Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds (2003 Video Game) User Reviews

Proving Kronocide wrong. The game is much better than he discredits.

[mparantha · 28 August 2004]

I've completed this video game over 6 times. I simply can't seem to get bored by playing it. As for Kronocide's description of the game, he/she was not entirely correct. Yes, the camera for the game is difficult sometimes. However, if you're decent at the game, you will learn how to use the camera to your advantage. For example, you will learn that by pressing down on a combination of buttons, will lock the camera on a target or, if you're really good, you can lock the camera on multiple targets.

The story-line: great. While the dialogue is crappy, it really does follow the same quirky outline that the TV series follows. Buffy still throws out those intelligent puns before she dusts the vamps. The plot is awesome. I particularly liked that in the first level, Giles makes a reference to Wesley.

The graphics: nothing bad to say about them. In fact, the first time I played the game, I thought that I was watching a never-before aired episode of Buffy.

The weapons: C'mon, who doesn't want to unleash the fury on a vamp by whacking him upside the head with a shovel. Crossbows are nice also. However, my personal advice is that when using a crossbow, try to be at a very far distance. Particularly, I like to take advantage of the Hell-fire soakers or the Holy Water soakers.

The characters: The creators of this game knew exactly what audience they were creating for. All of the characters are generated very closely to scale with their real-life counterparts. One of the great things about this game is that it features the voices of Nick Brandon, Amber Benson, James Marsters, and Tony Head. Unfortunately, SMG didn't do the voice of Buffy Summers in this game nor in the 2002 VG release of the self-titled, "Buffy the Vampire Slayer." Thankfully, Giselle Loren sounds almost exactly like SMG and delivers the quirky dialogue with pure excellence.

The extras: after you've completed the game, you have the chance to explore the Extras menu. Here, if you've scored a Slayer rating on all of the levels, you will have the opportunity to see the voice overs of Tony (Giles), Nick (Xander), Amber (Tara), James (Spike), and Robin (Ethan Rayne). Also, you will be able to see bonus interviews with all of the actors/actresses just listed, plus a bonus interview with Joss Whedon. And, if you're a comic fan, there is a bonus Buffy the Vampire Slayer comic in the Extras menu that helps lead the into the video game.

My conclusion: This game is excellent. Whether or not you agree with my views or with Kronocide's, that's your choice. However, I firmly believe that all of those who are interested in the game should play it before they discredit it. And, Kronocide, I strongly urge YOU to finish the game or at least get better at it before you criticize it.

The Best Way to Attack Your Inner Demons...

[Sweettina135 · 10/10 · 4 February 2007]

I absolutely love this game! It's great to play with just enough challenge. The walkthroughs online help as well.

Also, when I'm stressed, it's really fun to just kill vampires! It releases a lot of tension.

I would say the last level is my least favorite. You have to run around in a gazillion circles which makes it more stressful and slightly less enjoyable.

The best levels on the game (for killing vampires) are: Level 1: The Magic Box Level 5: Downtown Sunnydale

and if you're up for having a big-bad challenge at the end... Level 10: Sunnydale Mall (GREAT FOR USING MAGIC) Level 11: Sunnydale Zoo

Basically, if you're a Buffy fan you'll love it and if you're not, you'll still love it. Just remember to check out the walkthroughs online on Gamespot. They make things a lot less confusing.

The graphics in the game, as far as I can tell, are great! The vampires basically dust in the action they're currently in. I once killed one as it was kicking me and it dusted beginning in that position! It's very realistic. Also, when throwing vampires/other demons or when you're being throw, you can smash into things and break them (if they're wood) or shake them (if they're a lamp).

The sound effects in the game were also great. Everything sounded different whether its falling into a chair, staking a vampire, punching them, or hitting them with a shovel.

Some of the voice overs in the game for Buffy's character can get very repetitive! Beware that by the time you're done with this game, you'll have memorized her "puns". Willow's as well. I feel that because SMG and AH were unable to do voice recordings, the actresses who did theirs did less. Everyone else had a nice selection of responses and hearing NB and JM on the game was really great.

