History VideoGame / Wolfenstein3D

Often regarded as the first true FirstPersonShooter. Although very primitive entries in the genre had been available since 1973, it's definitely the TropeCodifier and pretty much any modern FPS traces its gameplay's descent back to it. ''Wolfenstein 3D'' was a shareware game developed by IdSoftware in just two months, and published by Apogee Software in May, 1992.

* NintendoHard: A classic example. This is an old school game with an old school difficulty level. Enemies can kill you in just 3 or 4 shots at full health, are all equipped with hitscan weapons, and health and ammo is a lot more scarce than in {{Doom}} or {{Quake}}. Charging blindly into a room guns blazing like in Doom is a good path to "[[{{Yahtzee}} Nazi bullet bumrape]]". Instead more methodical room-clearing is encouraged, especially on the higher difficulties.

* [[DegradedBoss Degraded Boss: Type B]] Hans Gross makes irregular appearances after Episode 1. Twice in a weird push-wall maze in Episode 2, and Three times in the SecretLevel of Episode 6 where at least one must be killed to finish the level. (Unless you lure a guard into [[SequenceBreaking opening the locked door]] for you.)

** Episode 6 is fairly easy if you just want to exit quickly, but if you are seeking [[HundredPercentCompletion 100% completion]], it is arguably the hardest map in the entire game.

* AuthorityEqualsAsskicking: Hitler is a boss! Once you blow up his PoweredArmor, he's only about 1/2th as tough as the regular bosses, but with [[MoreDakka extra dakka]]. He's still got several times as much health as the EliteMooks and wields dual miniguns, though.

** A large part of the challenge of playing the game on the PC is the inability to strafe even when using mouselook (you have to hold down a seperate key to strafe, which also prevents you from looking left and right); this is corrected on the modern console ports of the game, as well as the unofficial OpenGL port.

* LargeAndInCharge: The bosses are all about 8 feet tall. Even the two scientist characters.

* GatlingGood: Taken to comical levels; Hans Grosse, Trans Grosse, and Grettle Grosse DualWield TWO Gatling Guns, the Uber Mutant has a Gatling Gun implanted into his chest, General Fettgesicht & Barnacle Willheim both prefer a Gatling gun in one hand, and a pistol-rocket-launcher in the other, while the [[TheDragon Death Knight]] has TWO Gatling Guns and TWO shoulder-mounted Rocket-Launchers, making the Death Knight resemble a HumongousMecha. Finally, Adolf Hitler has a HumongousMecha that has FOUR Gatling Guns, but this is only cosmetic (and temporary), and does not actually double his firepower. The Mech suit is an excuse to give Hitler a lot more HitPoints than most bosses.

* [[DegradedBoss Degraded Boss: Type B]] Hans Gross makes irregular appearances after Episode 1. Twice in a weird push-wall maze in Episode 2, and Three times in the SecretLevel of Episode 6 where at least one must be killed to finish the level.

* UniversalAmmunition: The three original guns all share the same pool of ammunition, though in the case of the first two it's justified (the Luger and [=MP40=] do both fire 9mm bullets). The 3DO and SNES ports added a flamethrower and rocket launcher which had their own ammo pools.

Of course, the Gatling Gun is the player's ultimate weapon in the original Wolfenstein 3D & Spear of Destiny.

* GatlingGood: Taken to comical levels; Hans Grosse, Trans Grosse, and Grettle Grosse DualWield TWO Gatling Guns, the Uber Mutant has a Gatling Gun implanted into his chest, General Fettgesicht & Barnacle Willheim both prefer a Gatling gun in one hand, and a pistol-rocket-launcher in the other, while the [[TheDragon Death Knight]] has TWO Gatling Guns and TWO shoulder-mounted Rocket-Launchers, making the Death Knight resemble a HumongousMecha. Finally, Adolf Hitler has a HumongousMecha that has FOUR Gatling Guns, but this is only cosmetic (and temporary), and done as an excuse to give Adolf Hitler a buttload of HitPoints.

* GatlingGood: Taken to comical levels; Hans Grosse, Trans Grosse, and Grettle Grosse DualWield TWO Gatling Guns, the Uber Mutant has a Gatling Gun implanted into his chest, General Fettgesicht & Barnacle Willheim both prefer a Gatling gun in one hand, and a pistol-rocket-launcher in the other, while the Death Knight has TWO Gatling Guns and TWO shoulder-mounted Rocket-Launchers, making the Death Knight resemble a HumongousMecha. Of course, the Gatling Gun is the player's ultimate weapon in the original Wolfenstein 3D & Spear of Destiny.

* GatlingGood

* [[DegradedBoss Degraded Boss: Type B]] Hans Gross makes irregular appearances as optional encounters after Episode 1. Twice in a weird push-wall maze in Episode 2, and Three times in the SecretLevel of Episode 6 where at least one must be killed to finish the level.

* CriticalHit: On occasion, if you manage to shoot a Nazi before it is alerted, you can kill him in 1-2 shots. This is especially noticeable with [[EliteMooks SS Guards]] who normally require several hits to die as they have about twice the HitPoints of most guard types.

* NintendoHard: A classic example. This is an old school game with an old school difficulty level. Enemies can kill you in just 3 or 4 shots at full health, and health and ammo is a lot more scarce than in {{Doom}} or {{Quake}}. Charging blindly into a room guns blazing like in Doom is a good path to "[[{{Yahtzee}} Nazi bullet bumrape]]".

* GlassCannon: Attack dogs. Faster than other enemies, can deal high damage with their bites, but they only have a single hitpoint.

* UnwinnableByDesign: Whatever you do, in the pushback mazes of [=E2M8=] and [=E4M2=], don't box yourself in! If you do, let's hope you saved at the start of the level, otherwise you have to start the episode all over again.

* EasyModeMockery: The easiest level, "Can I play, Daddy?" ,is symbolized by an icon of Blazkowicz in a baby bonnet.

** [=E2M7=]: This level is unique in that the locked doors are purposefully designed to be opened by enemies that are alerted to your gunshots. If you fail to keep the first door wedged open with a soldier's body, or are seeking [[HundredPercentCompletion 100% completion]], you can easily get locked out unless you find its key - wouldn't be a problem, except it is behind a small pushwall puzzle that, if you mess up, leaves you trapped and unable to progress. Worse, the one pushwall that prevents you from getting the key has an eagle glyph on it, enticing you to press it, while the correct ones are unmarked.