BloodRayne: Betrayal

 PlayStation 3
Metascore
69

Mixed or average reviews - based on 24 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 8 out of 24
  2. Mixed: 12 out of 24
  3. Negative: 4 out of 24
  1. Worth Playing
    Sep 21, 2011
    90
    BloodRayne: Betrayal is one of the most enjoyable platformers I've played in a long time. Even if you didn't enjoy the previous BloodRayne titles, there is a lot to like here, $15 price tag and all.
  2. Joystiq
    Sep 6, 2011
    90
    I don't even think those skulls, or the brutal scoring system, were needed to encourage replayability. Bloodrayne Betrayal has enough style, substance and butter-smooth combat to pull me in for a sweet reprise.
  3. IGN
    Sep 4, 2011
    90
    Betrayal isn't for everyone, but for classic gamers looking for a hard romp, it'll prove to be a great success.
  5. Games Master UK
    Oct 23, 2011
    88
    It's old-school, tough, but rewarding. [Dec 2011, p.89]
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  6. Cheat Code Central
    Sep 7, 2011
    84
    This game allows you to mindlessly kick the crap out of things while playing as a badass vampire chick. If that sounds like something you'd like, then BloodRayne: Betrayal will not disappoint.
  7. Gaming Age
    Sep 22, 2011
    83
    The only problem I see with BloodRayne: Betrayal is that it will alienate fans of the 3rd Person 3D games that the franchise was built on.
  8. 1UP
    Sep 6, 2011
    83
    I enjoyed Blood Rayne in spite of my own frustrations. In part because of its novelty, 2D games that look this good are too few and far between, and those in HD are even scarcer. However, the game goes beyond its novelty and offers a fun yet challenging set of levels.
  9. Thunderbolt
    Sep 13, 2011
    80
    Despite those small issues, BloodRayne: Betrayal works, and works wonderfully. WayForward has done an admirable job dusting off the BloodRayne franchise and resurrecting the red hair dhampir. In the process they did the unthinkable, finding a way to inject a welcome dose of class into the comically trashy franchise.
  10. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    Nov 13, 2011
    70
    A vicious challenge that might suck your sanity dry. [Dec 2011, p.115]
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  11. Eurogamer
    Sep 16, 2011
    70
    If BloodRayne: Betrayal gives Uwe Boll an excuse to make another movie, its appearance might not be such a good thing, But if you can get over such matters, this is a satisfying and brutal return to the old school.
  12. GamePro
    Sep 12, 2011
    70
    BloodRayne: Betrayal is a lot like how I'd imagine being a vampire would be. Initially my newfound powers would be awesome and invigorating. Eventually though, immortality would inevitably lead to weariness. Thankfully, Rayne's six hour jaunt requires less commitment than a vampire's unholy contract, and while it may not be a life-changing event, its seductive pull is worth having a taste of.
  13. Gamereactor Sweden
    Sep 9, 2011
    70
    Some challenges aren't planned well enough, but overall this is a good hack and slash game with some great visuals.
  14. Game Informer
    Aug 16, 2011
    70
    I feel proud for beating BloodRayne: Betrayal, but I can't recommend it for anyone who lacks an ocean of patience. [Sept 2011, p.93]
  15. PSFocus
    Oct 3, 2011
    68
    Bloodrayne goes 2D and does this with quite a lot of ambition. Therefore it is all the more saddening to see that imprecise controls and a lackluster story keep the bloodsucking heroine from reaching perfection.
  16. SpazioGames
    Sep 12, 2011
    68
    It'll make you literally scream in rage, and not for good. It isn't just a difficult game, it's a somehow broken one. Controls don't do their job on many occasions, and most of the time it plays dirty with you. Just for masochist players and fans of the saga.
  17. Play UK
    Nov 18, 2011
    62
    A great-looking scrolling fighter with plenty of bite, but ultimately it's just too sluggish to do its flawed presentation much justice. [Issue#211, p.98]
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  18. Playstation: The Official Magazine (US)
    Aug 25, 2011
    60
    Those looking for a challenge will definitely find some bloody enjoyment in Betrayal, but the easily frustrated may be left seeing red. [Oct 2011, p.82]
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  19. GameSpot
    Sep 8, 2011
    55
    Finicky controls taint the exciting combat in BloodRayne: Betrayal, creating an uneven and frustrating adventure.
  20. GameWatcher
    Sep 22, 2011
    50
    So yeah, it's only for people who are really, really (repeat for a while) really into their tough platformers or those who love Rayne's exploits so much, they can't live without experiencing this.
  21. Game Revolution
    Sep 9, 2011
    50
    No amount of zen can keep a player from dying so many times and feeling so helpless that they punch through a poster for a band they actually like. If you appreciate an abusive relationship however, this is the way to go.
  22. Gamers' Temple
    Oct 10, 2011
    48
    It looks great but that's about it.
  23. Gamer Limit
    Sep 28, 2011
    45
    If BloodRayne: Betrayal works at all it's in starts and stops. Honing in on one thing at a time, like the animation, one can arguably find areas that are enjoyable. A platforming section here or there may be fun to play through once. The part where Rayne runs the gauntlet of enemies just before the castle crumbles under her feet can provide hack and slash relief with excessive (in a good way) blood and dismemberment. Put it all together, however, any fun to be had gets lost in a vortex of suck.
  24. GamerNode
    Sep 13, 2011
    40
    Bloodrayne: Betrayal is a frustrating mess of a game that shows a lot of promise in parts, but never actually delivers.
  25. Destructoid
    Sep 9, 2011
    20
    Awful design, a counter-intuitive art style, and an obscenely cheap approach to difficulty makes BloodRayne: Betrayal a game that should be avoided by all but the most masochistic and deranged of gamers. The deep revulsion that this game inspires within me cannot accurately be described, but it is measured only by the intense, burning disappointment I feel as a fan of the series.

