Wolfenstein 3D

The success of "Wolfenstein 3D" lay in its introduction of 3D graphics to the masses. Although the technology of the time (Raycasting) could only render grid-like levels composed of walls and doors, the immersive first-person experience it offered was unprecedented. The game was initially released as shareware, with the first chapter available for free trial, greatly facilitating its distribution. The protagonist, B.J. Blazkowicz, is tasked with breaking through Nazi bunkers and high-rises, battling ordinary guards, soldiers, guard dogs, elite enemies wielding heavy weaponry, and ultimately powerful bosses (like Hitler himself, clad in a mechanical suit). Players must find keys, supplies, and hidden areas within maze-like maps, eventually locating the elevator to the next level. The game's violent aesthetic and pacing set the standard for subsequent titles like "Doom" and all modern FPS games.