BloodRayne: Betrayal

54%
Game Brain Score Based on 278 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

54%
Audience ScoreBased on 278 reviews
graphics50 positive mentions
gameplay15 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful art and animations, creating an appealing visual experience.
  • Combat is fast-paced and satisfying, with a variety of moves and combos that can be executed.
  • The soundtrack is engaging and complements the gameplay well, enhancing the overall atmosphere.
  • Controls are clunky and unresponsive, making platforming and combat frustrating at times.
  • The game suffers from repetitive gameplay and enemy types, leading to a lack of variety.
  • Difficulty spikes in later levels can feel unfair, with some sections requiring precise timing that can be overly punishing.
  • graphics81 mentions

    The graphics of Bloodrayne Betrayal are widely praised for their stunning hand-drawn artwork and comic-style visuals, which create an appealing gothic atmosphere. Many reviewers highlight the game's charming art style and fluid animations, although some note that the darker aesthetic can become monotonous over time. Despite the visual appeal, criticisms arise regarding the game's controls and gameplay mechanics, which detract from the overall experience.

    • “Graphics gleam in gothic expanse.”
    • “The game features stunning hand-drawn artwork.”
    • “The aesthetic here is impeccable.”
    • “The art style looks pretty at first, but it gets so boring after a while, because you're only in this one big castle, going down, then up, then down again...the setting never really changes.”
    • “Ugly and repetitive graphics, few enemies, linear stages, 'smash button' combat system, bad music, imprecision in commands, poor menus and easy bosses.”
    • “In terms of graphics, I feel the screenshots didn’t do it much justice.”
  • music81 mentions

    The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its fantastic composition and atmospheric quality, often likening it to the iconic soundtracks of the Castlevania series. Composed by Jake Kaufman, the soundtrack features a mix of orchestral and heavy guitar elements, with an unlockable 8-bit version that adds to its appeal. However, some players noted that the tracks can become repetitive over time, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Fun campaign mode, nice art style, and an amazing soundtrack!”
    • “The music is fantastic, sounds like symphonic metal, perfectly fits the game and makes you want to move faster to be in rhythm.”
    • “The soundtrack is beautifully composed by Jake Kaufman and really sets the mood.”
    • “Painfully hard levels with zero rewards, very precise platforming with clunky controls, repetitive enemies, extremely short length (over half of my play-through time is dying and replaying certain segments), non-existent story with dull dialogue. The only decent thing in this game is the music, and it gets boring fast.”
    • “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 is pure generic butt rock that's just cheesy enough to be enjoyable, though it could use a few more tracks.”
  • gameplay75 mentions

    The gameplay of *Bloodrayne: Betrayal* is a mixed bag, with many players praising its art style, soundtrack, and core mechanics, while criticizing its poor controls, frustrating platforming, and repetitive elements. Despite some enjoyable combat and nostalgic elements, the inconsistent hitboxes and unresponsive controls detract significantly from the overall experience, leading to a frustrating gameplay loop that many found unenjoyable. Overall, while the game has potential, it suffers from design flaws that prevent it from being a truly rewarding experience.

    • “A 2D game that honors Bloodrayne's original mechanics and nature.”
    • “The gameplay at hand features tricky platforming replete with lasers, acid pools, spiked ceilings/walls, and all other sorts of dangerous hazards.”
    • “If you like gore, action, and fun-paced gameplay, then you'll love this side-scrolling hack ‘n slash adventure.”
    • “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.”
  • story56 mentions

    The story in this 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 players feeling disappointed, especially those 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.”
    • “Slay ghastly enemies as Rayne, the sexy dhampir with superhuman strength, speed, and agility, recruited by the vampire hunting Brimstone Society for one last mission.”
    • “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 story is non-existent.”
  • atmosphere6 mentions

    The game's atmosphere is highly praised, featuring impressive animations, a captivating soundtrack, and a strong overall aesthetic that enhances the experience. While the graphics and music contribute significantly to the atmosphere, some players feel that gameplay mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment. Despite its flaws, the atmospheric elements are compelling enough to overshadow other shortcomings.

    • “Because on one hand, you have a game that has really good animation, great atmosphere, and an awesome soundtrack.”
    • “The atmosphere, music, style, etc. all are A+.”
    • “It is the atmosphere that attracts me most, and it lets one forgive unimpressive graphics and stagnant storyline.”
  • optimization4 mentions

    The game's optimization is mixed; while it performs well as a PC port of the console version, players report significant control issues, particularly with keyboard and mouse setups, making it more suited for controllers. Combat mechanics can be frustrating due to poor input registration and timing, leading to challenges in executing advanced moves, which may hinder achievement completion. Overall, while the game offers smooth controls for casual play, it struggles with optimization for more demanding gameplay styles.

    • “The controls are smooth, and the fighting is not too difficult unless 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.”
    • “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.”
    • “The controls are smooth, and the fighting is not too difficult if you're not aiming for high performance (combos, scores, etc.). However, 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.”
    • “For controls, 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.”
    • “Headhops and backflips are nearly 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.”
  • replayability4 mentions

    The game's replayability is generally considered limited due to its short length and lack of substantial content beyond collectibles and leaderboards. While some players appreciate the fun combat and boss battles, many feel that these elements do not significantly enhance replay value. Overall, the consensus is that the game offers minimal incentive for repeated playthroughs.

    • “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.”
    • “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.”
  • emotional3 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 and setbacks. The control over mid-air attacks offers a sense of empowerment, but the inconsistencies in hit detection and platform interactions can evoke feelings of annoyance and disappointment. Overall, the emotional experience is a rollercoaster of triumph and irritation, reflecting the game's demanding nature.

  • humor2 mentions

    The humor in the game is described as dark and edgy, with a blend of absurdity and challenge that keeps players entertained. Many find it genuinely funny, though the tone may not be for everyone. The difficulty of achievements adds an extra layer of humor to the experience.

    • “It's a very funny game, and its achievements are really hard to get!”
    • “The humor in this game is top-notch, making every moment enjoyable.”
  • grinding2 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 at times.

    • “Since this game has no visible pixel to rely on, the platforming can be a little bit tedious here and there.”
    • “I find some platforming moments a little bit too tedious.”
  • character development1 mentions

    While the game features appealing animations, character design, and a soundtrack with Castlevania references, reviewers feel that it ultimately falls short in delivering meaningful character development.

  • stability1 mentions

    While users acknowledge that BloodRayne one and two have their share of bugs, they still consider these games to be superior overall.

    • “Even though they are buggy, BloodRayne 1 and 2 are far better games in my opinion.”
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 1 analyzed playthroughs

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