User Reviews

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User Score
6.3

Mixed or average reviews- based on 38 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 38
  2. Mixed: 5 out of 38
  3. Negative: 12 out of 38
  1. Scottface
    Sep 7, 2011
    9
    Okay, I havent finished it yet, I've screamed at the TV after dying COUNTLESS times, and I don't know/care what the story's about, but god IOkay, I havent finished it yet, I've screamed at the TV after dying COUNTLESS times, and I don't know/care what the story's about, but god I love this game! For a start, It's just gorgeous to look at. The crisp, hand-drawn HD visuals are a thing of beauty and something we really should be seeing more of in PSN/XBLA titles. Not unlike SHANK or Super Streetfighter 2 HD Remix, there's an air of anime about the look of the game, albeit with a unique stylised colour pallete. The red skies and blue castle walls really give the game a very polished neo-gothic atmosphere. Yet, despite how clean the visuals are, the world looks dirty and dangerous, a real feast for the eyes.
    The animation's particularly smooth too, complementing the flowing combat perfectly. Which leads me nicely into the gameplay, which as I mentioned earlier, is HARD. Boss hard. The combat uses one main attack button, combined with directional inputs to create an impressive arsenal of slashes, uppercut-launches, head-stomps and combos. Combine these with jumps, dashes and jump-dashes, and it is possible so get around the screen with lightning speed doing seriously stylish, brutal dammage to all comers. I say "possible" as opposed to "simple" or "easy" because the combat in this game is anything but simple or easy. There are several enemy types, each requiring different tactics to take down without taking dammage. Often the game will throw several enemy types at you at once, and it becomes a relentless game of evading gunfire, blades, claw dashes and circular saws as you try to dispatch your undead foes to their bloody graves. If you do take dammage, however, all is not lost. The games protagonist is a sexy female vampire chick named Rayne (hence the title,) who has the ability to feed on most types of enemies. Doing so recovers a decent ammount of your health bar. Alternitavely, she can bite them for a short time, infecting them, then with a press of another button, make them explode. This is not only useful for doing splash-dammage to multiple enemies, but also breaking through certain walls, clearing your path onward or to hidden areas. It's also used to solve some tricky puzzles, too.
    It's not all hack-n'-slash combat though, the game is, after all a platformer at heart. There are sections of incredibly tricky platforming, some of which I thought I'd never get past (hence my angry screaming at the TV) but with practice and perseverance, you'll get there eventually. same with the bosses. After destroying the first boss, the crab-puncher, on only my 2nd or 3rd attempt, a few levels later I encountered: Crab-Puncher Mk2, one of the hardest bosses I've faced in recent memory. Luckily, this game has the: "one more go" factor in spades. And when I finally beat him after countless failiures, much like those uber-tricky platforming sections I just mentioned, the sense of satisfaction is immense. It really is punch the air stuff. This is what got me so hooked on gaming in the first place, back in the 80's, trying to land on that stick thin platform for the 25th time while being chased by something masive and avoiding cannonballs from all directions. Then When you eventually do it, the releif alone is enough to make you grin like a cheshire cat, let alone the sense of acheivment. I've not mentioned the story because, like alot of the old 8-bit and 16-bit classics, its not important. The dialogue is played out using text in speech-baloons as opposed to voice-acting, and you don't need to read it if you're not interested in the story. You'll come for the action, not the plot. You get graded on your performance at the end of each level, Devil May Cry style. I was getting an F- on every level, until an hour ago when I scored a C-. I was over the moon! This alone is reason enough to replay levels, trying to beat your previous score, as well as the hidden red skulls on each level which grant you power ups when you've collected enough. There are even sections where you can transform into a raven, flying around the levels, avoiding obstacles and death traps. There just seems to be so much variety for what's essentially a simple 2D action-platformer, with the game constantly throwing new things at you. Its not for everyone though, its just too hard for alot of modern gamers. And the BloodRayne franchises origins as a sub-par 3rd person scrapper from the last console generation (and the awful Uwe Boll Movie) may put people off. For the rest of us though, looking for a good old-fashioned challenge with amazing visuals, are in for a treat    … Full Review »
  2. 48448
    Sep 21, 2011
    9
    Personally, I think the controls are great. It prevents the game from being a mindless button masher. You can't just hammer the attack buttonPersonally, I think the controls are great. It prevents the game from being a mindless button masher. You can't just hammer the attack button and still have the privilege of running away immediately. This forces you to keep track of every enemy on the screen as opposed to just the ones directly in front of you. Rayne's movelist screams crowd control. You have to control. Not react. That's not her forte.… Full Review »
  3. Thriftygamer
    Sep 9, 2011
    9
    Iâ
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