5.5

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice

Although the brilliant series created by Joss Whedon has ended on TV, a new series has been created for the comic world that once again lets fans enjoy this remarkable universe and best of all, it follows from where the TV series left. Unfortunately the gaming world has been quiet in terms of Buffy games... until now and Buffy the Vampire Slayer returns on the Nintendo DS in the latest installment entitled "Sacrifice".

So what exactly is Buffy the Vampire Slayer Sacrifice? Well my dear readers, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice is a 3D adventure/fighting game for this console and allows players to be transformed into Buffy, the ultimate vampire slayer. Best of all, the story is written by one of the original writers of the TV series, Robert Deshotel which ensures the continuity of the mythology flows into the game and with that said, the game is set before the destruction of Sunnydale. Combing both third person views and first person, this breaks up the gameplay, ensuring that it does not become too repetitive.

Features

• Play as Buffy the Vampire Slayer through 24 levels using a third person camera.
• Unlock and use more than 20 types of unique Slayer weapons.
• Fight more than 12 different level bosses and sub-bosses, including First Evil, the boss of all bosses.
• Play “Challenge Mode” in first-person for fast-paced action and an increased difficulty level.
• Solve puzzle missions to unlock new areas.
• Collect spells to increase Buffy’s supernatural and physical abilities.
• Explore 12 dynamic environments and search for up to four hidden ones.
  Use breakable objects located within in all environments to battle demons and vampires.
• Unique story set after the climactic seventh season of the TV series, written by Rob Deshotel, one of the original writers of the TV series.
• Explore locations from the TV show, including Sunnydale High, the Bronze and the Hellmouth.

I'm always a little apprehensive when I see a small development company take a popular franchise and attempt to create something unique. Even worse is that I'm a huge fan of the original TV series and to some extend the comics but needless to say, I was excited to get the chance to visit a variety of Buffy locales and meet a variety of Buffy characters.

Putting the cartridge into my DS, I was expecting to be greeted to that familiar Buffy Theme and to my shock, it was a generic musical score that attempted to mimic the TV series opening. Of course, I could put this aside as it's all about good gameplay... or is it?

Of course, I was wrong and the gameplay of this current Buffy game was a tad horrendous and generic, made worse by the 3D graphics of the Nintendo DS. The basic premise behind the game is to explore and fight the nasties of the Buffy universe which uses a combination of the DS controls and the Nintendo stylus.

The top screen displays the gaming environment map/details with the touch screen used for fighting and magic that actually does work. Unfortunately the control system of moving your characters around the game doesn't. It is reminiscent of those old games that lacked realistic movements and of course interaction with the gaming environment and once again, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Sacrifice joins this long line.

The saving grace of the game are of course the Buffy references and this game is oozing with them. You'll meet all of the Scooby gang that include Willow, Spike and even Angel plus you get to explore familiar locales such as Sunnydale High and even the Bronze. With the inclusion of familiar faces and places, the game does have a strong Buffy link to it, however the repetitive and dull gameplay becomes old and frustrating as you progress as you die quiet a bit and it uses a checkpoint system of saves.

As previously mentioned, the graphics are quite tame and at some places quite bad in the game and to make matters worse, I know that the DS is capable of far more impressive things. Interesting enough, the first person view is a lot more impressive than the 3rd person view.

With no Buffy the Vampire theme or voice over's, the sound and music is a little depressing, especially for a fan. Match that with no movies in the game, just still "painted" frames of the characters and that's the best you'll get in terms of cutscenes which is a shame.

I honestly tried to like this game... however the up and down graphics, limited gameplay and and awkward combat made this a very frustrating experience and considering how cool the franchise is, there really is no excuse. If you're a fan of the game and desperate for a game on the DS, than maybe so, however for the majority, best to stake this game early.