The first Soul Reaver was badmouthed by many a gamer for repetitive and floaty game play concepts which were greatly improved for the second release. Unfortunately, Blood Omen’s development team didn’t learn much from the Soul Reaver fan-boy complaints as they have implemented almost exactly the game play style of Soul Reaver 1 leaving out the beautifully crafted environments, interesting enemies and intuitive combat system. The result is a trail of switches in need of pushin’ or pullin’ and levels filled with enemies in need of slaughterin’ and not much else.

70% of the game is combat sequences.  Much like Soul Reaver, Blood Omen 2 employs a lock on targeting system that helps keep Kain focused on the issue at hand.  Using various weapons found through out the levels Kain lashes out at his victims in constant need of blood to sustain his life force.  Also, in true vampire style, Kain can only take so much abuse before his rage meter fills up and he unleashes one of various special attacks.  Sadly, soon after the novelty of slashing up an innocent victim and sipping his blood from his body like a 3000-ounce bottle of brew wears thin there’s very little substance left to the game.

There are a few interesting game qualities to be had though. Kain collects abilities called dark gifts throughout the game and uses them creatively to pass certain parts of the game. There’s mist, charm, fury and berserk – the last of that will make Kain glow before releasing a high-speed attack on any unlucky foes.  Unfortunately, these dark gifts aren’t put to use imaginatively enough to reduce the monotony of hitting switches.

The sound and music are adequate but lose points given their uninspired environment – like putting perfectly good pastrami on moldy bread, no matter how good the pastrami is it’s tainted by association.  The slashing and combat sequences are reflect well audio wise and the eerie vampire music throughout is nice along with the voice acting during cut-scenes which is actually one of the game’s stronger points. At other points, like during boss battles, the lack of music or sound effects lends the game an anti-climatic effect that deducts from the completeness of the experience.

In the end Blood Omen 2 obviously rode the wave of Soul Reaver success all the way into retail and into many gamer’s homes.  A blatantly inferior title it parodies all that went wrong with Azriel’s adventure banking on the simple notion that gamer’s won’t know the difference or will be too fascinated by the constant bloodletting to notice the drop in quality.  Blood Omen is a perfect example of what the brainwashing qualities of advertisement can do. While it’s not the worst game ever it makes no effort to be anything but mediocre and lacks the overall environment and appeal that keeps gamers happy. A definite renter if you don’t believe me. Otherwise grab a copy of Soul Reaver 2 to slake your thirst for blood.

- Doug Flowe

(May 11, 2002)