Overall, I love the game and will continue to love it! Take my advice, this is a game you want.

Buffy 2 not as good

[magita666 · 6/10 · 8 July 2012]

I am a huge fan of Buffy the Vampire Slayer! I own the Xbox and I have the first Buffy game which was amazing! When I was 13 i bought Chaos Bleeds because I loved Buffy so much and thought that this game was great due to the ads. I was sort of wrong I will tell you the Pros and Cons and my overall feelings of this game.

*Pros/Cons: Decent Story- for me a game HAS to have a story. that is why I dislike games like Left 4 dead. But this one was really interesting. But... it is also flawed due to the fact the first on all evil does not appear until season 7 of the series to fight Buffy.

Voice acting- was great by most actors. Giselle Loren who voices Buffy is almost dead on-except for the way she says Tara Anya is voiced by her as well,which i find really weird, and She did not nail Anya. Willow makes me what to scream every-time i hear her. But all the others did their respective characters.

Graphics- are good, not as good as the collective with Buffy 1 but good. Some models are right on while others are not even close to being the person. Baddies- all good choices,except for Adam- who DIDN'T Speak. Really? Some are harder to beat then others. Puzzles- The puzzles aren't too bad but... sometimes you have to around in circles for 1 item which takes up a lot of time.

Controls- Not sure if it is just Xbox users but i find it hard with the camera angles, and collision detection sucks- you aim for legs instead of the heart.

Other Stuff- Sunlight No effect, I can dust vamps with swords? No decapitations like the other game. And other continuity issues. Oh and Willow acts like season 2 willow all unsure of herself, She is a powerful kick ass Wiccan in season 5 onward See Level 1 if you want an example.

If you are a hardcore Buffy fan this is a must have-if not... well maybe you should try before you buy. I think it is super cheap now a days so you might luck out and get it real cheap. I give it six stars because it is Buffy and it didn't suck but wasn't excellent.It was slightly above average. But it was still a good time to have. Oh and wouldn't touch the multi-player mode with a ten foot pole. it sucked. just stick to the one player stuff.

Happy Slaying*

This game is friggin awesome!!!!

[BuffyPhanatic · 31 August 2003]

I have been a fan of "Buffy" for a long time. I had always wanted there to be a game, then there was. The bad part is, i don't have an XBox, i have a PS2. I was very sad and had hoped for a while for a Buffy game to come out for PS2. Then it did. I absolutely love this game. I got it 2 days ago and i'm already on level 10. Don't get me wrong, this game isn't that easy. Each level takes about an hour to beat. I have become addicted. Once i beat story mode, I will spend my time trying to unlock all the secret characters for multiplayer mode. Speaking of multiplayer mode, this is where the game really shines. Nothing is better than beating the crap out of your friends in an all out brawl. I highly recommend this game to anyone, especially "Buffy" fans. It's out for all systems, check it out! 10/10

Good, But Flawed

[[e-mail] · 18 April 2005]

By way of personal background, I am a huge fan of the TV series on which this game is based (as well as the "Angel" TV series), and I've completed this game as well as 2002's "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" game for the X-Box. "Chaos Bleeds" looks very similar to the earlier game, has a good storyline, and is a good game, but the earlier game (by a different game developer) is significantly better, for the following reasons.

First, the camera movement in "Chaos Bleeds" is problematic. The camera (unseen) seems to be positioned within whatever room your character is in, and the camera has a habit of running into walls. Because of this, 360 degree rotation of the camera around your character doesn't work if your character is too close to a wall. The earlier game didn't have this problem.

Second, the hand-to-hand combat is somewhat clunky in "Chaos Bleeds", as compared to the earlier game. Punches and kicks are far more likely to miss their mark in "Chaos Bleeds", as compared to the earlier game. Also, in the earlier game, your character (always Buffy) could simultaneously fight multiple enemies positioned at angles up to 180 degrees apart with fluidity of player control, but not so in "Chaos Bleeds".

