Play Buffy on the Slay-station (Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Chaos Bleeds (PS2))

Member Name: RickieRater

Product:	Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Chaos Bleeds (PS2)
Date:	30/07/08 (116 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Great fan satisfying beat'em up

Disadvantages: Non fans may not feel 'in' on it

Having been out of the game playing arena for some years I was toying with the idea of getting a PS2. Then I saw this game being played when it was released, and as a Buffy fan it was the last nudge I needed. One shopping trip and wallet emptying exercise later I had a shiny new PS2 and a handful of games.
As you will know yourself, a fan of anything will buy anything associated with it no matter how rubbish it maybe.
So what's the game like?

The storyline is set sometime Season Five-ish, though isn't based on any particular episode.
Ethan Rayne has had a run in with The First and needs to enlist the help of the Slayer in fighting it. She and her friends are transported to an alternate universe Sunnydale, over run with vampires, demons and the like, (what's new?). This allows for previously demised baddies to show up and leads to encounters with evil versions of the Buffy gang.

That's the story, how about the gameplay?
In each level you have to collect various items as you criss cross the localities of Sunnydale. There will be seemingly impassible objects to puzzle you momentarily, but most not too difficult to solve, (eg how to I get past this jet of hot steam, oh yes, collect the wrench in the basement and use it on the valve in that last room). So essentially you run around all over the place trying every door you come to. Of course, being Sunnydale, it ain't no stroll in the park, (well it is, but a demon infested park!), so there are plenty of nasties to beat up on the way with the inevitable end of level baddie to defeat.

There are an array on different fighting combos making for some cool moves. Weapons are on hand too in the form of swords, baseball bats, crossbows and even holy water. As one might expect the standard weapon is a stake. If you find yourself woodless then you can make your own by breaking the nearest chair or other parts of the scenery.

Though for the majority of the game you play as Buffy, for a real treat for fans, depending on what level you're on, you get to play as Xander, Willow, Spike, Faith and even Sid the Dummy!
This leads to having a variety of fighting styles available to kick butt with.
Believe it or not Willow is pretty cool as on top of the normal fighting combinations she can do some awesome combat spells. (Never underestimate the little red-head!)
Throughout the course of the game you will find yourself in such familiar surroundings as the Magic Box, the High School, and the Initiative base.

The game is given added Buffy authenticity with the involvement of Joss Whedon in the project as well as original cast members providing their own voices. (Sadly not Sarah Michelle Geller (Buffy) or Alyson Hannigan (Willow) who must be above all this video game malarky! - though the voice artists who do their parts are brilliant)

An added bonus for fans is found in the extras menu where you can watch interviews with the cast members filmed during their voice over recording sessions. These are unlocked as you progress though the game.

The only downside I can think of is the loss of impetus in the last couple of levels, they aren't to the standard of the rest of the game. It's like the programmers had to finish it in a hurry, (similiar to the last few paragraphs in an exam essay, quality takes a nose dive!).
In saying that I still have played through it a couple of times.

So a definite for Buffy fans, and non-fans should still find a really playable game that should hold their interest.

Summary: An overall enjoyable game