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The amazingly surprising game that places you as a female vampire killing Nazis Gameplay
There's just something ultimately cool about a female damphir slicing her way through legions of Nazi soldiers. Terminal Reality understood this truth and has developed "Bloodrayne", the prequel to the fan favorite "Nocturne". The story of the game begins with the title character being recruited by the Brimstone Society, a group founded to combat supernatural threats to humanity. Players control the agile half-vampire through three missions, the first of which takes place in the Louisiana bayou where creatures have been mutating the population. The other two, set in Argentina and Germany, pit Agent Bloodrayne against Nazis who themselves are in search of magical and spiritual relics. After slicing off the legs and one arm of an enemy and watching him pathetically attempt to drag himself to safety before delivering a bullet to his head, it's obvious that developers, Terminal Reality, have not held back. "Bloodrayne" truly earns its M rating. When not being sucked down the damphir's throat, blood flows from severed limbs and dissected bodies. The language is also undiluted, with no obscenities being censored. So many games use gore and obscenities so clumsily that it is very refreshing to come across a title in which the blood only adds to the enjoyment of play.
Control
The control in "Bloodrayne" requires a steep learning curve. It will take most players several levels of play before they are able to move fluidly through the combat. However, once mastered, players can use a variety of methods with which to dispatch their foes, opening more moves and techniques as the game progresses. A large selection of firearms and explosives can be found or taken from dead enemies. However, most of the time, gameplay resorts to hand-to-hand combat utilizing the unique bladed weapons, chained harpoon, and viciously spiked heels.
The action moves at a frantic pace, with the player constantly taking on multiple enemies. Although many enemies can be avoided or outrun, confrontation is encouraged. Enemies are the source of both weapons and health. Level design is very good, with few tight spaces where controls are at their least satisfying. Even at the standard levels, "Bloodrayne" provides more than enough challenge to satiate almost any gamer. For those feeling ambitious, a hard difficulty setting all but ensures failure.
Graphics
Visually the game is dark and grainy. Character models are very blocky, but still carry a lot of style. The movement of the game mimics the rigidity of the models. Very rarely will an animation, once started, be stopped, giving the game a very stilted look at times. Unfortunately, this makes most of the cutscenes and some of the gameplay feel just a little stiff. There are a number of visual treats that save this title. Visual effects are used well, especially those used as a function of gameplay. The smoke and fogging used for atmosphere is effective as are the explosion effects. Most impressively executed are Bloodrayne's special visions. Night vision, slow motion, and sniper vision all look very slick, and Terminal Reality has skillfully made them much more than just gimmicks. The sound in "Bloodrayne" comes off like much of the rest of the game, with both good and bad aspects.
Sound
The sound effects are suitably gnarly, with severed limbs and the sucking of blood being described well in the soundscape. The music is really an ambient track, without any true character, but providing something other than silence to kill by. Of note is Bloodrayne's voice. Her in-battle quips come off as perfectly arrogant and devious. Her moans of pleasure as she sucks an enemy dry do a lot to establish her sadism. Her enemies, on the other hand, don't have much to say, and players will soon notice that every German has the same voice when begging someone to "Get her off me!"
Replay
Terminal Reality has managed to avoid the game becoming too repetitive with some excellent boss battles. While the standard enemies really carry no distinctive qualities, the bosses sport individual and original styles. Each boss in the game provides a challenge, and most require the player to apply Bloodrayne's skills differently. Although it delivers adequately in so many areas, so much of "Bloodrayne" could stand for a bit more polish. The slick character design and brutal gameplay should be praised. However, stiff animation and chunky battle controls prevent this game from getting an 8. Still, slicing off the gun hand off an enemy and watching him run screaming before harpooning him in the back and yanking him in to suck the remaining life from his body is a moment which should be experienced. Hopefully Terminal Reality will see fit to create a sequel to "Bloodrayne" and smooth out the rough edges.
Overall
Overall "Bloodrayne" is not a bad game. This game definitely deserves a rental because of it's visual effects. This is definitely a better game than "Blood Omen 2".
-- Anonym. Contributor, PGNx Media
---- Nov 6, 2002
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