Customer Reviews

Blood Omen 2

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(23)
3 star:		(11)
2 star:		(6)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I was very excited to get BO2 as I have been playing the series since the beginning. And when I played Soul Reaver 2 for PS2 I was even moe excited for BO2 since I loved SR2. But I picked it up the other day and was rather disappointed. First off, let me say that I didn't hate the game. It's a decent game and true to the storyline. However, it looks like this game was thrown together in a big rush. There are many problems within this game. First and Foremost I thought the graphics were rather sub-par when considering the PS2's capabilities. The characters could have been much more detailed and the lands are rather bland and boring. Nothing too incredible in this department. Also, there are some quite annoying frame slow downs all through out the game. Just out of nowhere the FPS will just slow down rapidly for a few seconds and then speed back up again. It isn't the worst thing that could happen but is annoying. Also, I thought the gameplay was a little rough. Could have been smoother and more fluid.

Overall, not a terrible game but could have been a lot better. For those of you who are Legacy of Kain veterans, I would say, play it for the storyline but for those who are new to the series, I would stay away as there are much better games of this type you could be playing. Either way, I recommend renting it before buying it.

Let's face facts: the only real saving grace for this game is the story, which is amazing. For fans of the series, this installment is required playing to find out what's going on; however, the game itself is very lackluster. The graphics, while nice, are nothing to write home about (although the level design is pleasant), and the gameplay has a lot to be desired. The combat system, although a nice step in the right direction, needs serious work, and the camera can be disorienting, as it's locked directly behind you at all times. The camera is also unfortunate in that for 90% of the game (with the exception of FMVs) you are stuck staring directly at Kain's back. The puzzles in this game are also relentlessly monotonous and boring (pull the switch, follow the green light to the door).

What you end up with is a game that has nothing to offer to anyone other than fans of the series. It seems as if the developers made the game to try out a bunch of different gameplay ideas that they had, rather than attempt to develop a game that could stand on its own merit. There are plenty of better games in the genre, so, unless you are a Kain fan like myself, look elsewhere.

From what I had heard of this game from my friends, I expected to be glued to the Ps2 for hours or even days till I finished this "best game ever." Then I realized something... this is definately not the best game ever. While the idea of slicing the heads off mutant creatures and rogue vampires and then drinking their blood seemed appealing, I soon found that that is all you do!!! This game is extremely monotonous and don,t get me wrong, I love hack and slash but this game is not even worth the [money] they are asking. Go rent it.

I was figuring this game would be another Soul Reaver(and in some respects it is)but I was pleasantly surprised. This game is fairly linear(not so much wandering around) and it drips with personality. You can't help but dig Kain and his arrogant attitude. I sat night after night playing through this game just to see what happens next in the storyline. Each level has such a high amount of detail that you'll find yourself stopping, every now and then, just to admire the scenery. I'll admit, it's not without its' flaws(collision detection, choppiness) but there's not enough of it to take away from the whole gameplay experience. Blood Omen 2 is a brilliantly thought out game, one well worth the experience of playing though. I think the thing I loved most about it was the thrill of the fight. About halfway through the game, those guys you go up against get harder to beat. So, when you do beat them, you feel like you've accomplished something. You owe it to yourself to check out this game. You'll be glad you did.

If you are a fan of the first Blood Omen for the PS1, or a fan of the Soul Reaver games, then this game is for you. Rich atmosphere surrounds a story of ambition, and betrayal. Kain, the ultimate anti-hero, leads the gamer though a labyrinthine city built on corruption and dispair, pausing only momentarily to feed on Meridian's hapless victims. If you like your games Goth, with a twist of dark humor, Blood Omen 2 is your ticket. Excellent graphics, with only the occasional hiccup, solid voice acting, and a rich musical score await those brave enough to follow Kain on his journey. You will love it every step of the way.

