Eh... Even though I very much loved this game, there are still a few key areas that I thought Wolfenstein 2009 did a better job on. I felt Wolfenstein 2009 did a better job with the arsenal you play with (Particle Cannon, Tesla Gun, Leichenfaust vs. just the Laserkraftwerk) as well as enemy variety (you still fought mostly humans in both, but there were more "special" enemy types in 2009). Finally, I thought Wolfenstein 2009 did a better job with the collectibles as well. One thing that I thought was a massive improvement in Wolf 2009 over RTCW was the fact that gold wasn't totally useless and had in game use (buying upgrades at the black market). Every other collectible was also tied into this system. Meanwhile, in WTNO, the only collectibles that actually have gameplay benefits are the occasional weapon upgrades. The only other collectibles that do anything at all are the enigma codes to unlock a few different modes. I also liked the hub based system in Wolfenstein 2009. It gave me what was essentially a large sandbox area for me to just run around and kill Nazis without having to be bothered by scripted events or story bits (unless I actively decide to activate them). Finally, and this is really the big thing, WTNO's ending sucks. I won't spoil it for others who haven't played it, but WTNO's ending is really crappy compared to the epic and satisfying ending of Wolfenstein 2009.
Now, WTNO does have an overall better story. The actual gunplay is better in WTNO (dual wielding assault rifles, accurate hipfire, detachable turrets etc.). And while none of the levels are as open ended as 2009's hub world, the levels are more spacious and better designed than the actual levels.
Really, I like both games for the most part equally, as each does certain things better than the other. I right now still like 2009's entry slightly more, though, because once again, WNTO's ending really sucks for me (reminds me of the ending of RAGE, actually).
Funny, I agree with you almost entirely on each of those points. (Particularly Wolf 2009's weapons. HOLY SHIT those were fun.) I just found TNO a bit better than 2009. To each his own, I guess.
Although there is one area that I couldn't mention in here, due to space: sound design. 2009's sounds were spectacular, with the Particle Cannon in particular one of the best-sounding weapons in... anything. Ever. I would sometimes fire it for a second at a time repeatedly just to hear that startup vwAOW. TNO was fine in this regard, but didn't stand out the way 2009 did. The weapons just weren't quite as punchy.
Don't get me wrong, I freaking LOVE WTNO. Once again, the only real thing that held back WTNO from being as good/better than 2009 for me was the ending (because you know it's bad when I'm comparing it to RAGE). It's immensly unsatisfying for me. From a pure gameplay perspective, both have their strengths and weaknesses to each other, but overall I loved both in that regard equally.
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Excellent All Around
Wolfenstein: The New Order is kind of hard to describe, in a way. It's got a not-serious premise that it takes seriously. It's got regenerating health with medpacks and non-regenerating armor packs. It's a gung-ho shooter with well-integrated stealth elements. However, everything is so well balanced that none of it seems out of place, and it all combines to make The New Order one of the best shooters I've played in a while.
The gameplay is fantastic. Everything just works. The guns are fun to use, particularly the automatic shotguns, and the "anything akimbo" mechanic is stupidly awesome; with different firing modes for each gun, you can tote an assault rifle in one hand and a rocket launcher in the other. Stealth is satisfying without being too intrusive. In combat, there's a sense of mobility that other shooters seem to lack; enemies move around a lot, keeping you from hunkering down, and you'll need to scrounge a lot for health and armor. The levels are fairly large to let you move around and strategize, and even the no-button cover system seems designed to let you break away as quickly as possible if need be. It makes the whole game feel very energetic. The perks also encourage you to experiment with different play styles without making the game too difficult if you ignore them.
The story is surprisingly good, and not just for a game where you blast cybernetic Nazi attack dogs with dual automatic shotguns. Legitimately good. It takes what could be (and sort of is) an incredibly goofy setting and treats it fairly seriously, making the world feel real and oppressive. Not many WWII games remind you why the Nazis were evil, so when the warden of a concentration camp compares the prisoners to cancerous tumors on society, it's pretty shocking. The characters, while not as rounded as they could be, are reasonably well-developed. However, I would've liked to see the villains a bit more. They're sufficiently frightening and vile while onscreen, but they're not onscreen a whole lot.
I was one of those who liked 2009's entry, but this game improves it in pretty much every way. It mixes the better of the old school with the good developments of the modern day, and makes its own tweaks to both to make everything run smoothly. If you like shooters at all, I strongly encourage you to try out The New Order.