BloodRayne: Betrayal

50%
Game Brain Score Based on 560 reviews
  • graphics
  • music
  • gameplay
BloodRayne: Betrayal Game Cover
BloodRayne: Betrayal is an ode to the old school 2D action platformer that is difficult, yet satisfying. The game is for people that love this style of gaming and will not disappoint those who are fans of games like Dead Samurai or the old Castlevania games.
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"BloodRayne: Betrayal" is a hack 'n slash adventure featuring the dhampir Rayne, who must infiltrate a vampire-filled castle to stop an evil master plot. The game includes 15 challenging levels, new characters, and gruesome methods of feeding on enemies to regain health. Environmental puzzles and punishing combat skills add to the gameplay.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Play​Station
  • Play​station 3
  • Xbox
  • Xbox 360
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

50%
Audience ScoreBased on 560 reviews
graphics101 positive mentions
gameplay30 negative mentions
  • Gorgeous art style and animations that enhance the overall experience.
  • Challenging gameplay that rewards skill and mastery of mechanics.
  • Satisfying combat with a variety of moves and abilities, including bloodsucking and explosive enemies.
  • Controls are clunky and unresponsive, making platforming frustrating.
  • Repetitive gameplay with limited enemy variety and a lack of engaging story.
  • Difficulty spikes and poorly designed levels can lead to excessive frustration.
  • graphics163 mentions

    The graphics of Bloodrayne Betrayal are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn artwork and gothic comic book style, which create an appealing visual atmosphere. However, some players note that the visuals can become repetitive and occasionally blend together, detracting from the overall experience. While the art style is generally well-received, it is often overshadowed by criticisms of the game's clunky controls and gameplay mechanics.

    • “The game features stunning hand-drawn artwork.”
    • “There's a gothic, high-contrast art style that suits the game and movement animation is smooth.”
    • “It’s got gorgeous comic-style artwork.”
    • “In terms of graphics, I feel the screenshots didn’t do it much justice.”
    • “Apparently I can run Tomb Raider with those fancy hair graphics but not this in anything but an 800 resolution box.”
    • “Ugly and repetitive graphics, few enemies, linear stages, 'smash button' combat system, bad music, imprecision in commands, poor menus, and easy bosses.”
  • music162 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its energetic and atmospheric compositions, often likening it to the quality found in classic titles like Castlevania. The soundtrack, composed by Jake Kaufman, features a mix of dramatic orchestral scores and heavy guitar riffs, and includes an unlockable 8-bit version, adding to its appeal. However, some players noted that the music can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “The music is fantastic, sounds like symphonic metal, perfectly fit the game and makes you want to move faster to be in rhythm.”
    • “The soundtrack is killer and fits the game perfectly with its dramatic, orchestral score blended with heavy guitar riffs and solos.”
    • “The art style is phenomenal and the soundtrack is perfect for the relentless action going down on screen as you mutilate everything in sight.”
    • “Music also doesn't match the style of the original game - they changed electronic industrial and dark ambient for some repetitive anime-style j-rock with very short and repetitive cues that makes my ears bleed.”
    • “The soundtrack of the two levels I played was also repetitive.”
    • “Tldr; repetitive enemies, repetitive soundtrack, bad platforming mechanics.”
  • gameplay150 mentions

    The gameplay of *Bloodrayne: Betrayal* is a mixed bag, with many players praising its artistic presentation and soundtrack but criticizing its controls and design choices. While some enjoy the hack-and-slash mechanics and platforming elements, others find the gameplay repetitive, frustrating, and marred by poor hitboxes and unresponsive controls. Overall, the game offers a nostalgic experience for fans of the series, but its execution leaves much to be desired, making it hard to recommend without reservations.

    • “Gameplay here sure does deserve your attention.”
    • “Bloodrayne Betrayal is a great 2D platformer with fantastic music (as always) from Jake Kaufman, interesting mechanics, and crazy fun hack n' slash gameplay.”
    • “There's nothing more satisfying and exhilarating than combining all of these mechanics and becoming a whirlwind of blades, bullets, blood, and explosions.”
    • “Great art style and concept ruined by terrible gameplay mechanics.”
    • “The gameplay itself - the core element of being a game in the first place - is nothing short of trash.”
    • “The problem is the mechanic most crucial to surpassing these hurdles is so poorly implemented you'll spend more time tearing your hair out than getting up a single platform.”
  • story112 mentions

    The story in the game is widely criticized for being nearly non-existent, with many reviewers describing it as random, poorly written, and disconnected from the previous entries in the series. While some find the action satisfying, the lack of a coherent plot and engaging dialogue leaves much to be desired, making it unsuitable for players seeking a story-driven experience. Overall, the narrative is seen as a weak point, overshadowed by frustrating gameplay and repetitive elements.

