LB Bloodrayne 2 Game Guide:
Download now - $4.95 | More info


Get the LunaPass:
ALL Lunabean Guides for one low price! | More info

Table of Contents - Review

BloodRayne 2 Review

Review

Beyond the Boobs, a Solid Game

"BloodRayne 2" is a third person action adventure game. You star as Rayne, a red-headed vixen of a vampire who is on a quest to avenge the death of her dad (adopted) by killing off every half-relative she has. Of course, most of her relatives are also vampires of some sort. Set in the modern day, Rayne travels through 8 unique environments from Union Station to some sewers to a meatpacking district. The set-up is pretty standard: you fight minions as you make your way to a boss at the end of each stage. For good measure, you'll find some mini-bosses along the way.

Rayne is equipped with various weapons and powers. Her main weapon is a blade on each arm. In addition, she carries a pair of guns whose ammo is blood, the Carpathian Dragons and has a harpoon with which she can spike and toss enemies, a big part of the game. Some of Rayne's powers include the ability to freeze or slow down time, go into various "furies" causing more damage, and using her "aura" senses to detect enemies and secret doors. The guns and powers are upgradeable. All of this stuff is basic fare for action adventure games like this.

I do have to say that the harpoon action in the game is quite fun. Having recently played "Psi-Ops" it's interesting to see a movement in these types of games toward an extension of your powers beyond your body. In Psi-Ops, you were able to lift and throw enemies remotely. Rayne accomplishes this same thing with her harpoon. It's fun to kill enemies creatively and be rewarded for it, as well, with "carnage points". You earn these bonus points by tossing enemies onto impaling objects, into explosives or fires, off ledges, or off buildings.

Getting around can be a lot of fun. Rayne has the ability to use her "acrobatics" to swing, jump, climb and drop from various bars and poles throughout the game. This reminded me a bit of "The Prince of Persia: Sands of Time". Much like the Prince, Rayne needs to use her acrobatics to get through the game. Unlike "PoP", Rayne can only pull her moves on specific bars and poles, whereas the Prince was able to pull off his cool moves pretty much anywhere in the game. Nonetheless, Rayne's ability to "grind" wires and pipes (ala Tony Hawk) while using her blades to decapitate enemies is more than mildly entertaining.

The graphics and levels in the game are well done. Most everything in the game is interactive, so you can slash windows, break crates, and harpoon objects onto enemies. The controls are solid and customizable and what you'd expect.

"BloodRayne 2" is a good game. It's not great, it's not terrible. It's rather short in length but is ultimately satisfying (get your mind out of the gutter, geez). Please remember this is an "M" rated game for a reason. In addition to the sexual themes, it is definitely one of the goriest games I have played. Blood sprays everywhere in every part of this game and you'll impale, decaptitate and otherwise maim hundreds of enemies.