We are introduced to Selena, a devoted wife and mother who has seen the her husband murdered and her infant son Nikolai taken away by none other than the insidious Doctor Frankenstein. But Selena is, alas, no mere woman - but a werewolf! And now, through hell and high-water, she is bound and determined to save the only thing she has left. While the obvious props go to the development team for a female protagonist that isn't a fetish-ized as all get out, Erin Cummings does an amazing job as the voice of Selena, making her a character that we want to root for. And root we do as we guide her through a myriad of levels as she battles the forces of darkness to rescue her only son from the hands of science!
Indeed, she is a character that would not be entirely out of place among the Belmont family, which I can honestly say even before getting into the gameplay mechanics. Selena moves much as several members of the Belmont and Tepes family do, though she uses a crossbow in place of the iconic whip. And while I'm not horrendously fond of it as a weapon, it does serve its purpose well enough and is even up-gradable through powerups found throughout the game, which allow Selena to increase her ammo capacity as well as perform several trick shots. However, aiming (done on the Xbox 360 with a push of the right stick) can be a bit of a pain in tight spots.
However, when the moonlight touches her skin, the true form of the beast bursts forth and Selena becomes a fully-fledged werewolf. With powerful claws, jaws, and leaps, she can maneuver around through the world with the greatest of ease. And, like in her humanoid form, one can even control her fall in mid-air, which is immensely helpful later on, especially when successful jumps mean avoiding insta-kill spikes and pit falls that...well, kill you. The werewolf form gets a few abilities as well, hidden carefully around for those willing to look.
These mechanics, do have a few drawbacks in a few areas. Namely Selena - both in werewolf and human form - having that Belmont family trait of falling back dramatically whenever they're hit by even the lightest of attacks. On the plus side, the wolf can actually jump again after being hit, something that can be used strategically to make jumps that would otherwise be impossible (or, at the very least, controller-throwingly difficult). Also, you really ought to be careful with jumping in general - the insta-kill spikes seem to stretch out a little closer than you think they do and while the death animation and scream is (unintentionally, I'm sure) hilarious, you will get tired of it very quickly.
While the atmosphere is thick and wondrous for setting a grisly mood, and the gameplay mechanics are decent, I do have to question the difficulty curve. While the game is fairly consistent throughout until the last two levels, it is there that they suddenly up the difficulty in the platforming to insane levels. Almost unforgivably insane levels. The early levels have hydraulic ram shafts in a Factory level that are easily worked around, but then in the later levels you have platforms that start crumbling upon landing on them, the aforementioned insta-kill spikes, and enemies that shoot projectiles that will see your careening off the platforms and into the spikes.
And that's to say nothing of the boss fights, which are all memorable in their own way. In particular the fights against Dracula and the Mummy were enjoyable. Then there comes the final fight against...well, without wishing to spoil, given Doctor Frankenstein it's pretty obvious what you're getting into...or at least you're made to think that starting out. And that is a fight that will truly test the mettle of the 'teh hardcore' crowd.
Oh, yeah, that's another thing. You're going to die. A lot.
Get used to seeing the loading screen of a werewolf claw coming up out of the grave, because you're going to see it.
A lot.
But, in a shining case of the Developer Thinks of Everything, they put little blurbs on the screens that are either helpful in game or helpful in keeping you from throwing your controller into the screen. Although, Scientifically Proven, if this was indeed an elaborate plan to challenge me to a nice game of chess you only had to ask.
If that is the case, then you guys have dressed up quite an invitation.
If I had to sum it up, it's a very excellent platformer that isn't afraid of what it's a homage to, as well as bringing a very unique and interesting style to a world that is already somewhat familiar to fans of horror. It brings the elements of well known horror fiction in with the gameplay from days gone by, blending it together in a way that has not been done so well since Castlevania.
I really do look forward to whatever Scientifically Proven pulls out next. Despite my minor issues with the game - the difficulty, some of the mechanics, and the gigantic hydraulic ram shafts that I've developed a healthy pathological fear of - this game is just good stuff, plain and simple. I look forward to the sequel that was totally left open and, if not, I'll be watching eagerly for the next game you guys make. And to anyone who is still wondering if I recommend this game, yes, yes I do.
Blood of the Werewolf is now available from Scientifically Proven Entertainment for Xbox 360 and PC.
This review is based on the Xbox 360 version.
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