Review

Bloodrayne: Betrayal

Okay, before I start, I have a disclaimer: I have never before played a Bloodrayne game. Ever. And my ignorance on the subject is further solidified by the fact I keep calling it Castlevania on accident in conversations. Haven’t played that one either, to be honest. But, I figure a fresh view on a re-imagining of an older series is probably for the best.

The developers opted for an anime art style for this new take. I think it works well and I like how they toned down the main character’s sex appeal (though, this could be marked as a detractor for some). And, instead of the third person action the series is known for, this iteration is an action sidescroller. I would describe it as a cross between Castlevania and Super Meat Boy.

There are text bubbles that show up throughout Betrayal to assure you that there is some semblance of a story going on. I had no idea what they were talking about or how it related to anything. And I can’t tell you if it continues the Bloodrayne saga or fits into any kind of timeline. Honestly, that’s not what matters in this kind of game. The goal is always to kill bad guys and get to the next stage. And that I did. The combat is smooth and satisfying once you can get the hang of it. I had problems mastering an unwieldy sliding high jump that became necessary for beating segments. And the tutorial text that pops up to let you know certain moves are possible is very cumbersome to read before it fades into oblivion while simultaneously trying not to die from the waves of enemies. I feel that could have been handled better, especially when it is imperative to remember all of the moves to get past puzzles and bosses later in the game.

One thing is for sure, Bloodrayne Betrayal will definitely challenge you and your patience levels. I do not recommend this game to those of you who are prone to throwing controllers. You know who you are. The platforming does not leave any room for error. Most of the time being a mere pixel off will send you falling to your death. And timing is everything. There are blood fountain continue points placed around every level but they aren’t consistent enough for the harder areas. Luckily, there are no lives like in a traditional platformer. Because you will die. A lot. I must have died at least 100 times. Makes me wish there was a counter for it. It seemed to me the obstacles were purposely out to get me and not just sitting there minding their business looking threatening.

At a certain point in the game you are given a move. It’s a cool move that makes you think “Yes! Now I can get past those troublesome parts no problem!” Then, after making it to the next level, you are promptly electrocuted to death when you try and use it. That’s the sort of game this is. It’s not very nice. I would say Bloodrayne Betrayal is hold-your-breath, grind-your-teeth, bite-your-tongue frustrating. But it isn’t so hard that it is impossible. I beat the game, after all. Of course I lost quite a few brain cells, teeth, and a tongue in the process. After the completion of each level, you are rated on your performance. At least I think you are. I have yet to see any grade above an F – and I’m pretty sure it isn’t for Fantastic. I even went back to level one to see if I could get a better grade. No such luck for me, unfortunately. I certainly can’t rely on skill.

The bosses in Betrayal all look cool but they were all equally difficult. No ramping up at all, except for perhaps the first. This left me confused at the last boss. Because of that and the unclear storyline I didn’t know it was the end. Basically, when the game was finished I ended with, “Oh, that back there was the last boss?” So the sense of accomplishment was a little dulled. But not completely. Even though the bosses seemed to have the same difficulty it was all hard to me. It took me many deaths to learn how to dodge their move sets successfully. And then even more to actually kill them. I consider actually beating Bloodrayne Betrayal a great accomplishment as a gamer.

For fans of challenging platformers in general, this game is a must buy. Even though it can be touchy and frustrating it’s a nice little game and worth a look. And for fans of the Bloodrayne franchise that are disappointed with the direction it went, I suggest thinking of it as a different game entirely and trying it out anyway. Castlevania, maybe. Regardless, you might come away surprised.