BloodRayne 2: The Terminal Cut

BloodRayne is one of my all-time favorite games, and when the Terminal Cut remasters were announced I was one of many who were super excited about them. We've already covered the first BloodRayne, now it's time to tackle Rayne's second outing. Also, if you haven't seen the first review, I'd suggest checking it out because I will be talking about that game a bit as well.

On with the show!

Developing BloodRayne 2

With the success of the original BloodRayne, a sequel was pretty much guaranteed. Development on BloodRayne 2 started a short while after the first game was released. Once again, Terminal Reality took the reins on the development side of things using their Infernal Engine program to render environments. The Infernal Engine also helped with the many physics-based elements of the game - I'll...come back to this.

BloodRayne 2 was released in the USA for the PlayStation 2 and Xbox in 2004, with a PC version being released the following year. A European release of the game for all platforms (Xbox, PC, and PlayStation) followed in February of 2006.

The game met with a relatively positive reception, although it only garnered some average reviews. It has since become something of a cult classic - much like its predecessor - and has amassed quite a fanbase.

The Story

Set some 70 years or so after the first game, Rayne is busy hunting down the remnants of her evil vampire father's bloodline. Conveniently for her, all of Kagan's remaining children have gathered in the same city where her most recent hunt occurred.

The vampires in this mystery city (it's not named in the game) begin openly attacking humans and setting out to conquer the world.

What Works?

So, what works here?

• The graphics in this game are fantastic!
• The sound design and music are also great.
• The plotline is interesting and well-paced.
• Performance-wise, the voice acting is great. Laura Bailey's work as Rayne is great. She brings aggression, sex appeal, and mischief to the character. Troy Baker's role as Kagan is fantastic; he's a perfect villain, and the other antagonists (Ferril, Ephemera, Kestrel, and so on) are also amazing.

Rayne also has a few new moves, including the ability to climb up and slide down poles. She can also perch on certain ledges and slide down stair rails. The combat is great with loads of new, gory finishers - impalements, beheadings, chopping up limbs...you get the idea.

The game's ending is also really great. It's dark, broody, and decidedly grim. Put simply, it's the perfect setup for a sequel.

What Doesn't Work?

Okay, so is there anything that doesn't work? Well...yes, there are a few things.

• Many of the fights are based around physics puzzles, which are very, VERY frustrating.
• The boss fights are pretty much the same throughout the storyline.

Apart from those two little nitpicks, I didn't really have many issues. The platforming is a bit...finicky at times, but for the most part it works out well. There are also some levels - like the Shroud Tower - that drag on for a bit too long.

The Vesper Shard, which is the item that Kagan uses in his plan, isn't very well explained beyond being a mysterious item.

Not Perfect, but Still a Great Sequel

BloodRayne 2 isn't perfect, but it's still well worth your time to play. There are problems with it, obviously, but it's a great sequel. Between the darker story and the faster pace, it's a fun time to be had.

The overuse of physics puzzles was a bit frustrating at times, but I still had a good time with it.