and in health. Stumbling into the addition room, he is constantly coughing between near-incoherent ramblings. Eventually he wretches on the floor, something that the player must look at for the entirety of the chapter and a constant reminder of how pathetic and disgusting the Nazi leader is.
His tendency toward unnecessary violence is also on full display, beginning with him aimlessly murdering another actor for not addressing him correctly. Following his death, you must then actually recite your lines by selecting from an assortment of sentences. These were listed in the script you’re handed at the opening of the scene, and you are really expected to memorize them. If you select the wrong dialogue options, Hitler shoots you dead as well, restarting the scene. The actual gameplay behind this is frustrating, as there are multiple humorous options to elect from, but experimentation results in death and reliving the same sequences until you get it right. Fortunately, none of this experience is about the player, or even the gameplay — it’s about meeting the greatest enemy to the world and fueling the reasons to want him dead.
Examining what Adolf Hitler would be like 20 years after his real death, is fascinating. His misplaced hatred and malice has taken a toll on his body year after year — he is rotting. Witnessing someone sitting on the stoop of death’s door is often sad, but when showcasing Hitler it cannot be. Like the rest of Wolfenstein II, empathy with the Nazi Regime is nonexistent, and for good reason — Nazis are the lowest form of human evil. There is no rationale to examine and there is no reasoning with such thinking. In one instance, Hitler collapses to the floor, wheezing and barely clinging to life, and he never withholds his ignorance, spewing forth hatred and bigotry even nearing death. This is a man who believed extinguishing a race of people was his life’s goal, one who reason evaded and the entire world suffered because of it.
The scene concludes, and further dehumanizes Hitler, as BJ is forced to physically act out another scene with a guard, stepping around Hitler, helpless and hack laying on the floor, in the process. In this moment you can choose to kill him and received an achievement titled “Kick It’ for doing so before immediately being gunned down — Machine Games would like more spectacle before the final confrontation. BJ mercilessly kills the guard whom he is acting with, taking an assault rifle from his hands which causing Hitler to evacuate and run, like the old coward he is. This is the last we see of the leader of the Reich in the game, but it is safe to say it won’t be the last time in the series.
Petulance, excess, greed, hate — Hitler is no stranger to sin, and Wolfenstein II perfectly encapsulates this, showing a repugnant and evil man, leading a fascist state built upon genocide and white nationalism. Living in a version of America all too closely resembling the fiction Machine Games created is both terrifying and revolting, with a very real leader impressing an agenda upon the people that the majority refute, and passing actions that feel as though they’re serving one section of the population more so than the rest.
Wolfenstein II imagines a much darker reality than what we face today, but it constantly reminds the player that hope and rebellion are the key to overcoming any oppressor. Adolf Hitler’s sickness may not be ruling America today, but something very sick certainly is, and Wolfenstein II shows the player that Hitler is but a weak, frail bag of meat maintaining power merely through fear. Applying that same message to reality shows us not to live in fear, as a mortal man of the highest power is still only that — a man.
Chase Prior 