BloodRayne 2
- October 12, 2004
- Terminal Reality
- 8h median play time
BloodRayne 2 is a single-player Horror Hack and Slash game with good story, mechanics, and graphics, although it has some bugs. As the dhampir Rayne, players will battle their way through hordes of enemies to hunt Ubel and other vampire siblings in this thrilling, blood-soaked adventure. The game's engaging story and intense combat make it a must-play for fans of the genre.
Reviews
- The game features a strong and charismatic protagonist, Rayne, who is both sexy and deadly, making for an engaging experience.
- Combat mechanics are satisfying, allowing players to perform brutal finishers and utilize environmental hazards for creative kills.
- The game retains a nostalgic charm with improved graphics and gameplay elements compared to its predecessor, making it enjoyable for fans of the series.
- The PC port suffers from numerous technical issues, including bugs, glitches, and poor controller support, making it frustrating to play.
- The gameplay can feel repetitive, with many puzzles requiring the same harpoon mechanic, which can be imprecise and annoying.
- The story and character development are lacking, with a generic plot that fails to engage players beyond the action.
- gameplay40 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 15 % negative mentions
The gameplay of BloodRayne 2 is a mixed bag, featuring a more in-depth combat system with new mechanics and combos, but marred by bugs, inconsistent controls, and frustrating mechanics like the harpoon aiming. While some players appreciate the fun and engaging aspects, others find the gameplay experience hindered by technical issues and a lack of clarity in mechanics. Overall, it offers a blend of enjoyable moments and significant frustrations, making it a polarizing experience for players.
“Gameplay has a more in-depth combat system with lock-on mode for blocking & maneuvering, a new combo system for melee/ranged, new useful powers for use once unlocked, just one gun but different firing modes while being give take once you're out of ammo (health for ammo; yours or theirs) and melee/ranged has their own simple upgrades after using your guns a lot (more ammo reserves) or brutalizing enemies enough (new combos). Lastly, feeding gives you a choice of either healing or earning rage, but you can do both; just don't expect to earn equal amounts.”
“The game is very fun and cheesy with some really solid gameplay and voice acting, though the AI can be a little unfair at times.”
“This is one of my favorite series since the first one in 2002. I do prefer this one over the first, mainly because combat got more interesting, you had the finisher combos, about 12 different ones. It isn't much but enough to spice the gameplay, and graphically, the game is more beautiful but also has much more gore than the first.”
“The gameplay can be very annoying; there are bugs around every corner, and Rayne has the ability to randomly keel over dead for absolutely no reason at arbitrary times. That being said, I had an absolute blast playing through BloodRayne 2.”
“Had to reach for a guide multiple times just to figure out that the lock-on was broken, and I had to line it up just right, or a mechanic never got explained, so I didn't know it existed.”
“Worst part of this game is the gameplay; in almost all stages, enemies are respawning, which hinders the game very much.”
- graphics38 mentions
- 26 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with some players noting that while they show improvement over the first installment and are decent for their age, they still feel dated and lack modern features like widescreen support and anti-aliasing. Many users appreciate the aesthetic and visual updates, but also highlight persistent issues such as glitches and poor camera controls that detract from the overall experience. Overall, while the graphics are better than the original, they are not enough to elevate the gameplay for some players.
“Bloodrayne 2's graphics seem to have aged well though they are clearly dated.”
“The only good thing about this game is the huge update in graphics.”
“At the ground level, Bloodrayne 2 looks a lot better than the first game did; there are major graphical improvements and the game looks quite nice.”
“Expect PS2 glitches, PS2 graphics, PS2 errors, and PS2 shenanigans!”
“The graphics are too outdated to be enjoyed ten years later.”
“Bloodrayne's II graphics and story needed so much more work.”
- story32 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the deeper exploration of the protagonist's backstory and character development, while others criticize it as lacking direction and being overly simplistic. Many noted improvements in plot and character engagement compared to the first game, but frustrations with gameplay mechanics and bugs detracted from the overall experience. Overall, while the narrative has its merits, it often feels overshadowed by gameplay issues and a lack of coherence.
“So glad to see it's not forgotten; I hope the new team, Ziggurat, that now took over it, will either remaster Bloodrayne 1 or 2 or continue the story, because this legendary masterpiece needs it!”
