Playstation 2 - Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Chaos Bleeds

Format
Playstation 2
Publisher
Vivendi Universal
Developer
Eurocom
Country of origin
UK
Release date
2003
Genre
Scrolling Fighter

Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Chaos Bleeds

By David Rasmussen
4th Nov 04

Studio - Vivendi Universal/Eurocom
Age - T for Teen (13+)
Genre - Action
Sub Genre - ?

Ah. Two things that frighten just about anyone...
The undead and video games based on TV Series or movies.

Why the second? Because to date there's been few and far between examples of a good game based on a series from TV or movies. The minefield of video games from TV Series being the one we're going to be traipsing through this review.

Lots of series from TV has it's own video game.
We have the obvious TV to game translations like Alias, James Cameron's Dark Angel (not to be confused with Kia Asamiya's Dark Angel manga), X-Files : Resist or Serve, and the above mentioned Buffy.

Then we have the TV Series you never thought you'd see made into a video game... Monster Garage and American Idol (from the TV Series of the same name) being just two of those games in question.
Didn't see that coming. Don't know what they were thinking when they made them either.

Considering it may come to the point that any TV Series of a certain amount of success with viewers can spawn a video game you might yet see more unlikely video games based on shows like Iron Chef, Mythbusters, Emeril Live and (dare I say it) Ground Force.
(Can you keep Tommy and Alan from killing each other? Will the supplies arrive on time? How much skill points will you use to make a water feature? Will you be done in two days? Etc. Etc. Etc.)

The problem with a lot of these games is that they just don't stand out. I haven't played Alias or Dark Angel yet, but considering I can get them dirt cheap at Blockbusters now I'm wondering if I should check them out for review... considering how disappointed I was with X-Files : Resist or Serve though? I'm betting I'll have similar dissatisfaction problems with these games.

Then we have Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
Presently gone from TV for the most part... unless the words I heard whispered are true.
From a few associates I heard word that there was supposed to be some UK Buffy spin-off in existence featuring Giles (that was supposed to have been only shown in the UK), but considering how little I heard of that rumor I never believed it as truth. Then again... well, if anyone ever heard of this so-called spin-off and if it's real please let me know...

Anyway does Buffy :Chaos Bleeds change my mind about this trend that video games based on TV Series are not good for you? Or will it be more of the same? Let's find out.

Chaos Bleeds
Based on a "Lost Episode" from the 5th Season of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, the story begins with a vampire attack at the Magic Box (Giles' place of business) which leads to the announcement that an old "enemy" might be alive and well. This leads to a bit of a "monster hunt" which brings you face-to-face with this enemy... only for you to find out that there might be more to this than meets the eye.

In a Star Trek twist you find yourself thrust into a pocket universe created by an ancient evil called The First, who seems to have expansion plans that includes your reality on his "to do" list. To defeat The First you'll need to gather up the pieces of an ancient warrior woman (so she can point out the directions to this light weapon you can use on The First).

The rest is bash, slash, attack and hit, magic and shoot down your enemies drag out fighting from start to end. There are some puzzles here, but not enough to really get your brain going.
Just fight your way from beginning to end. Easy enough, right? Well... not really.
The puzzles aren't very hard, but you will need a little brainpower to work out strategy to wipe out your enemies, find things, solve the few puzzles, etc.

It's not a terribly difficult game, but it will somewhat engage you for awhile until you get your groove on and blast through this from start to end. Sometimes you'll get stuck, a few of these things are abit hard to work through (I got lost a few times or didn't get a sequence of events I had to do right the first time, etc) but hard work (or just a peek at a good walkthrough for hints) will get you through.

Ok. The game is straight forward action, and that's not too bad considering we're not talking deep TV here, we're talking Buffy the Vampire Slayer. So, then, how's the optional extras?
Quite good as a matter of fact. As you beat the game you unlock interviews with the cast of the series (who did the voices of their respective characters) as well as outtake videos and other interesting additions.
You also unlock characters you can play as in multiplayer mode, however there doesn't seem to be an online option so you'll have to have friends over at your place to play against them.
You'll also have image galleries, as well as a preview of the Chaos Bleeds comic from Dark Horse to check out in this game, so there's quite abit to see here.

As for who voices who? We have just about everyone here EXCEPT Sarah Michelle Gellar (Buffy) and the actress who plays Willow (I forgot her name). Playing the role of Willow (as well as her own character role) is Amber Benson (Tara), who actually does a decent job as Willow.

The rest of the gang? All the actors/actresses who played the roles on TV does it for the game.
Giles, Xander, Anya, Spike and so forth are in on this one (complete with interviews and outtake blooper reels) so it's going to be a must have for the Buffy fan out there.

