Author Information
Menu
Navigation
Scribol
|
by Arcee on 09.14.11  To be fair and honest, I am a huge fan of the BloodRayne franchise. Since the first BloodRayne video game released by Majesco back in 2002, to the comic book series’ she has been featured in, and (to a lesser degree) the movies made based on the character, I have been a huge fan. Yeah, the movies may have soured my taste a bit on the franchise – nevertheless I have still been looking forward to the next game to come out in the series. I was a bit disappointed to learn that the planned BloodRayne for the PlayStation Portable was cancelled, but my feelings on that have been softened since first hearing that Majesco and WayForward Technologies were working on a downloadable, sidescrolling game to be available through the PlayStation Network and Xbox Live. While the sidescrolling aspect of BloodRayne: Betrayal is a departure from the third-person action style of BloodRayne and BloodRayne 2, I was still pretty amped to give this new addition to the gaming series a try.
In Betrayal, the player takes control of Rayne as she once again joins the Brimstone Society to tackle the threat of a new vampire genocide. Rayne has plenty of vampiric moves and abilities at her disposal to help her battle the numerous undead that stand in her way, trying to prevent her success. A lot of these moves are straight from the first two games, just presented in a 2D way – but they still are effective. Other moves, like her super high back jump are new to the game and allow her to maneuver through the 2D environments with greater ease. It may not have the exact feel of the first two games, but it certainly is presented in a way that is familiar enough to old fans that it seems natural to the character. Having her dash from side to side avoiding obstacles, sucking on blood to regain health, and, of course, using her trusty blades and guns to doll out pain and death to her enemies are aspects of the game that should have assuage some of the questions longtime fans may have about the new presentation.
Also, just because Betrayal is rated T for Teen by the ESRB, it doesn’t necessarily mean that the game is tame; quite the contrary. Fountains of blood flow from enemies you are slaying and bodies decompose as you take their lifeblood for your own health. Even some of the types of enemies you encounter are certainly not something you would normally see in a T game. Still, there is a certain bit of sexiness missing from the game that fans had become accustomed to from the previous two games. It is not enough to take away from the game, but it is a substantially missing piece. Likewise, the loss of voice acting in the game as you play through the levels is something that certain fans will miss. (I certainly missed Laura Bailey's sultry and alluring voice as Rayne in the game.) I bring this up because the way dialog is presented in the game (word bubbles) can sometimes be missed as you rush through a level. I found this happened to me once or twice and feel that I may have missed a little something from the story behind this game because of it.
Truthfully speaking, they don’t take much away from Betrayal, but they are aspects of the series that fans may find themselves missing as they play through the game. I certainly did, but as I said, it was more of a cosmetic feel and doesn’t affect the overall fun factor the game presents. In many ways, it almost feels like some of the Castlevania games that have been released for handheld gaming consoles over the past couple of years – and that is not a bad thing. For me, it was like playing Symphony of the Night with a sexy female character. It may not be quite as polished as Symphony of the Night was, but it was certainly as entertaining. In terms of gameplay, I have no complaints about the game other than how freaking hard some parts were. But just as you get used to what is coming on screen, players should find it easier as they progress. The multiple deaths are never frustrating enough to be a turn off but rather attract you back in to get past that group of Euro-trash looking vampires or those huge hulking behemoths blocking your path.
BloodRayne: Betrayal is a great addition to the BloodRayne franchise. It may not be what people were expecting, but it is still a pretty recognizable entry to the series. Getting past a few of the cosmetic losses from previous games in the series is a bit much for some longtime fans, but given the chance, BloodRayne: Betrayal is well worth the money spent on the purchase. The crisp and beautiful HD, hand-drawn looking renders in the game done in a sort of anime style make up for some of the aesthetic losses. (Actually, this clean and crisp style is something we all should expect from more downloadable games if you ask me.) Also, to soften that purchase price just a little bit, Majesco is bundling in a dynamic BloodRayne: Betrayal theme for your PlayStation 3 with a purchase of the game. That is definitely a welcome add-on for your money in my opinion. Not perfect, but still a damn fine and fun game.
|
||
Add to N4G
