Vampire Hunter D

"Not worth $35 - New or Used!"

I picked up this game after Christmas out of a Hastings, it was used and selling for $35 -- which
should have made me cautious about purchasing a Playstation one game for that price. But I didn't, since I
was a fan of VHD: Bloodlust -- which is the movie that this game is base on (There are two Vampire Hunter D Movies, a 1986 one that is simply called Vampire Hunter D, and the more Recent Bloodlust -- the latter being more polished in both storyline and animation, while the Former is more of a splatterfest, but I disgress, and end the dicussion here.)

I popped it into my PS2, with the hope that it would be a good and enjoyable game. And haven't played it since.

Here is why:

Graphics: 7/10
Now I like pretty things as much as the next person, but considering the power the PSX showed in the Final Fantasy FMVs, and in game graphics, this was a let down. The beginning FMV had beautiful scenery, the machines and people moved in a believable fashion, but points are knocked down for how grainy it was.
There was also odd texture choices, D's cape looks like it's made of vinyl for instance, and his hair did not look too real. I know it's nothing like Devil May Cry or FFX, but surely a bit more effort can be put into it.

Kudos to the eye affect though.

In game graphics is another matter. D's hands are bigger then his head, and are one solid block with lines to represent fingers, and the movement of his cape is lackluster and not convincing at all. Though the background is nicely rendered.

Suggestion: adjust the polygons of the sprite to be more proportionate, and remove the graininess of the FMV. Also, reconsider the texture for the cape.

Camera Angle: 3/10
This is one of the two most important factors for me when it comes to enjoying the game.

The Camera Angle is set between either a 3/4 overhead view of sorts, or straight on from one direction only.
Now if the camera was completely overhead (so I can see the entire area), or is always behind D, I would not complain about the Fix-angle.

But sadly, it is in one of those awkward angles that gets you disoriented quite easily, for the controls will not always correspond with the direction he is facing, so you may end up running in the opposite direction you wanted to go in!

I actually ended up going out the same door I entered because the angle had tricked me to believing I had gotten to the other side of the room when I didn't. At least he doesn't disappear from view completely or jiggle when he's near the walls (The former being a flaw with KH's allies, and the latter with the first PC Tomb Raider and the N64 Castlevanias) -- which keeps this score from being a one.

Suggestion: Change the angle, or allow players to adjust the camera.

Sound: 5/10 (Average of Voice, SFX, Music)
I will divide it into three parts, Voice, Music, and SFX.
Voice: Well, it's the same voice actors from the dub series, and they are not bad voice actors (despite the rep many dubbers get), so there is no problems with the actual voice. However, there are two main problems with it, timing and lip-synching. Since we almost never see D's face, I can not say if the words match the lips.

Lefty is another another matter. In the first cut-scene involving the portrait of the blood countess, the voice came in several seconds late, in one batch of lines it was cut off before he finished what he was going to say (Good thing for subtitles!) -- which of course means the whole lip-synching is completely off. - 4/10

SFX: Well, average, nothing really memorable, lasers sound like lasers, the motorbike and cyberhorse sound like what they are suppose to. I don't expect to be wowed by SXF any ways - 7/10

Music: I don't remember the music at all, if there was any. At least it wasn't a grating mess. However, a game like this needs mood-setting music - 4/10

Suggestion: running the game through beta a few more times to sync the voicing and fix the sudden drops and late starts. For the music, hire a reputable music composer to give the game the much needed atmosphere.

Control: 5/10 normally -- With Camera (see above) 2/10

The control reminds me of Tomb Raider (left and right directional buttons/analog taps will turn the character instead of making him move in that direction) -- something I am not used to, and a control factor I personally dislike. Up makes D move forward, and Down moves him back -- again, different from what I'm use to -- since most games I play have characters simply move in the direction that is tapped. Now consider the fact that the Camera Angle has you facing who knows what direction, and if you are not use to this kind of control set up, you would end up going in a direction you had no desire to go in -- espeically since his left/right doesn't always match with the player's left/right direction.

The Jumps are okay, but are wanting considering the fact he is a half-vampire. I don't expect him to do backflips every time he jumps, but I think perhaps he can go a bit higher, or a bit farther then he currently does.

Menus are average, there's nothing too special about it.

The controls goes from average to poor due to the Camera, even if they do respond nicely.

Suggestion: Either change the set-up of movement, or allow the player to adjust the camera angle.

Gameplay: 1/10.

It wasn't fun at all for me. It was clunky and awkward, unfitting for the agile dhampire (or Dunpeal, depending on who you talk to). The Camera killed off the fun factor, and the lack of ambient music, noticably glitched voice effects, strange movement controls, and uninspiried fighting system causes the game to dig it's grave much deeper.

Pro:
* Good Voice Talent
* Fair Backgrounds

Con:
* No music or unmemborable music?
* Clunky sprites
* Moving is a pain

Ugly:
* The Camera!!

Buy, Rent, Ignore:
I would severely recommend ignoring it. at $35 at Hastings (which is usually one of the cheapest places to get software in my area, mind you) for being USED, it was phemonionally overpriced.

However, if you must see how it really is, you would be better off Renting -- if you can even find it. According to the Hollywood Video in my area, it theorically carries it if you look at the buyable games list it has, but I have yet to see it.

But for the love of the Goddess of Games, do not waste your money on buying it!

Reviewer's Score: 3/10, Originally Posted: 04/10/04