Blood: One Unit Whole Blood

About

"Blood: One Unit Whole Blood" is a horror shooter game with both single-player and multi-player modes. It boasts a good story, compelling game mechanics, and a unique atmosphere, accompanied by pretty visuals, amazing music, and humor, despite being full of bugs. The game follows the player's quest for revenge against a dark god named Tchernobog, battling zombies, gargoyles, and other horrors in a bloody rampage.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

90%

Audience ScoreBased on 704 reviews

gameplay40 positive mentions

stability12 negative mentions

Blood is a classic FPS that combines horror themes with dark humor, offering a unique and engaging experience.
The game features a diverse arsenal of creative weapons, including a flare gun, voodoo doll, and various types of dynamite, each with alternate fire modes.
The level design is intricate and varied, with plenty of secrets and references to horror films, making exploration rewarding and enjoyable.

The Steam version is a poor DOSBox port, leading to performance issues, awkward controls, and a lack of modern features like mouse look and customizable key bindings.
The game can be extremely challenging, with some enemies having pinpoint accuracy and the potential for frustrating deaths due to environmental hazards.
Accessing the expansion content requires additional configuration, which can be cumbersome for players unfamiliar with DOSBox.

gameplay
104 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
58%
4%
The gameplay of this classic FPS is characterized by its fast-paced action, unique weaponry, and engaging mechanics that evoke nostalgia for the genre. While it offers a challenging experience with intricate level designs and a variety of enemies, some players note issues with controls and balance, particularly in the context of modern gaming standards. Overall, it combines a rich atmosphere with enjoyable, albeit sometimes frustrating, gameplay that remains memorable and distinctive.
- “Excellent classic FPS, with great atmosphere, great gameplay, and interesting weapons.”
- “The gameplay is very fast-paced, featuring both traditional weapons such as a shotgun and a tommy gun, and more offbeat ones such as a flare gun that sets enemies on fire and TNT sticks that blow everything up to smithereens.”
- “Challenging old-school gameplay, fast-paced and relentless action with hordes of enemies to mow down and some excellent pitch-black humor all add to the nostalgic run-and-gun fun.”
- “Poor gameplay by today's standards.”
- “It is, yet a lot of elements (mostly gameplay and controls) are far more complex which caused me a lot of frustration.”
- “Not a fan of this game, I don't like the controls or the gameplay.”
music
102 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
3%
The music in the game is widely praised for its atmospheric and eerie qualities, effectively enhancing the horror experience with memorable tracks and unique sound design. However, some players express disappointment over the availability of only a MIDI soundtrack in certain versions, which they feel detracts from the overall experience compared to the original CD soundtrack. Despite some technical issues, such as volume control problems and occasional bugs, the soundtrack remains a highlight, contributing significantly to the game's gothic horror theme.
- “The music is suitable spooky and some is even memorable.”
- “The music fits perfectly with the art design as it gives a mysterious and dark tone to the overall creepy theme.”
- “Incredible music, atmosphere, and gameplay.”
- “Apparently this release has a MIDI soundtrack instead of the CD soundtrack, and therefore it sucks in comparison, which is a bummer.”
- “The game's soundtrack is suitably apt for the subject matter, but 6+ hours of listening to foreboding synths and children chanting pseudo-satanic mantras does tend to prove detrimental to one's overall mood.”
- “The music's volume cannot be lowered or turned off through the game.”
graphics
83 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
24%
70%
6%
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reflecting the limitations of its era with a mix of 2D sprites and early 3D elements. While some players appreciate the unique art style and atmospheric design that pays homage to classic horror films, others find the visuals primitive and lacking compared to modern standards. Overall, the game's charm lies more in its gameplay and creativity than in its graphical fidelity, making it a nostalgic experience for fans of retro shooters.
- “The graphics are really solid with attention to detail (for the time), and if you like gore this won't hold back.”
- “Overall it has a nice style and really nails the horror aesthetic it's going for.”
- “It features fantastic graphics from the era, multiple (and sometimes comedic) references to music, poetry, books, movies, and even other video games, a plethora of fun and unique weapons each with two different attacks, a strong lineup of memorable levels like the carnival and the hedgemaze spanning 5 chapters, engaging and exciting enemies, and great midi music with modern remakes of each.”
