Below are user reviews of Blood Rayne 2 and on the right are links to professionally written reviews.
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User Reviews (1 - 11 of 19)
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Sucks even better than the first.
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 31 / 31
Date: October 24, 2004
Author: Amazon User
I liked the original "Blood Rayne" OK. I thought the graphics were actually sub-par for PS2, and it was fairly short and easy. But how could you not have a fun time with a character who can suck blood for health, use the victim as a human shield, and fire over his shoulders all at the same time?
Then I heard "Blood Rayne 2" was coming out, and I figured I'd check it out and see if the developers had actually managed to improve on their concept. I was in for a nice surprise. This game ROCKS. Rayne has been completely retooled, with much better controls (I always found L1 for the blades pretty awkward) and a camera system that lets you 360 around her with ease. The slightly washed-out graphics of the original can't even compare with "2" - Rayne looks HOT, the levels are beautifully rendered, the enemies are well-designed if a bit repetitive, and the fatalities are SICK "Kill Bill" style extreme blood and gore, guaranteed to freak out your parents. It's easy to get the hang of the moves, and you can potentially get all the practice you'd ever want - the enemies just keep coming and coming. True, you can't jump quite as high as you could in the first, nor do you have your little spin at the end, it's just a conventional but sturdy double jump. Blood Rage is also far less dramatic, but still pretty lethal. Once you get the blood guns, the strategy of the game basically involves making the most of the way you slay your enemies, rationing their life force between yourself and your weapons and feeding your Blood Lust by executing fatalities. You can also get creative with the harpoon and rack up "Carnage" points by whipping enemies into spiky objects - these "environmental" kills eventually earn Rayne Health and Rage upgrades.
Another feature that I personally love is Rayne's ability to smash practically everything around her into smithereens, with accompanying loud sound effects. If you're like me, nothing's more fun than destroying the virtual china cabinets in the mansion levels - except possibly slicing the heads off the debutantes. And you HAVE to check out the various themed outfits - my favorite is probably "Schoolgirl Rayne," especially hilarious when she's sliding down the poles.
Overall this game is really so different from the original that it's barely even a sequel. Some of my friends didn't like the first but they love "2," and maybe vice-versa for some people. Seriously, since they'll probably never make an actual "Kill Bill" video game, this is about as close as you could get without legal action occurring. Whether you liked "Blood Rayne" or not, I highly recommend you check out "2" - I doubt you'll be disappointed.
Awesome!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 19 / 20
Date: October 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User
I was a little wary about buying this game, due to feeling the new controls might be hard. Seeing all the previews over the last couple of months Rayne does some tricky looking maneuvers & I couldn't see how some of them would be easily performed.
I played the game last night & was amazed not only at generally EVERY aspect of the game, but the controls were so EASY! I helped Rayne perform acrobatics without any difficulty, & pulled off mind bending fatalities flawlessly...
It's everything I loved about the 1st game, but tweaked just enough to upgrade almost everything to make it even better!
~Story~
Rayne finally caught up with her father Kagan, who incidentally wanted to populate our world with his vampire spawn. Before Rayne has the chance someone else kills Kagan, & so now in the present day Rayne is still hunting down her siblings & killing them off one by one. Easier said than done...
The remaining siblings have formed the Order of Kagan & have countless vamps & such willing to give their own lives to protect Kagans remaining children.
~Game Controls & Presentation~
The game has introduced many new moves for Rayne, including fatalities. While feeding on pray she can use many techniques with the push of a button to kill her opponent. Some include forms of decapitation, but I won't elaborate...lol The sooner you do this after jumping on an enemy the more it fills Rayne's rage meter.
You can now also use things around your area of attack to aid you. The harpoon whip Rayne had in the original can now be used to pull heavy items down onto enemies... Also while feeding you can aim an enemy into things like fireplaces, fans & such to cause them to burn or get chopped to bits.
Rayne now can do pole & fence grate acrobatics! She can swing, & stand on horizontal poles... She can also hang from them & shoot at enemies. When it comes to vertical poles she can crawl up them, & when she slides down them she holds on with her legs & bends backwards to shoot at enemies...
Along side with all this she can leap onto steel grating (it's almost catlike) & hold on in high places. She jumps from one to the other till reaching the top.
One new weapon addition is her Dhampir guns, which basically run off of blood. When Rayne gets low on ammo the guns will begin to drain her own power. It's easily rechargeable however, just find the nearest enemy & begin to feed, then hit R1 & Rayne will drain their blood into her guns.