Third, in "Chaos Bleeds", Buffy isn't hampered much by the law of gravity, unlike the earlier game. In "Chaos Bleeds", despite the presence of a ladder at the edge of a 25 foot high platform, your character can walk off that platform and fall safely to the ground, landing uninjured on his or her feet, as if the character had just stepped of a sidewalk curb onto the street. In the earlier game, Buffy would have landed face-down and been slightly injured.

Fourth, whereas in the earlier game, Buffy couldn't fatally stake a vampire or demon until its life force was almost entirely depleted by kicks, punches, etc., in "Chaos Bleeds", all a character has to do to fatally stake said vampire or demon is get it on its back (easiest done by a simple throw) and stake it once, no matter where the enemy's life force bar is. And throwing enemies in "Chaos Bleeds" is child's play. A note regarding staking enemies lying on their backs: whereas in the earlier game, Buffy always staked enemies in their hearts, in "Chaos Bleeds", your character will stake an enemy in its leg, lower torso, etc., and the vampire/demon will still be dusted.

Fifth, although it's great that "Chaos Bleeds" allows players to play as Faith, Spike, Willow, Xander, and Sid the Dummy (as well as Buffy), the game-play flaws earlier described take away the necessity of using each character's unique fighting style to defeat enemies, and characters who should be relatively poor hand-to-hand combatants (Willow and Xander) are able to vanquish enemies with the efficiency of a slayer or a vampire (using the "throw and stake" technique).

Those are what I feel are the game's significant flaws. A minor flaw is that Allyson Hannigan, who played Willow in the TV show, doesn't provide the voice of Willow in "Chaos Bleeds" (unlike in the earlier game), and the voice performance of Willow suffers greatly by comparison.

The strong points of the game are the graphics, storyline, level designs, music, and sound effects. Whereas the earlier game was set during the early part of season three of the TV show, "Chaos Bleeds" is set during the late part of season five of the TV show, and the characters and character relationships are somewhat different between the two games. Show fans will probably enjoy the game despite its flaws.

Buffy: Return To License Game Hell

[Kronocide · 20 April 2004]

I have only played 1½ level of this game, but already have enough points for a brief review. Since it's pretty far from sure I'll finish it, may as well submit my opinion now. This game is in many ways very 1997. I'll simply bullet the reasons for not buying it below.

* Severe camera problems. I'm really not a camera wuss. I had no problems with the camera in Silent Hill, nor in GTA3. This however, is ridiculous. You will not see the monster you're fighting 30% of the time, but simply lunge forward in the hope there something there. The maps are too small for the camera to turn around most of the time, and there is no 1st person view mode.

* Control problems. The controls are unresponsive. This game tries to be a beat'em up, but has the controls of an adventure game. Turning towards your monster is difficult even when you see them. Since you keep dropping your weapon, you need to pick it up, but this is for some reason a hard task for the girl that can backflip over a pickup truck. You'll also find yourself pressing the push or kick button like a madman at times, and Buffy's just standing there. Not good when you're facing 3 foes at once.

* Old Skool story engine. What can I say? The series (which I worship) was known for its strong story telling. But Chaos Bleeds uses a very archaic story engine. So far the game is: fetch random object; fit object in random place; open door; fight a group of baddies, rinse and repeat. The random objects are a piece of a broken sun dial, a fuse, and so on. There is just not a trace of a story behind these acts and objects, they're just there without explanation. Even if there are bigger plot objectives in the game (and I don't know if there are), the gameplay suffers from the rudimentary and nonsensical in-level objectives. The series is also known for its humor and witty repartee. Someone should explain to the game developers that witty comments are not funny the 15th time you hear them. The game engine gives you a random Buffy comment when you open a door, pick up an object, etc. They get old REAL quick.