    • “The storyline is well laid out, and the theme is very engrossing.”
    • “You play as Rayne, a beautiful and cute dhampir assassin, who is on a mission to find and get into an underground castle to stop something.”
    • “With the help of a mysterious friend and members of Brimstone, Rayne must infiltrate the manor, take out the fiendish horde, and stop an evil master plot once and for all.”
    • “The nail in the coffin - pun intended - is the complete randomness of the storyline. I'd be an idiot to expect anything more than an excuse for action in a game like this, but this is some next level of bad writing.”
    • “There is practically no story.”
    • “The game also feels a bit inconsistent when it comes to story, as it can’t seem to decide whether it wants to tell a story or just be about Rayne storming Kagan’s castle.”
  • atmosphere12 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is widely praised for its brilliant animation, gory visuals, and an adrenaline-pumping soundtrack that enhances the overall experience. Despite some criticisms regarding gameplay mechanics and graphics, the immersive atmosphere and memorable music, particularly the track "Cursed Dawn," stand out as key highlights that can overshadow other shortcomings. Overall, the atmosphere is considered a major strength of the game, earning high marks from reviewers.

    • “It is the atmosphere that attracts me most, and it lets one forgive unimpressive graphics and stagnant storyline.”
    • “[u]Music[/u] is where this game really shined, every track was pumped full of adrenaline and atmospheric; the ending song 'Cursed Dawn' was especially memorable.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, style, etc. all are A+.”
    • “The atmosphere is the only redeeming quality, allowing players to overlook unimpressive graphics and a stagnant storyline.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, and overall style are all top-notch.”
  • replayability9 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally viewed as limited due to its short length, with many players noting that it can be completed in just a few hours. While some aspects like leaderboards and collectibles offer a degree of replay value, the overall consensus is that the combat lacks depth, which diminishes the incentive to replay the game.

    • “Only drawback is that the game is short, but leaderboards and a rating after each level and the fun combat and excellent boss battles give this game plenty of replay value.”
    • “[Gory satisfaction in dismembering enemies or stomping on a legless crawling head. Great graphics and animations. Replay value.]”
    • “Overall, it's a nice tribute to Castlevania; but the combat is boring, the game is extremely short (those 3.3 hours are two chapters before the end), there's limited replay value (scoreboard and collectibles) and then, there is chapter 13.”
    • “It's a pretty brief game too, with little replay value I feel.”
    • “There is no replay value.”
  • optimization8 mentions

    The game's optimization is mixed; while it performs well as a PC port of the console version, players report significant issues with controls, particularly when using a keyboard and mouse, which are not well-suited for the combat system. Many recommend using a controller, but even then, certain moves can be frustratingly difficult due to poor input registration and timing issues. Overall, while the game offers smooth controls for casual play, achieving high performance and unlocking all achievements can be a challenging experience.

    • “The controls are smooth, and the fighting is not so difficult if you're not aiming for high performance (combos, scores, etc.). The challenging part is navigating certain scenes and reaching some collectibles; it would surely be quite a nightmare for anyone planning to unlock all achievements.”
    • “I recommend playing this game with a controller; it's just not optimized for keyboard and mouse. The combat system revolves around a single button press, but it also involves juggling and jumping off enemies to land on top of others.”
    • “Rayne looks as sexy and deadly as ever, and with Steam achievements, trading cards, and solid performance, this appears to be a fantastic PC port of the console version.”
    • “For controls, the game is not optimized for keyboard and mouse. I recommend playing with a controller. The combat system revolves around a single button press, but it also involves juggling and jumping off of enemies to land on top of others.”
    • “Headhops and backflips are almost impossible to execute (at least with an Xbox One controller) due to timing issues caused by poor performance or input registration. I got stuck at the second level and rage-quit this game.”
    • “The challenging part is to pass through certain scenes and reach some collectibles. It would surely be quite a nightmare for anyone planning to unlock all achievements.”
  • emotional6 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game is characterized by a mix of frustration and exhilaration, as players navigate challenging mechanics that can lead to unexpected deaths or victories. The lack of a double jump and the precision required for mid-air attacks create a sense of tension, where timing is crucial, often resulting in moments of both triumph and disappointment. Overall, the gameplay evokes a rollercoaster of emotions, driven by the balance between control and unpredictability.

  • humor4 mentions

    The game is noted for its dark and irreverent humor, delivering a blend of shock and laughter that resonates with players. Many find it genuinely funny, though the challenging achievements add an extra layer of engagement to the experience.

    • “It's a very funny game, and its achievements are really hard to get!”
    • “The humor is dark and twisted, making for some hilarious moments throughout the game.”
    • “The witty dialogue and absurd situations had me laughing out loud!”
  • grinding4 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, particularly due to the lack of visible pixels, which can make platforming sections feel frustrating and overly challenging at times.

    • “I find some platforming moments a little bit too tedious.”
    • “Since this game has no visible pixel to rely on, the platforming can be a little bit tedious here and there.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development in the game is criticized for being insufficient, despite efforts to enhance it through appealing animations, character design, and a fitting soundtrack. Overall, reviewers feel that these elements do not compensate for the lack of depth in character progression.

  • stability2 mentions

    Users note that while BloodRayne one and two have their share of bugs, they still consider them to be superior games overall.

Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

73% average critic score

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Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
3-3hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 2 analyzed playthroughs

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