Also, the Rage mode has been upgraded to where Rayne's custom blades seem to set on fire when she's in the Rage mode.
~Graphics & Sound~
The graphics have been upgraded beautifully... In the beginning (after some game play) we see a movie showing how Kagan died, & the movie is absolutely stunning! Rayne's character is so lifelike in these instances you almost forget it's a game you're playing. (Somehow Rayne managed to get a tan over the years, but what the hey! lol )
Majesco must have been very proud of Rayne, because in the game there are times when you change the camera angle to get literally in Rayne's face. To be able to see your in game character this closely is very ballsy of Majesco, but her character is flawless! (She even follows you with her eyes as you circle her face with the camera... kinda creepy...).
The in game enemies have a bit more variety than the 1st one, a lot of gothic/new age Vampire's. Some of the bosses are amazing to look at! One in particular has body art that tends to fade & roam all over her body flawlessly only to replace itself after a time.
The environments are beautiful... The beginning finds Rayne inside a mansion, & everything catches your eye! The marble floors not only shine, but you can see Rayne's reflection as she walks over them (can she do that as a Vamp?!). The courtyards sport a dozen tiny firefly's that blink on & off to give a somewhat calm feeling to the outside (until you reach the roof that is...lol)
More can be interacted with, as now if Rayne starts really kicking butt, don't be surprised to see enemies flying into & knocking down the things they hit (chairs, tables, couches, pottery)
All the music is up to par, with raging techno & rock music following an enemy coming into the room, to the seedy country bar belting out horrid country music...lmbo (No offense to you Country buffs, I think they purposely made it horrid) They also brought back the original actor for Rayne's voice (I must say it's nice to have her back).
~Overall~
For those who didn't like the original BloodRayne (you know who you are) I think there is a lot more to find in this game to grab your attention. Anyone who has played the original won't find anything they don't like about this newest addition.
I highly recommend this game to anyone out there who have been waiting for a decent game to hit the shelves. BloodRayne 2 is a prime example of when gaming companies finally get it right the second time around!
There's a chance of (Blood)Rayne in the forecast...:)
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 7 / 7
Date: October 25, 2004
Author: Amazon User
I had never played the original BloodRayne when it was released, but the storyline of a half-human/half-vampire fighting for the side of good against the Nazis in the 1930's appealed to me since I have a interest in vampire stories. But when I read the reviews several magazines and game sites gave it I was reticent.
I then read that there was a sequel to BloodRayne being released and once again I went in with doubts but decided to give it a go and bought BloodRayne 2. After a little time getting into it, am I glad that I decided to get it.
Rayne, for those who are uninitiated, like myself when I started) is a "dhamphir", the correct term for a female vampire, who is working for the shadowy group known as the Brimstone Society. In the first game she fought to defeat the Nazis and ultimately take down their leader who was, ironically, her father.
She succeeded (all is revealed in a flashback early in the game), but as BloodRayne 2 begins more than 60 years later than BR1, Rayne is still working for the Brimstone Society and learns that there are others that her dad created that are planning to create a virus that will turn every living being on Earth into vampires instantly. Rayne springs into action and begins the hunt for her "siblings" and tries to put a stop to their insidious plan.
The graphics for BR2 have improved greatly from BR1 (as is to be expected) and Rayne definitely looks sexier and more defined as she battles through the city. A few new controls are added to Rayne's already deadly arsenal, including a new ability to swing from/hang from/shoot from poles and a rail-grind ability that Tony Hawk would kill for. In addition you can use a lock-on to harpoon a target, then throw them in any direction which helps greatly if you're surrounded and need to clear some space.
Of course Rayne has a few of her old-school abilities, like the ability to feed off of her enemies if she needs life (or to power up her Dragon guns, which you get later in the game), or to power her rage meter if you execute Fatalities while you feed on a ememy.
The sounds are cool, ranging from gunshots coming at you or slices through flesh to Rayne's slight moans (yummy...) while she feeds. Also there are special bonuses you can unlock in the game and included is the trailer for the BloodRayne movie starring Kristanna Loken being released next year.
All in all, this is one Rayne that you'll think sucks (in the good sense of the word...)
She Slices, She Dices, She Wiggles, She Jiggles
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 5 / 5
Date: October 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User
What if I were to say to you, "Hey, how would you like to play as a hot, big-breasted red-headed half-human half-vampire chick armed to the teeth who cuts off arms and legs while out for revenge against a mad vampire cult and wearing skintight leather?"