* Can't save in levels. This is insane, and makes me think of games from the mid-90's. It's actually not possible to save in a level, although they are quite big. You play 75% of a level but need a break from the "beat baddies while finding nonsensical item #3 to open next door" action. Since there are "continuation points" throughout the levels, you assume that the next time you play you will start at the last continuation point you passed. Well... FOOLED YOU! You will restart at the beginning of the level.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has a background made for an adventure game, a lá the Silent Hill series. (God, those games were good!) But Chaos Bleeds is a beat'em up with poor controls. The graphics though are perfectly adequate, as are sound effects and music.

It's fun to hear some of the original cast, although Buffy is poorly casted by a woman sounding like she's 30+. Hearing talented Nicholas Brendon deliver the lame, "witty" comments in the game does break my heart at times. Tony Head is of course perfect as the in-game tutorial voice.

This game is a hack job and lacks the soul of the TV series and of games such as Silent Hill and Spider-Man. Maybe there's a gypsy witch somewhere around here who can help with that.

I guess I'll give it another shot, but if Buffy says "You're dead. No, really" one more time after I kill a vamp, I'm going to watch Angel.

Gotta love it!

[jedijaylor · 22 October 2003]

I played this game and i'am a fan of the show and really recommend it.It's fun and challengeing to playing with good humour.If i gave it a number out of 10 it would be 10.I can't stop playing it :).I also own the PS2 and was very glad they they made a buffy for the PS2.

Buffy Chaos Bleeds

[papermakerever · 19 August 2006]

I got this game about a year and a half ago and was really just starting to get into Buffy. I mean at this time I only owned season 1 and that was because my parents got it. Anyways I got this game mainly because it was Buffy and not that expensive. When I played the first level I thought this game would be a very easy game. Then I played the next level and found out the game was a challenge. I was stuck for a while but eventually got past the Cemetery. I started going decent but the game did provide a challenge.

Eventually I got stuck in the Initiative with Spike but got through after a tough time with Adam. Then the Quarry is also tough with Faith but I got through it. Then at the Zoo I got completely stumped and just gave up after many deaths. Then I'm like what the heck I'm gonna finish this game. While it takes time and thinking I made it through the last two levels.

As far as I am concerned the bosses are difficult in most of the levels. The First is surprisingly easy to beat and Anya is also. In my opinion Adam is very difficult but it is possible. Also I never get tired of this game. If I want to just play and not care I play the first level and beat the crap out of vamps without staking them.

There are some things I didn't like but that is because I am a die-hard fan of Buffy. One of these is one that if you didn't watch the show you wouldn't know. In the last level Spike punches out Ethan but the chip does not do anything. The other is the vamps can be staked with something other than wood. Such as a sword.

As James Marsters says in the interview in the game. "If you are a fan of Buffy you will love this game. If you are not a fan of Buffy get this game and you will be."

best game ever

[tclement665 · 19 February 2006]

this is a sort of game that you don't find at every game store. it is tough to beat and when you do, you can unlock extras like multiplayer characters, interviews, voiceovers and outtakes. then you also get a chance to keep playing the levels over and over until you find all of the secrets and unlock all of the extras. but don't find any cheats because that just takes the fun out of it.

the only problem is that there are no save points in the game and you cant use any different characters when playing a level, except for multiplayer. otherwise, the game is very complicated and has excellent graphics

Pretty fun

[Funeral_Dinner · 21 December 2003]

While the game is fun, it can also be damn hard. I looked up Walkthrough Guides on the net loads of times. But overall the game doesn't dissapoint. While the characters can seem abit wooden, you've got all the locations from the TV Show, like The Magic Box and Sunnydale High. And of course the clever, sarcastic humour. The only thing I was dissapointed about, was you can't play Story mode as a multiplayer game. Multiplayer mode itself, is pretty restrictive. But there are some cool characters. Unfortunately you can't play as Anyanka, who judging by the High School level, would rock. Now all I want to do is play the original XBox version of Buffy.

Cool!

[Spooky2001 · 11 September 2003]

This game is very cool. The only bad thing is that Sarah Michelle Geller is not the voice of Buffy. This game is really challenging. I am on level 6 or 7. I had to get help from a walkthough and my brother because it was hard. I am excited they made a Buffy game for PS2 because I have a PS2 and not an Xbox.