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Majesco’s ‘Rayne returns in a high-budget sequel. Majesco really wanted to get out there that BloodRayne 2 would be released soon. In fact, you could even say that Majesco is desperately trying to make ‘Rayne a sex symbol. If you need proof, look no further than a recent Playboy issue where she appears topless. That’s right. Nevertheless, I won’t hold that against the game as it is actually a very enjoy if uncomplicated action game.
In BloodRayne 2, you once control the voluptuous vixen as she attempts to put an end to the demonic deeds of her siblings. You see, they want to cover the sky with a blood-filled layer which will enable vampires to walk around as they wish since they won’t need to deal with the bothersome sun. Rayne, of course, doesn’t want this to happen and will attempt to stop it. The story is told through a mix of in-engine cut-scenes, which are average at best, and spectacular CG scenes.
Before you read any further, an overwhelming majority of BloodRayne 2’s gameplay is of the move and kill style. That said, developer Terminal Reality certainly added a number of moves for you to pull off to make this an enjoyable experience in the nine to eleven hours you’ll be playing the game. Rayne has a number of weapons at her disposal including blades, guns, and a chain, aside from the typical kicks and slashes. You’re able to pull off simple combos rather easily. Additionally, there are more complex and particularly gruesome combos you can pull off.
The guns are particularly noteworthy as Terminal Reality made them require blood to shoot, and once you run out they’ll begin draining your own blood. It is a very nifty addition that adds a bit of depth to the game while just having that “man, that’s pretty cool” feeling. The aforementioned chain is used often to throw enemies around, something that is actually required for a few of the puzzles in the game (don’t worry, they’re all pretty simple).
In keeping with the vampire theme, Rayne gets health from sucking the blood from others. You’ll find a number of willing donors throughout the levels, so you’ll never really run into a shortage. Rayne also has a number of vampire-related moves including the ability to enter a fast-forward and slow-motion mode. You’ll also enter a rage attack which greatly increases the impact of attacks while yet another lets you see enemies hidden in other rooms.
The game’s visuals are pretty good overall. The various levels you’ll go through are varied enough and they al project that gothic feeling the developers were clearly aiming for. Additionally, you’ll find that there are many interactive and destructible areas in the game, and they are populated with enemies although sometimes this hurts the game as the PlayStation 2 struggled to keep up when too many enemies appear onscreen. The game’s character models are good, as well, and certainly fit into the nature of the game. BloodRayne’s character model in particular is excellent. Unfortunately, many of the characters in the game, Rayne included, are subject to some collision detection and disjointed animation here and there. Otherwise, you’ll find that Rayne is a quick gal and able to move around with ease.
The game’s audio component keeps the atmosphere very well. The background music is standard fare for the vampire-action genre, though a little repetitive here and there. The sound effects are good enough, particular the various cries you’ll hear from enemies. Lastly, the voice acting is of good quality, although the writing itself isn’t anything to write home about.
BloodRayne 2 is a very solid action game. The game’s gameplay is good enough and it is just oozing with production value. Overall, fans of the first BloodRayne will love much in this sequel while everyone else will find a good, but not great action game. -- Jose Liz, PGNx Media
---- Oct 25, 2004
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