- “The cutscenes look weird by today's standards; probably weren't all that amazing back in the day either, but regular visuals and sound are solid, with quite a few objects being fully 3D.”
- “The graphics have not aged well, and the maximum resolution which this game actually let me set it to, a lowly 800x600, seems dismally low, with textures and characters alike appearing terribly ugly and primitive.”
- “Even at release, the graphics were dated, with everything being drowned in blurry brown and grey pixels.”
atmosphere
62 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
68%
27%
5%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its unique blend of horror and humor, creating an immersive experience that captivates players. Reviewers highlight the effective use of sound design, level creativity, and references to classic horror, all contributing to a deeply engaging and memorable ambiance. Despite its dated graphics, the game's atmospheric elements, including music and voice acting, are noted as standout features that enhance the overall gameplay experience.
- “The atmosphere is flawless, if you like grotesque humor.”
- “You'll fight your way through huge, thematically and visually extremely varied, highly atmospheric and intricately designed levels filled with references to (or sometimes directly based on) famous pieces of horror cinema and literature.”
- “With some gruesome environments like decomposing corpses and a dark tone, this has a very thick atmosphere of dread that holds up 20 years later.”
- “I wish games nowadays had the same creativity, fun, and atmosphere in them, but sadly most shooters now are all about graphics and less about gameplay.”
- “The atmosphere in general is what makes this game unique and distinctive from the other Doom clones of that era.”
humor
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark, black comedy and grotesque elements, primarily delivered through the protagonist Caleb's witty and often sadistic dialogue. Players appreciate the clever references to horror films and pop culture, as well as the absurdity of the gory gameplay, which creates a unique atmosphere that balances creepiness with humor. Overall, the game is celebrated for its entertainingly twisted sense of humor, making it a standout experience for fans of the genre.
- “The game's protagonist, Caleb, is a truly underrated one - being a sadistic anti-hero who has plenty of funny dialogue, quotes from popular movies, sings showtunes, and cackles maniacally when you explode some enemies.”
- “Atmosphere keeps a nice balance between 'creepy' and 'hilarious' in a way that yes, those piles of meat may well be human bodies carved up for cooking, but it becomes hard to consider it a tragedy when Caleb utters 'leftovers' and immediately unloads double barrels of lead into anything he didn't like, all while humming 'Strangers in the Night'.”
- “Blood is a darkly humorous and often morbid, long and, even by 90s FPS standards, challenging journey.”
story
59 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
12%
83%
5%
The story of the game revolves around Caleb, an undead gunslinger seeking revenge against a dark god and a cult that betrayed him, set in a horror-themed early 20th-century backdrop. While the narrative is considered simplistic and underdeveloped, it provides enough context to enhance the gameplay experience, with some players appreciating its quirky humor and horror references. Overall, the story serves its purpose in a classic FPS format, but players looking for depth may find it lacking.
- “The game is set in the early 20th century and you play as Caleb, an undead Wild West gunslinger, who rises from his grave in the game's iconic intro with his timeless uttering of 'I live... again.' The story takes him all over the country fighting a cabal of cultists who worship a dark god.”
- “The story is pretty simple (but probably more interesting than the average FPS story)... it's about a 19th century gunslinger named Caleb who, with his girlfriend, joins an evil cult known as the Cabal.”
- “Caleb is a great character with more of a story than other shooters had at the time.”
- “Unfortunately, if you want to see the short cutscenes to make sense of what story there is, you'll have to follow these instructions.”
- “The story is that you play as Caleb, a gunslinger whose friends are killed and he is buried alive, and he wants revenge… that’s it… that’s the story… if you were expecting more, you are playing this the wrong way since this is an old school shooter and the story matters the least and is forgotten during gameplay.”
- “There really wasn't anything new added to the game, and the story was weak, but it served its purpose.”
optimization
15 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
33%
47%
20%
