Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds

Stands out in the action-adventure genre by providing well devised combat and level design meshed with a great Buffy story. If you're not familiar with the TV show, you can still have a hell of a good time dusting vampires and kicking demon ass.

A rather wonderful follow-up, packed with personality, action, and a windfall of extra goodies. [Oct 2003, p.70]

The look of the game is also solid. Creepy catacomb textures and eerie lighting effects crank up the spooky mood of the game. Character models are also solid, with Buffy and crew actually looking a lot like their TV counterparts.

As a fan, I'm miffed at the story, which I doubt is what the creators want to hear. As a gamer, I had a good time with Chaos Bleeds and if you're looking for a good fighting game, check this one out.

While the A.I. could’ve been stronger and there could’ve been more with the playable characters, Chaos Bleeds does a great job of appealing to fans and newcomers to the show alike. Adventure fans should look at sinking their teeth into this game.

Not only does the game look better than its predecessor but it outperforms it in nearly every way: the puzzles are even more intelligent..., the fighting is on par and benefits from multiple characters, the difficulty scale has been skillfully balanced. [Sept 2003, p.70]

An excellent, well-put-together action adventure game that most fans of the genre should be able to enjoy and any Buffy the Vampire Slayer fan will love.

A solid game and worthy sequel to the original, even if it does play out a bit easier than the first. The simple fact that you get to play the other slayers, learn countless moves, wield a variety of weapons and cast amazing spells in some ways surpasses the original, at least in concept and execution.

If you're a Buffy fan, rejoice and go forth and slay.

As the TV show succeeded by placing fun above logical reason or technical accomplishment, it seems fitting that the game followed this ethic to the letter.

The intensity of battle, breathtaking graphics, and intriguing story are powerful enough to overcome any shortcomings in the game. [Sept 2003, p.118]

Unfortunately the tweaking seems to have actually diminished the playability slightly and therefore Chaos Bleeds just doesn't have that "control is like butta" feel that the first one had in spades.

Splintered wooden furniture doubles as vampire vaporizing shivs to expand on your already wide variety of exterminating capabilities.

If you're looking for a well executed third-person game that doesn’t involve shoot-dodges or bullet-time, then Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is worth checking out. For all Buffy worshippers, Chaos Bleeds should be on your must-play list.

Has its flaws, such as the camera and clunky controls, but is a nice total package. It definitely captures the feeling of the Buffy universe in more ways than one.

As fun as the original Buffy game on Xbox, but not quite as tight. The AI is a bit too forgiving at times turning the game into more of a button-masher than it needs to be.

Despite the solid length and some decent gameplay ideas, the game never reaches it's full potential - whether it be in terms of the lackluster multiplayer, the cheap A.I. or the less-then-brilliant fighting system.

Like a mediocre Buffy episode: Decent plot, predictable Scooby-gang hijinks, and lots of fighting action and bad vampire puns... It also throws in...the iffy graphics engine that produces lifeless character movement and collision issues. [Oct 2003, p.134]

7 / 6 / 6 / 5 - 24 [Vol 785]

Treads no new ground, but neither does it degrade into a sanguine mess. [Oct/Nov 2003, p.93]

Sadly, the most innovative aspect of the first title has been diminished to the point where Buffy isn’t much different than a routine 3D slugfest. An easy recommendation for loyal fans of the series, but the game's appeal would be lost on the casual player.

A textbook example of a game that wasn't ready to be pushed out of the nest. What could have been an exceptional game founders in mediocrity because of an artificial timeline.

It's simply not as good as the first Buffy game and suffers from loose control and repetitive gameplay. I guess hot chicks and vampires don't automatically make things awesome.

When you reach a dead end, it's usually just a case of retrieving a generic puzzle item from a conveniently inconvenient hiding place before continuing. Cue several minutes of primitive platforming and beating up the undead with a functional combat system before the next 'mash the Triangle button until you find something interactive' session begins. [Nov 2003, p.126]