See the previous entry in the series “Christmas in video games: Lemmings.”
I’m not sure who came up with the idea to make Wolfenstein 3-D into a Christmas game. Somewhere in the early 1990s, it seemed like a good idea. Such a good idea, in fact, that I downloaded it and played it. I put my copy of it, direct from a 1994-era BBS download, preserved on CD-ROM, on box.net for your enjoyment. Download it here.
(NB: The file can also be found on Jason Scott‘s excellent CD-ROM archive. The file is here on PowerDOS 1996.)
Mostly graphic sprites are changed, but a few digitized sounds effects made it in. The regular brownshirt officer is replaced with Santa who announces his ire with “Ho Ho Ho!” and laments his death with “D’oh!” The blue gestapo officers become snowmen throwing deadly snowballs at a lightning pace. Sprites mostly are changed to traditional christmassy versions. Much is unchanged though.
It’s terrifying to hear Horst Wessel Lied and then move into killing Santa, stealing his ammo and moving on to a tasty Christmas pudding to regain health. This game was definitely made by people who think that Silent Night is best sung to the Marines’ Hymn.
From Level 2:
The first frame of the level gives you the feel of what we’re getting into. Snowfall on the walls and mistletoe hanging from the light fixtures. Everything else is the same old gore.
Suits of armor become Nutcracker-style soldiers and giant candy canes deck the halls.
The potted plants become decorated Christmas trees–how cute! But what’s at the end of the hall?
It seems the modders have put their own likeness into the game, via a crummy 1994-era black-and-white scanner. Of course, who wants to replace portraits of Hitler with their own mug?
The medical kits are redrawn as Christmas puddings. Not bad. Regular food plates, ammo clips and such stay the same.
Extra lives now have a little crown on them. Perhaps our hero had a Christmas cracker earlier?
The sprite swap-fest continutes: “Happy New Year” banner (formerly a swastika), Santa’s bag of presents, choo-choo trains next to a bloody corpse and a Christmas bench (?).
My favorite screen-grab of level 2: violently gunning down multiple Santas in order to steal their candy treasures.
Now for level 3:
More portraits of Hitler replaced with homemade scans. Note the festive lights.
Christmas stockings hang from the ceiling. I shudder to think that these take the place of former hanging skeletons.
Decorative snowmen and ammo clips make a jolly holiday combo.
So, you get the point. Here’s a few more of interest from the next two levels.
Level 4:
Paintings of a farmhouse in the snow hang where portraits of Teutonic eagles gripping swastikas once did, this time nicely framed with green garland.
Happy Xmas!
Finally, level 5:
Wreaths and bows take the place of Nazi topiary.
I believe Rudolph is a German name, ja?
After five levels, I couldn’t take it anymore and returned to share the bounty of screenshots. If you want more, you’re going to have to download it yourself. Copies of DOSBox and the shareware version of Wolfenstein are readily found online. Harder to find is XMASWOLF.ZIP, which I’ve put on Box.net. Download it, unzip it and follow the directions inside!
Happy Xmas!
