Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds

""Every girl should have a long shaft""

Graphics: 7
Sound: 7
Story: 6
Multiplayer: 4
Overall: 7

Introduction:

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is a game based off the hit television show Buffy the Vampire Slayer, which recently finished it's seven year run. The game is based on a 'lost episode' from season 5 of the show. At this time during the series, a god from another dimension, Glory, was causing the scooby gang all sorts of trouble. Buffy's sister, Dawn, was a major key to the plot..no pun intended for followers of the show. The game, however, really has nothing to do with that. In the game, Ethan Rayne, an old enemy who made several appearances on the show returns, surprise surprise, to cause more trouble. Not to give away any heavy plot spoilers, but he gets the gang, which includes Buffy, Willow and Xander, along with the impotent vampire Spike, rogue slayer and now fugitive Faith, and wooden dummy Sid, all into the mix. You play as each unique character throughout the game, and travel through famous Sunnydale locations, such as the High School and the Initiave, as well as fighting Big Bads such as The First and Adam, to name a few.

Graphics:

You can tell when a studio takes less time on a game to meet the release date. This is evident in Chaos Bleeds. The graphics, while not bad, are nothing spectacular. The same demons and vampires are used over and over, and you'll see the same textures used in different places. The character models are just downright bad. Apart from them not looking like the characters they portray, the models in the game are ugly. The facial expressions are laughable. Still, the game looks pretty. You feel like you are really in the cemetary, or the movie theater. Not bad, but could have been so much better.

Sound:

I wanted to give this a higher rating. If this category was based solely on sound effects and background music, it would have been a 9. From water dripping to the nearby snarl of hungry vampires, this game sounds authentic. When you slay a vampire, the controller rumbles along to the dusting sound that happens on the television show, whenever a vampire becomes aquainted with Mr. Pointy. It makes you really feel as if you are in the show, staking the vamps for real. The background music is just as good as in the episodes, as you don't really even notice it. It plays low and eerily, but it's there, adding to the mystery of the level you are playing.

However..I also have to factor in the voice overs and dialogue. This is another part of the game that suffers severely. Buffy and Willow had voice actors different to the actresses who play them in the game. I must admit I was impressed with Buffy's voice. It is clearly not Sarah Michelle Gellar's, but it sounds very close. Not only that, but the manner in her speaking is very similiar to SMG's Buffy. Willow however, is a bit different. She sounds
a bit like the television show, and speaks in the manner of Willow. The only problem is that she speaks the way Willow did in Season 2. A geeky, smart computer nerd who was insecure of herself. By the time this game is taking place, Willow has become a strong, confident, women, witch and lesbian. Whenever I hear Willow talk in the game, I can very easily see the Season 2 Willow talking. But it is not at all near the Willow in Season 5.

Overall, the dialogue seems stale. It does not at all feel that the characters are conversing with one another. The dialogue doesn't flow at all, and it seems very much like bits and piece of conversation put together. Most of the in-game character comments, such as Buffy picking up a stake and saying ''Every girl should have a long shaft'', are comical. Unfortunately, you hear them each a hundred times.

Story:

Often being called a Buffy freak, one would expect me to take a liking to the story more than someone who has never seen the show. Unfortunately this is not so. Being the avid Buffy fan that I am, I found the story not up to the caliber of the show(barring the episode 'Double Meat Palace'). I'm not crazy about other dimension episodes, and I really didn't like the way the characters came together. Ethan escaping his imprisonment, Faith breaking out of jail, it all just seemed off. The developers must have thought it would be cool to include lots of famous villians and situations from the show. They don't seem, however, to have come up with a compelling reason for it all. Were I not a Buffy fan, I would have skipped all the cutscenes, as they were mostly, and unfortunately, both uninteresting, and a waste of time.

Multiplayer:

Multiplayer? Awesome, or so I thought up to the point where I tried playing it. There is just no fun it it. You basically just fight each other, or computer controlled demons, much as you do in the singleplayer portion of the game. But just doing the same fighting combos over and over, results in not even the slightest bit of enjoyment. The best part of fighting in the main game, was using weapons like swords, bashing vampires with shovels, firing crossbows at them. The developers thought it would be better to deprive us of using any items in the game. Well, the result is something not worth trying for a second time.

Overall:

I have many gripes with this game, but I don't hate it. In fact, I still really liked it. I normally don't even finish most games I start, but I enjoyed this one alot, and actually finished it with satisfaction. If you're a Buffy fan, this game should be bought. The extra videos are a major bonus, and while nothing over the top, fun to watch for fans. Non fans of the show, should probably rent first. If you played the first game on XBOX and loved it, then buy this. But be cautious, as this game is not for everyone.

I'm glad I got this game, and I look forward to the next one. For whatever developer picks up the liscense, I hope you keep the style of gameplay. Just make the fixes I mentioned above. Get the writers to come up with a good story. Get some good script writers. Oh, and refine the combat system. Taking on one vampire is simply, but often multiple enemies will be come frustrating when you miss and get stuck in a combo. Oh yeah, and include more of Faith in the next one, you can't go wrong with her ;)

Reviewer's Score: 7/10, Originally Posted: 09/03/03