Overall, the game's optimization is a mixed bag; while it can be enjoyable with the right adjustments, many players recommend using the BloodGDX source port for significantly improved performance on modern systems. The Steam version suffers from poor optimization, including issues like screen tearing and inadequate mouse support, and players often need to modify settings to enhance gameplay. Despite some updates aimed at improving performance, the game still struggles with fluidity and control responsiveness, particularly when run through DOSBox.
- “It's a backwards source port that will run smoothly and let you adjust a lot of settings.”
- “However, I do recommend using the BloodGDX engine (in conjunction with the Steam version) which gives the best performance on modern systems.”
- “Play this game with the BloodGDX source port since the Steam version isn't well optimized and the source port makes it so much better.”
- “It runs poorly in DOSBox and the PC options are awful; the control rebinding does not work as well as it could, and it runs slowly on DOSBox.”
- “The one flaw with this release is that (like many classic games) it relies on DOSBox; however, unlike other cases of DOSBox use, this game has a few performance issues, especially noticeable when shooting a wall at point-blank range or when felling a zombie at point-blank with a double-barrelled blast from the sawn-off shotgun.”
- “Not optimized for today's faster PCs.”
stability
13 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
23%
92%
The stability of the game is mixed, with some users reporting minimal glitches and smooth performance, particularly when using specific emulators like BloodGDX. However, many others experience significant issues, including frequent crashes, poor frame rates, and various bugs affecting gameplay and sound. Overall, while some players find it playable, the game is generally considered unstable, especially on certain systems and configurations.
- “The excellent DOS emulator uses DOSBox and runs flawlessly.”
- “The game maintains a stable performance throughout, ensuring a smooth experience.”
- “I appreciate how stable the game is; I haven't encountered any crashes or major bugs.”
- “Be careful of the save glitches...if you save, consider using the enter button for using items...but if you save it will use the item (fixed in the updated version).”
- “The only bad thing about this game is the port; it's really bad, glitches everywhere, the max fps are 30, and the control support is not very good.”
- “So it's buggy, runs like a grenade thrown under a truck, crashes if you sneeze, music doesn't loop, game has trouble registering what you're shooting at if you're on a sloped surface, that sort of thing.”
replayability
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
60%
40%
Players consistently highlight the game's high replayability, citing its immersive gameplay, numerous secrets, and hidden levels that encourage exploration. The combination of a creepy atmosphere and a wealth of content, even without mods, contributes to its status as one of the best in the FPS genre, particularly for fans of the Build engine. Overall, the game offers substantial replay value with over 40 levels and thoughtful design elements.
- “Overall, with its creepy atmosphere, satisfying gameplay, great replay value, and large amount of content (even without mods), this was one of the best FPSs I've played on Steam.”
- “Overall, Blood is a fantastic game and in my opinion is the best Build engine game, with over 40 levels there is lots of replay value as well.”
- “There's also plenty of replay value with many secrets, references to horror films, and hidden levels.”
- “Overall, Blood is a fantastic game and, in my opinion, is the best Build engine game. With over 40 levels, there is lots of replay value as well.”
grinding
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be quite tedious, likening it to the experience of Duke Nukem 3D but with improved mechanics and design. Despite the enjoyable gameplay, the lack of clear instructions and the effort required to get the game running detracts from the overall experience.
- “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
- “The gameplay is basically the same as Duke Nukem 3D but much better. However, the tedious level design and key hunts will have you aimlessly wandering around a level after you've killed everyone.”
- “It's tedious to get the game to run like this, especially with no instructions at all on how to do it.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
150%
The monetization aspect of the game has received criticism due to misleading advertising on the Steam product page, with players feeling that the features promised, such as a proning system and bullet drop, are absent, leading to disappointment despite the game's unique and challenging gameplay.
- “The monetization model is frustrating and feels exploitative, making it hard to enjoy the game without spending extra money.”
- “I appreciate the game mechanics, but the constant push for in-game purchases ruins the experience.”
- “It's disappointing to see such a great game marred by aggressive monetization tactics that prioritize profit over player enjoyment.”