Gameplay is ok, and maybe even pretty good if you consider it could have been worse.
It's nothing special, nothing to commlink back to homeworld about, but then again I figure this'll appeal to fans of the series and not much else.

There are far better beat-em-ups out there than Buffy : Chaos Bleeds, and if you're looking for a game to unleash some tension on you will no doubt find better offerings out there than this.

However if you are a fan of the series, or a mild fan who wouldn't mind playing Buffy and hearing all the cast from the show (sans the two major stars) then you might be picking this game up.
It's a judgment call, though. But considering you should be finding this soon enough in the bargain bin section you might be picking it up because it's halfway decent and darn cheap to boot, which is a good combination if you ask me!

Ok. It's breakdown time.

Buffy : Chaos Bleeds Breakdown
What's Hot? - It goes without saying that if you are a fan of the Buffy series then you'll be picking this game up without question. Far better beat-em-ups out there for your dollar, but if your looking for a halfway decent play for a little amount of cash this might do you some good (especially since it should be heading to the bargain bin soon enough). The optional extras, of course, also should weigh in on your choice.

For the fan who might be looking for a Buffy fix since the show is gone from TV this might be it.

What's Not? - Uh... yeah. Did I mention yet that this game, once you got your groove on, can be abit short? It is. Even if there are parts where you'll struggle you'll eventually overcome and beat this right to the end.
Not a terribly long game, not a terribly original game, it has it's moments and is partially interesting but it's also not a deep game to play.

Also we have the whole multiplayer option. I tried it, and for the most part the multiplayer option is downright boring. I don't know but I just didn't like it very much... it could have been better.
Also it's a pity that some characters are hard to unlock! Only unlocked about 60% or so of the playable characters to date!

When it comes right down to it we go right back to the whole thing that you'll need to be a Buffy fan (or Buffy-curious) to play this. Otherwise there are better games out there to grab your attention.

Either that or you just like the low sticker price once it goes bargain bin and decide to pick it up.
Either way it's a toss up in terms of whether you'll be buying into this or not. You decide.
I say if you can get it for a low price to grab it. It's good to own if you can get it at a low price.

Moments to Remember
Ah, the "humor" of the series is memorable... if you are a fan. If not it's a toss-up whether you'll find Joss Whedon and company's writings memorable. Some people like his work, some don't, so it's 50/50.
If you are a fan of the series then character interaction, fighting, and just about anything that gives you that warm fanperson feeling as you play will be your memorable moments.

I'm not a fan so I'll just note the one unintentionally raunchy moment of the game.
I'm sure they didn't mean for this to happen, nor was this intentional, but in one level you'll play as Willow and have to go save Tara (who, if you know your Buffy knowledge) is Willow's lover). Well... for you amongst us who are the mischievous, it's not a good thing to offer up such an easily misinterpreted thought as having Willow telepathically assure Tara (during one sequence they're "talking" and Willow is telling her she's on her way to save her) that she's "coming for her".

Yeah. And that was your easily misunderstood awkward thought of the day. Moving on now...

What to Ignore?
Uh... no, no, not the whole Willow/Tara thing.
This time it's your enemies you should ignore, or how at times the vampires you have to fight seem to have the gift of gab from time to time. Everyone? It's time for "The Undead Say the Darndest Things!"
They say it when they attack you, while they attack you, and when they die.

I don't know whose worse, however, the enemy or the "good" side who has their own long list of one liners and puns they throw out during gameplay. Yeah, right. At least you should be glad there's no button to push to solicit these "one liners" at a whim (ala Evil Dead : Fistful of Boomstick).

Then again Bruce Campbell's one-lines were worth listening to. Most of these are not.

Also ignore the fact that, eventually, you'll unlock Joss Whedon as a playable character in the multiplayer mode... sheesh! Ignore that!

Overall?
It's middle of the road gameplay. It's not evil to the point that it should be burned at the video rental stake for being bad, but it's not extraordinary or special either. It's playable, but I wouldn't spend full price for this game either. It's something you'll appreciate more from the bargain bin since it's a halfway decent game, and you'll probably appreciate it better if you got it at bargain prices.

Not too long, but chock full of extras so it has it's moments.
Fans of the series will be first to grab it, after that you'll have to be Buffy-curious, then you'll just have to be there for the bargain prices. If you have doubts? Rent before you buy. Otherwise? The choice is yours.

-- David Rasmussen 4th Nov 04

Playstation 2 Buffy the Vampire Slayer : Chaos Bleeds Images