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.
