Buffy the Vampire Slayer - Review

Added August 11th, 2003 by Final Sniper

Introduction:

If you are a fan of the TV series Buffy or have watched the movie and liked it you are in for quite the treat. This game follows the series very well if fact with the awesome graphics you will feel as if you are part of a movie. Buffy the Vampire Slayer debuted on the WB in 1997 as a mid-season replacement. Little did anyone know it would spin off into the legendary drama series it is now. Millions of people all over the world gather to watch the show but millions of others are missing out on what is considered the best series of all time! When was the last time a video game made from a TV show or a movie turned out good? I admit, Spiderman wasn't half bad, but after playing the demo a couple times, I realized buying the entire game wouldn't work out. First planned as a DC/PSX/PC game, it has then moved onto a DC/PSX game, then finally an XBOX exclusive, and boy does it deliver! 3 years in the making, many skeptics thought this game would end up in the discount bin with Spice world or Superman, but after it's release it has proven EVERYONE wrong! Buffy the Vampire Slayer for the XBOX is a perfect mix of surprises, action, fun, horror, humor, love and more!

Gameplay:

There aren't a lot of puzzles (no complex ones, anyway) or finding your way in Buffy, leaving the bulk of the game's weight on the shoulders of the fighting engine. What I love most about this game is the different combos you could do and the various dangers you can use to finish off your opponents. As you'd expect, Buffy can punch, kick, and throw enemies around. But you can also add a little extra juice to any combo by holding down the last button in a combo. This creates a bright blue glow around Buffy's fist or foot and the last blow is devastating. You have an assortment of weapons to use from Buffy's trusty stake to a Winged Reaper which reminds me of Xena's chakram (a circular blade that is thrown at a target, ricochets off various objects and returns to the thrower). The enemies have to do a death move such as vamps biting the neck and sucking blood or a demon dog that will maul you to death. The same is true when fighting others. You can fight them forever and ever and never die unless you perform a death move such as a vamp to stake them through the heart with a stake or crossbow, set them on fire or throw them into the sunlight. This can be a hit or miss proposition. If you catch a vampire off guard, you can actually stake them right off the bat. With a fighting engine this solid, the AI has no excuse for being lackluster. On the flip side, enemies do a good job of working together to take on Buffy. This AI unevenness mirrors the uneven game balance. Buffy can be finished in under ten hours and there really isn't too much reason to go back. It's a solid fighting engine and there's certainly a lot to enjoy here, but the length is a bit of a problem.

Graphics:

Buffy delivers top-notch graphics with large environments and detailed character models. The graphics are terrific. They have done very well to make the characters look like the real actors of the series with the exception of poor Willow look like their TV counterparts. The facial expressions are very lifelike and they even duplicated Giles' annoyed expressions at Buffy when she makes a joke during a *serious* moment. Fans of Buffy will find this hilarious, but non-fans can appreciate the level of detail as well. The environments are very realistic and it makes you feel that you are there in the setting looking out at a distance. I love the vampire DUSTING effect. Now this games Graphics show the class and the power of the Xbox. The effects off the shadow in particular areas adds a feel for the area and I believe makes the Story much more powerful especially with some of the sounds. The motion of the characters is so fluid giving you the a sense of realism impossible on the older consoles. The lighting and shadow effects simply amazing giving a true eerie feeling. Everything from the backdrops to the gang to the ugliest demons are represented in glorious graphical splendor and it is certainly one of the finest games on the Xbox in terms of visuals. Facially she looks spot on, and her frequent costume changes between levels are welcomed. My only discrepancies with the visuals of the game would be the way Willow has been recreated in 3Dand I must say that Alison Hannigan has not converted too well into the game. My only other niggle is with the slowdown, and while it is very infrequent and barely noticeable, it simply should not be happening on a system of this caliber. Buffy delivers top-notch graphics with large environments and detailed character models. Buffy is diverse in her movements and facial expressions, as well as Buffy's friends and enemies throughout the game. Bright colors, dark dim caves and scary enemies that make the zombies in Resident Evil scream in terror! Fire, smoke, water & the very amazingly portrayed DUSTING of vampires is what make Buffy stand out from games like Dead To Rights and move into the ranks of Halo and DOA3. There are occasional moments where the game will briefly pause, and there's some noticeable clipping, and there are jaggies everywhere. If the jaggies could have been held in check, this could have been a much more stunning game but Buffy still manages to do well in this category.

Audio:

The music changes with the mood much like the show. It has some very upbeat pieces with electric guitars and the works. The sound effects are great. When there is silence, (no music silence) there are background noises that give it that creepy feeling when you are walking down a corridor and you don't know what will pop out at you. I must admit, I got startled a couple of times when a demon popped up behind me and screamed. Since the game uses 5.1 Dolby surround and it can get pretty intense. The sound effects for the vamp DUSTING sounds exactly like on the show. Buffy's clever banters sound like they came from SMG as well as the fights and grunts although, I have never heard Buffy yell: EEEYYYAHH! That stood out a little. But it makes it all worthwhile that the actual actors put in their voices to give it a very authentic feel. Hearing the vampires taunting you to the sounds of weapons and sounds of the punches and kicks are just so real. I noticed that the voice of Buffy in-game would not be done by Sarah Michelle Gellar herself, but that an impersonator would take her place, however all of the other regulars, Willow, Cordelia, Xander, Giles and Angel would all be providing their vocal talent for the game. I was a little disappointed, but once I heard the impersonator at work it was difficult to believe that Sarah herself wasn’t acting as Buffy so the voice actress for Buffy is a close approximation. The other voices are all wonderful too, and superbly done. The game doesn’t put too much emphasis on it’s musical score, however the Buffy theme tune by Nerf Herder is there in all it’s glory, and a feature I like is when a particularly tough demon or vampire has been slayed, the theme tune plays softly in the background. The game sounds nice too, the cries and moans of the fallen enemies, and their vocal quips (ranging from “The Slayer is tough indeed”, to “Oh Crap”), are hilarious. From the old school style of horror music to fast paced work out music, the music in Buffy matches the range of scenes. The one liners are hilarious, but can get a bit repetitive after a long day of slaying.

Replay:

The game is not so lengthy and but is a great fun working your way through. The multiplayer arena is sometimes fun to play. Just bring some friends over for some high quality monster mashing! And, if that isn't much fun, then the Arena Bug works great, too. Buffy and anyone else (controlled by player 2) are patrolling together. Buffy also has 3 difficulty options, so you can play it as easy or as hard as you'd like it. It's great fun to play through, but it's a relatively short experience and one that really isn't going to get you playing it again.

Summary:

It took three years to finally get it out to us, but it was so worth the wait. It completely captures the show, and gives us the Buffy we want, along with a stellar action game that is sure to entertain. If you like the show, you'll love the game. If you dislike the show, you'll like the game, too! Buffy the Vampire Slayer is one of the best games if not the best action game to hit the XBOX since Halo. Many people dismiss this game based on it's origin but the game blends action, humor, fun, horror, survival, fighting, love, and multiplayer in 1 title. There is no stupid story, no cheap voices, just a A+ quality game that shouldn't be passed up. Buffy has made history as being one of the VERY, VERY few games that actually are GREAT that are based on a TV show or movie. Buffy deserves a play or two, so don't pass up this great action game! In conclusion, this game is magnificent as it blends action, humor, and exploration in one nice, beautiful disk that is sure to give you hours of excitement and joy. This game is truly an unrecognized triumph in gaming and really deserves more credit than it has gotten. Despite it's flaws, Buffy is still a solid action title that would do nicely on any action or the show fans shelf.