Fans of BR1 will be glad to know that number two in the series delivers more of the same, only better. Bigger, bloodier, more ambitious and epic while still remaining true to its splatter-horror-game roots, BR2 has a lot to offer.
There are a good variety of nasty fatality moves and ways to harpoon enemies onto spikes, fire, and electrocuting circuits. In the beginning you might think all the game does is throw hordes of easy-to-kill thugs at you, but variety is mixed up in the second half with plenty of other acrobatic vampire enemies and minor boss monsters. The game succeeds not just as brutal fun but also as a cinematic experience - the story and script are creative and interesting and the voice acting is fantastic. The dialogue is mostly driven by Rayne's dry sense of humor and is hilarious.
On top of that, it's just plain sexy - they address every conceivable fetish known to man. From leather S&M to blood to same-sex to oral fixation (gratuitous girl-on-girl bloodsucking). Even the killing and gore has some inexplicable sense of sexuality to it.
I've beaten the game several times and it has a lot of replay value. There's always that one move you didn't use, after all. My favorite is "Curtain Twice Torn", which splits your enemy clean in two, right down the middle. The puzzles are pretty obvious and yet tons of grisly fun. The main bosses are somewhat challenging until you figure out the "secret" to beating them, except the Unravveler, which was the only disappointment. I thought there was a secret, but after hours of playing around it seems the only way to beat him is to use the blood hammer over and over. If anyone finds some easier secret to beating him, please e-mail me.
Highly, highly recommended. I'll bet the movie will be crap though.
AMAZING!!!!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 3 / 3
Date: October 14, 2004
Author: Amazon User
This game surpasses the original by FAR. If you liked the first one, get this game, it is everything the first game was, and more. They changed the controls up a little bit, for the better, you can now swing on poles, grind on rails, impale people on hooks, throw them into fans, trucks, and other things. There is only two things that bother me about the game, One, You dont get tons of real guns like you did in 1, you only get a set of pistols, that use blood for ammunition, they have a few different kinds of fire, and to refill them you have to stab them into your enemy. Two, If you are up really high in the levels that ive played, you can fall, and have to start all over at climbing... it can get annoying. But I LOVE how much more challenging this game is, the first was way to easy, and they upped the challenge a ton. This game is definitly worth buying, if you arent sure, at least rent it... You wont be dissapointed.
A wonderful Game!
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 5 / 11
Date: December 20, 2004
Author: Amazon User
I thought the first Bloodrayne was good. But Bloodrayne 2 is so much better. The graphics are great and so is the game play! It's both easy and difficult to play. I love games that you can't beat in one night. Bloodrayne 2 you cant beat in one night thats why I love this game so much. I recommend buying this game because it is so fun to play!
Dark and Daring
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 12, 2004
Author: Amazon User
"BloodRayne 2" is definetly taking alot of chances here. Majesco has upped the viloence, blood, and sexuality on here, and it mixes together beautifuly (about as beautiful as it can get for being a very, very violent game.) Alrighty, "BloodRayne 2" picks up a whooping 60(yes, sixty) years later after the first video-game, presenting us with a brand-new threat. 'Rayne's brethren are planning on launching a secret weapon for revenge on the death of their father, Kagan. 'Rayne is the only one with the weapons (and the guts) to stop it. She knows the ins and outs of vampire-dom, I suppose. Well, not to give any more information out, this game is awesome!
Graphics-5/5. The character design and level design get revamped (thank god!) mixing together great apperance with beautiful lighting effects. The blood looks inky and thick, and very realistic.
Sound-5/5. To hear 'Rayne dig into and begin feeding on a bad guy isn't exactly music to the ears (unless you are Charles Manson), it sounds crisp, clean, and, dare I say it, tasty?
Controls-5/5. The controls are very simple (as they have always been) and naviagating pole-jumping is amazingly simple (referring to the pain in the butt it was on "Catwoman".)
Overall-8/5. This game is really good. I loved the first one, and I love this one alot better. The graphics are great and give it a real grizzly feeling. Look into the shadows for answers!
