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Operation Eisenfaust: Origins

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Operation Eisenfaust: Origins is a major mod for Spear of Destiny, made by Team Raycast. It was released on November 8, 2012. The mod is a heavily reworked version of Sonderkommando Revolt, which was in development for 4 years before a controversial media outcry hit it.

The mod is built around the story behind original Wolfenstein 3D's, Episode 2: Operation Eisenfaust. A sequel, Operation Eisenfaust: Legacy, was released in 2014 while a remastered version was released in 2021. This alongside other bonus content make up the Eisenfaust series.

Development[]

After initial Sonder cancellation - private distribution to over 40 trusted wolfers and moddb members was the first step to get Sonder copy to the community, and to the ones who most anticipated and supported the mod and its planned release. The mod even was awarded "Mod of the Month" Wolf3D Dome award from Brian.

"Origins" reskin of Sonder was DoomJedi initiative as he still felt an obligation to his team members for their grand work to eventually see a full public release, beyond the limited "underground" release of the original Sonder copies.

The team was pessimistic about the idea and DoomJedi planned and made the art reskin (with some related mapping replacements) mainly by himself. It was a big creative challenge to decide what to replace by what so it'll naturally replace the problematic Holocaust art within existing maps without the need to alter the maps themselves.

Changing prisoners to mutants and protagonist to BJ was a smart idea as purple blood looks less "gory" and also mutants/BJ take the mod out of historic-like ground into the clearly fictional Wolf3D universe (that already has Hitler Ghosts and other fictional elements). Some map names had to be adjusted as well with DoomJedi coming with new names, usually including some play on words and freeze puns. Alot of work took going over all of the maps and making sure dead mutant/prisoner floor texture blood is purple while keeping dead nazi blood red, that couldn't be done by simple reskin - as beforehand they used the same floor texture. All Freeze Rooms needed manual re-texturing as well - as the "white" ceiling/floor texture was used in Sonder in places outside Gasrooms as well and so couldn't work with direct reskin.

The eventual result pleasantly surprised the rest of the team, even before the Remastered Edition.

Storyline[]

You are BJ Blazkowicz.

The Nazi's were slowly but surely losing the war, but rumours had it that the Nazi's were working on one final all or nothing tactic. A camp had been set up, but what had been taking place at that camp was unknown at the time. Infamous Nazi doctors had been seen entering the camp, but the how and why were still a mystery.

A spy hardly ever gets a break, and the same goes for BJ. You had hooked up with the Underground after defeating Hans Grosse, where you were informed about Dr. Schabbs and his 'Operation Eisenfaust'. The camp was linked to the operation; it was rumoured that it was here that the experiments took place. You were sent in for investigation.

But something went wrong and you were caught. You got confirmation that experiments had been taking place, for you were to become a test subject very soon...

Notable coding features[]

  • Portable medkit
  • Sniper Rifle
  • Unique bonus level unlock system to motivate map exploration
  • Controllable turrets with overheating
  • Damaging Freeze Rooms
  • Some mission based levels including timed mission and interactive walls

People involved[]

Bonus map credits[]

Bonus maps were unlocked after all Story maps are finished and enough "map unlock" items found on Story maps. "Map Unlock" items were of 2 kind - single and triple. For a triple ones to count you needed to find on a map all 3 such items.

Bonus maps were different from Story maps as they had more mapping freedom - all weapons and enemies can be used, level designs could be much less realistic and even showcase to an extreme particular feature or weapon.

Scrapped maps[]

  • Mine Chart - by DoomJedi, later released in Remastered Edition. Was intended to be a main level where BJ has to find mine chart before he can escape the camp
  • Mine Field Resque - by DoomJedi, unreleased. BJ had a mission to save a group of mutant stuck at minefield, was fully mapped but scrapped.
  • The Barracks - by DoomJedi. Was fully mapped but scrapped, part was later used in Mine Chart map.
  • Upper Class
  • The Village - by DoomJedi, later released as part of Xmas edition. Concept was a secret map where BJ enters a nazi-controlled village after escape from the camp.
  • Lost in a Forest - scrapped, elements used in "Trains of Death" map
  • Holding the Zero - by AlumiuN
  • Where is Hans - by RonWolf
  • Barrack Cemetery by RonWolf - later used in "Trains of Death" map
  • First Shower - by Tricob
  • Dogs - by RonWolf - later used in "Trains of Death" map

External links[]

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