“The quality and the storyline of the series are impeccable!”
“Well, the story is really good, and this game has some of the best voice acting for the main character.”
“Not much of a story was told.”
“The storyline is so poor, boring, and unrelated to the story from Bloodrayne 1.”
“The camera is bad, the story is boring and lacks direction, and even Laura Bailey sounds bored.”
- stability19 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is a significant concern, with numerous users reporting frequent bugs, glitches, and crashes that can disrupt gameplay and lead to lost progress. Many players experience freezing, particularly during menu navigation and cutscenes, and some have noted that the game requires specific compatibility settings to function properly. While there are occasional minor glitches, the overall consensus is that the game suffers from serious technical issues that detract from the experience.
“Not to mention occasional glitches that can require you to exit the game and lose progress in levels that you didn't enjoy the first time.”
“The game freezes often and I don't know how to mod; I am not willing to mess up my PC because they placed a flawed game on their site. I love BloodRayne and they need to fix this problem.”
“At full price, the game is buggy and should be packaged with the fixes that are readily available around the net so that users purchasing this title do not have to worry about malware from second-hand sites while they hunt around for fixes.”
- music6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the decent soundtrack and its integration into gameplay, while others criticized it for lacking the quality of previous titles, particularly noting the poor music in the first stage compared to earlier games like BloodRayne. Overall, the soundtrack seems to be a point of contention among players, with varying opinions on its effectiveness and appeal.
“Decent soundtrack.”
“The music was good, and I liked the kills you could do too.”
“Combine it with the fact it was a console-focused game; well, this song and dance are common in the PC space.”
“What music they make!”
- humor5 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by sharp writing and amusing exchanges, particularly in Act 3, where players encounter hilarious dialogue from minions and clever cheat codes. Overall, the game maintains a consistent level of humor that enhances the experience without detracting from gameplay.
“Act 3 has fantastic production values, including sharp writing and funny exchanges.”
“It's a great game, but keep in mind it's old-school hard at some points, and there are tough spots where you either get a good set of hits and move on or you have to type in the most hilarious cheat code you have ever seen.”
“Some of the minions have some pretty hilarious dialogue.”
- replayability3 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game offers a significant amount of fun and replayability, particularly for those who prioritize gameplay over graphics and microtransactions. However, some players note that the replay value is limited, as completing the game primarily unlocks new costumes rather than offering substantial new content.
“I highly recommend this game to everyone who values a huge amount of fun and replayability over graphics, microtransactions, and overpriced DLCs.”
“Replay value is also low, as completing the game only unlocks new costumes for Rayne.”
“This game may be more playable with a controller; for everyone else, good luck!”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's locales are praised for their detail and diversity, effectively creating a strong atmosphere. However, some reviewers feel that the graphics, while good for their time, clash with the intended mood due to their overly bright and "candy-like" aesthetic.
“The locales are detailed, diverse, and ooze atmosphere.”
“The game fails to create a compelling atmosphere, leaving the world feeling empty and lifeless.”
“Despite the beautiful graphics, the atmosphere lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
“The sound design is underwhelming, which detracts significantly from the overall atmosphere of the game.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is inconsistent, with fan patches for custom resolutions reportedly broken on Windows 10. However, players recommend purchasing the Terminal Cut version, as it offers significant enhancements and better overall optimization compared to the original.
“The fan patch for custom resolutions and optimization/enhancements is very broken on Windows 10.”
“As mentioned in my first game's review, if you do not own this game in its original version, I recommend that you purchase the Terminal Cut version, because it is enhanced and optimized.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that this game offers enjoyable gameplay without excessive grinding, especially in comparison to more recent titles that heavily focus on repetitive tasks.
“It's been ages since this game came out, and it still gives plenty of pleasure... or so to say... it's still far better than recent games in the market, which are all about grinding and, uh... more grinding.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a compelling and attractive protagonist, alongside intriguing antagonists like Ephemera and Ferril, showcasing notable improvements in character development. Additionally, the characters are well-voiced, enhancing their depth and engagement.
“The protagonist is awesome and captivating, and the antagonists are also well-developed, especially Ephemera and Ferril. There has been noticeable improvement in character development, and the characters are well voice acted.”