Listen up all you bloodsuckers! Did I come at a bad time? Is Wesley Snipes in this game that looks and sounds a little like a darker version of Duke Nukem meets Count Dracula, without all the sexest chatter? Yes, but unfortunately, the only thing that really resembled Mr. Snipes was the picture on the cover of the game manual!
The movie Blade was cool, as are the comics and the book, but the atmosphere just didn’t carry over in this game. Hammerhead Studios would enjoy more of a success if they were to release Blade on the PlayStation 2 or PC with a better controlled, better looking version. The game looks as though a Tim Burton wannabe was the director, complete with all the Gothic look and feel of the typical bloodsucker flick — graphically dark and grainy.
In this game you and your partner Whistler are out to rid the world of all the members of the big vampire families such as the Von Espers, the Dragonetti’s, and the ultra– powerfull Pallintine Corporation. This game didn’t really follow the movieline, which was cool in it’s own way. Right from the start you’re in trouble as Whistler doesn’t get his butt wasted — just kidnapped and held hostage — so now you have to do some dirty work for one of the families, and then you just might get your friend back. In other words, you’re screwed no matter which way you go. Just deal with the business at hand and waste them — waste them all.
Controlling Blade is a pain at times, such as when you have to react fast to a big threat. The hesitation is just a hair too long, like jumping or shooting, which just gets you snuffed. There is really no way to adjust the controls, so you will find yourself dying a lot more, much to your dismay.
The weapon’s locker has a good selection of tools for erasing most of the familiars such as zombies, really ugly monsters, and their bosses. Some weapons will only work on certain creeps by using either, normal carbon, silver, or explosive rounds and blades. If all else fails then just whip out your handy sword and do a little slice and dice. By experimenting you can figure out which weapons work the best on each of the groovy ghoolies In addition, more garlic and holy water weapons would have been fun, such as a squirtgun full of holywater, or a slingshot with garlic BB’s. With all the lasers, assault shotguns and full auto devices you’ll have your hands full switching back and forth. The Zombies have a nasty habit of walking right through your firing line and pushing you off of the ledges, bridges and such. So take care where you stand when a showdown is approaching.
There are plenty of game save spots. Just make sure you have some extra blocks on your memory cards, because it’s a long way through the game if you don’t. Watch out for hidden pits full of spikes when going through the dungeons and catacombs. You can spot them as a dark strip or dark shading in the halls. And as you progress, watch out for hidden switches and buttons that will open the way ahead. Sometimes you have to do some lengthy backtracking to go forward. Waste anything that moves using your (R1) bad guy homing button to locate them. Be sure and find all the keys — some are hidden pretty good — that unlock new levels and doors to shortcuts.
As a single player this game was so–so. Adding multiplayer would have really spiced it up. Some of the scripting was funny, but mostly the game plodded along and some plots just didn’t add up right. Now lock and load, then go get Whistler back, if you can. For a first–person shooter game it was OK, but if there is ever a sequel, then I hope they make it, as Wesley would say, "A little more righteous."
"Blade is, unfortunately, suffers from its own lack of nutrition, er, blood. A rather anemic offering!"