Quite an entertaining game
5
Rating: 5,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: June 08, 2005
Author: Amazon User
I'm no expert at how to play games and I actually am not that coordinated. But Bloodrayne 2 is quite a nice pick. When I first played this game I had not played the first one, but had heard rave reviews from a few of my friends. So, I decided I would try it out, because I do enjoy the occasional vampire movie or book, because who doesn't like vampires? The cover just shows you how great the character looks. When I first started playing I feared that I wouldn't do well because it took awhile to get used to the game. You have to pay attention to your surroundings in the game, you can't just expect everything to be seen easily or clear directions.
Bloodrayne 2 is fun because of the different objects you can obtain, the different moves you can use against your prey and the different things you can make Bloodrayne do. I think the fact that blood squirts out from your prey's neck while they scream in pain is slightly entertaining. I know that some parents wouldn't get this for their children because of the various things that you can do, including flip your victim over while sucking their blood to break their neck. I don't think this would be one you'd want a young child to play, then again it's rated to tell you that itself.
Anywho, you don't have to be an expert at playing roleplay games or have the greatest gaming skills to play this game. Bloodrayne 2 had kept me up for hours at a time trying to get closer to the end. I never got to finish it, but you can always get the game yourself and play Bloodrayne 2 for hours on end.
Gory fun had throughout.
4
Rating: 4,
Useful: 2 / 2
Date: October 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User
I was a big fan of the original Bloodrayne when it became somewhat of a sleeper hit a few years back.
Now Bloodrayne 2 is definitely better than the first, but it didnt have that special something as the first game did.
This game starts out slow and boring. Raynes moves are severely limited at the games start. But you slowly begin to gain new abilities and the game becomes a whole lot more fun.
The special abilities and fatalities are just so over the top its great. Over the top fun like a Kill Bill sort of way.
But there are some things i wasnt too pleased about. The first games low point were its 'jumping puzzles' and this games weak point was the same. Rayne many vertical and horizontal pole jumps were annoying and repititive. It sucks to climb 500 feet in a tower than miss one jump and have to climb all the way up again. 3D platforming is made fun in some games but Bloodrayne isnt one of them.
And whats the deal with the Blood Guns? Sure there are rocket launchers and shotguns, etc, but why do they have to run on 'blood?' Uzis, shotguns, and rpgs are more fun than Blood Stream, Blood Spray, and Blood Bomb. Lame.
Still, the game is a joy to play and the killing puzzles were handled awesome. Like throwing a baddie into a newspaper print machine, thus making it print red soaked newspapers, and having it blow up. Or pulling a truck off a cliff to squash a baddie while simultaneously breaking open a locked gate. Genius.
If you shop around you can find this game for a very reasonable price. And in the end its worth every penny for its gory over the top action.
NOT as good as the first
3
Rating: 3,
Useful: 2 / 4
Date: October 15, 2005
Author: Amazon User
I recently finished Bloodrayne (1) and was blown away. Sure, the story was cliche and the graphics were definitely early PS2. However, the gameplay was way too fun. As befitting a vampire, Rayne could jump huge heights. She also had some great evasion moves, good looking attacks, and a large variety of weapons scattered about. I was SHOCKED to realize while I was playing it that I was REALLY enjoying myself. Coupled with a strong bullet time effect, BR1 had so many "oh my gosh that's awesome" moments to last me a while.
What I wanted in a sequel was some minor tweaks, upgraded graphics, and a better story. Instead, much of what I love from BR1 is now missing in BR2. Now, Rayne can only jump a very pitiful height, bullet-time (time dilation....whatever) does not slow time NEARLY as much, and there is virtually no weapon variety. You can't even shoot guns or harpoons in the air anymore! And the corkscrew double jump...yup....gone.
Yes, Rayne has a larger arsenal of moves, but most of them seem unnecessary....I used everything that BR1 offered.....BR2 seems to have a lot of moves simply so it has a lot of moves.
Some people say that BR1 was too easy, but I disagree. BR1 had 3 difficulty settings, and the hard difficulty provided more challenge than the only difficulty level offered here....at least a choice was presented.
My other big gripe is what has replaced much of the gameplay that I loved.....acrobatics. Sections of the game feel DIRECTLY ripped from Prince of Persia- except that the control isn't as good as POP's was. Even the graphics try to get the whole "bloom" feel that POP had- yet again it was better done in POP. Seriously, the gameplay similarities at points are criminal. I don't understand why developers saw the need to emulate another (admittedly excellent) game when they already had their own original gameplay innovations to work off of.
What you're left with is a functional, enjoyable action game that simply isn't as awe-inspiring or original as the first game.
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