Blood Omen 2

"Blood never tasted so good! Very linear story, but Kain fans should buy it."

Intro
Probably the most linear game in the whole series. You can't go back no matter how hard you try, unless you're God and can alter history. Which doesn't allow you to make full use of your gained Dark Gifts (vampire abilities). Still, they are pretty fun to use and the game is great.

Graphics
I found that graphic-wise, the game was lacking in some areas. The environments were great, very realistic. Unfortunately, the characters were not. They sometimes go into walls (not through them), but only during fights, if you push your enemies back. Also, Kain's long claws go through his hand in one part (ouch), and non-hostile characters are VERY ugly, not because of their faces, but because of their corners and other minor flaws. Such things don't really matter with demons because they can look whatever anyone wants them to look like. So you're more likely to fall in love with the scenery rather than the characters. Everything else looks great except for some explosions and most movements are realistic except for blocking, which looks like if they were practicing rather than fighting.

Sound
The sound is amazing, I was truly impressed. When metal clashes it sounds realistic, unlike some games where the sound is so low, it sounds like a bloodfest with salad forks. The music however isn't really there. You'll rarely hear it and when you do, it isn't all that impressive, except in battles, where sometimes when you hit, a sudden sound will play just like in the movies when two guys are fighting and when one is it the music goes bam! all of a sudden, which was impressive. Other times you'll notice the music is when there is a music box nearby or in taverns. The voice acting is wonderful except for the Seraphan Lord if you listen carefully, but this is mostly at the ending when he speaks.

Controls
I found the controls terrible but easy to get used to. First, you can only move with the analog stick, so if you get it all sweaty, you'll have to pause and dry it with your shirt, because if you slip in a battle, you could die if you don't dodge at the right time. You only get one 3 hit combo, which is pressing square three times. You'll get another combo later (which is actually a dark gift) which you don't control but it's pretty cool to watch. Dodging attacks sucks. You'll have to die at the hands of new enemies before you can master dodging their red aura attacks which cannot be blocked, plus you can only dodge to the sides and can't lunge. It's even harder if a combo comes before it because you'll be blocking (which is annoying itself because you have to hold down the L1 button). To autoface (you can only attack autofacing unlike Raziel) you have to hold down the R1 button. It can get VERY annoying until you get used to it which will be after you beat the game. Selecting dark gifts is also extremely annoying since you have to hold down the L2 button and select it with the right analog stick. The controls are depressing.

Gameplay
Blood sucking is cool at first, then it gets kinda boring, but not enough to make me stop sucking blood from everyone in the game. Battles are very cool with all the great sounds and dark gifts which can make a beginner look like he's been playing all his life. Unlike SR 1&2, it's all about the fights and barely any puzzles (thank god since you can only move boxes forward and back) and the little puzzles are short. Some dark gifts will be simply puzzle solvers, like charm and telekinesis, which can be used on enemies and neutral characters but telekinesis doesn't do much damage and charm doesn't work on enemies. The jump dark gift is great, makes me feel like Spider-man, fury makes me feel like Hulk, berserk makes me feel like Neo (from the Matrix), and immolate makes me feel like god (instant kill). You can assume mist form and perform stealth attacks on your enemies for an instant kill (different with each weapon). Try it unarmed to either break someone's neck (not me) or rip their heart out (literally). There are two stealth kill and you can grab anyone by the throat and perform two different attacks (not always a kill) or simply throw them great distances. Controlling Kain will make you feel like you are some kind of god. AND you'll be the ''bad guy'', not some you-just-tried-to-kill-me-but-I'll-save-you-anyway kind of guy, you'll simply kill for fun. The game has it's glitches (and pretty obvious ones) but it's still a great game and a must buy for Kain fans. If they would have held the game back a couple of months, it would have been the greatest LoK in the series. Also, the story isn't the kind that drags you in like SR 1&2 which gives the game a kill everything in sight kind of feel. Those who aren't Kain fans will feel the game could have been a lot better.

Outro
Those who want to save money, rent it first and decide for yourself. 7 out of 10 in my opinion buy you should be the judge, don't just base your decision on some reviews because not everyone thinks the way you do.

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 04/21/02, Updated 09/19/02