I have read a lot of the other reviews and it seems that a lot of people are fans of the series. I am not. I am a fan of Kain, the cruelst, most vicious, badass ever to grace a gaming system. I personally think that the Soul Reaver games were nothing more than alternative versions of the Tomb Raider series, with boring block pushing and weak soul-sucking combat. Eidos seems to keep making the same game over and over again and I don't think Blood Omen 2 is an exception. The first installment of the Legacy of Kain series was Blood Omen and I think that it was one of the finest games ever created. The storyline was one of the most original and entertaining ever conceived and I credit this with the fact that the story did not have to be translated from another language. Another major plus of the game was the ability to morph into Wolf, Mist, and Bat (you couldn't actually play as a bat, but you could assume the form to fly all over Nosgoth) forms. There was also an incredible array of spells such as flay and implode, which allowed for some of the most gruesome demises ever and weapons such as mace, swords, dual axes, and the now infamous Soul Reaver. All of these things added to one of the most fascinating and exciting gaming experiences ever. But by far the best element of the entire game was it's main character Kain. Tragically slain, then reborn in the form of a blood sucking vampire seeking only one thing, Vengeance and later Domination, but that's another story. Kain roamed the countryside of Nosgoth slaying anything that stood in his way, including peasants who only served to satiate his unending need for blood. If you played your cards right you could make it through the entire game with out losing your life and isn't that how a game should be? Long enough and entertaining enough to get your money's worth, without having to throw in a series of tedious puzzles or inescapable deaths to slow your progress. Hypothetically, if you die even once during a game can you technically be victorious? Anyway, enough of the first game and I'll let the other fans who enjoy the Soul Reaver games to talk them up. Blood Omen 2 once again allows you to control the king of all characters, Kain and that may be the best part of this game. Kain is still wonderfully voiced and a remorseless, power hungry, bloodsucking, fiend! This is an action game, and on that level it is entertaining, but flawed in that all the enemies you face can use varied attacks, while yours stay pretty limited by your Rage Guage, which is only increased when you block others attacks. Kain is certainly not as tough as he was in the first game, which is explained by his untimely defeat at the hands of the Sarafan Lord, who now possesses Kain's old weapon, the Soul Reaver. Kain gets tougher as the game progresses, as each boss or unique level adds to your Dark Gifts. The puzzles are easy, most opponents can be dispatched easily with stealth or with careful manuevers during combat and even the bosses aren't too tough once you figure out the strategy. But, the game does move and blood does spill by the gallon (something that was seriously lacking in the Soul Reaver games). All the problems that were discussed in other reviews are present and frustrating. The frame-rate problems and constant glitches sometimes make you wonder why you spent, so much money on a PS2 when you could experience the same problems a lot cheaper with a PS1. The bottom line is that if you are of tired similar game-play, you won't be impressed with this game, but if you are a fan of Kain, it's definitly worth the price of admission. And if I had to choose I would take Kain over Raziel any day of the week, but let's face it, in the end the bad guy never wins.

Well, I bought Blood Omen 2 three days ago, and it offered three days of fun and excitement. Here, you once again take up the mantle of vampire dominance, playing as their leader Kain. Kain has been laid low by a mysterious being called the Sarafan lord, who has revived the vampires ancient enemy and is beginning the purges anew. As Kain, you must regain your former glory and defeat the Sarafan lord, retrieving your dark blade, the Soul Reaver, in the process. The voice acting is good (as usual), and the gothic environs really mesh well with the dark tone of the game. However, as is the case with Soul Reaver 2, the game is a bit too short. I wish that Eidos would flesh out the world of Nosgoth a bit, and not merely add to the mythos surrounding Kain...
Oh, and for the fool below, Soul Reaver 2 WAS a cliffhanger, and playing all of the games from the beginning doesn't change this fact. However, Blood Omen 2 does answer one of the questions we are left to ponder at the end of SR2: the identity of the mysterious Hylden, whom Kain seems to fear at the end of SR2. However, could someone tell me why Vorador is still alive in BO2? Don't give me some stupid reason, either; I HAVE played all of the games...
Anyway, back to the game, I think it deserves a purchase (it is fun to play again), but I am still disappointed with the brevity of the quest.

I'm a total fan of the Blood Omen series. This is a good play, but the graphics will leave a bit to be desired. One of my roommates was joking, "Is this really for the PS2?" lol. So aside from the graphics detraction, there are plenty of morsels in the game to keep any gamer enthused. Definitely pick up a copy!!

When I read about this game, I thought the idea of playing a vampire was intriguing. I had never played the first Blood Omen game which was released in 1996, so I didn't know what the series was all about. Your character, Kain, was cast down by a mysterious warlord centuries ago, and has now reawakened to seek vengeance. The game is very violent and not for the weak of heart. Since you play a vampire, you must drink blood to survive. If this isn't morbid enough, for the early levels, you must rely on killing innocent villagers for blood, and their screaming and pleading for mercy was almost enough for me to quit playing. However I kept with it, and in the higher levels, you rarely need to feed on innocent people for survival.

What I liked about this game was it's challenging, but not overly frustrating. You can pick up weapons from dead enemies to help with your battles. There are many different enemies, including demons, knights, thieves, and more. Their difficulty to kill, range from painfully easy to incredibly challenging. Fortunately, you get to save your game at each checkpoint, and checkpoints are pretty plentiful throughout the game. There are 11 chapters total, each with 2 or 3 objectives to fulfill. The puzzles are pretty easy to figure out, but a couple of times I did have to consult my strategy guide for help.

The sound effects and music in this game were well made. During battles, the music would speed up to give you some good fighting music. The sound effects were realistic and added immensely to the gameplay. The voice acting was actually very good and professional. Simon Templeman does the voice of Kain, whom I have seen guest star in a few TV shows, and I could hardly believe it was him. His voice talent brought so much to the character of Kain, and I have to say I was quite impressed. Kain's nemesis, the Sarafan Lord (the ultimate boss of the game), is voiced by Earl Boen, probably best known for playing Dr. Silberman in the Terminator movies. He is a talented actor, and was a wonderful choice for the role. We all know bad acting can really spoil a good game, but the acting in Blood Omen 2 added a great deal to the plot and gameplay. The graphics in the game were very good as well. They were very detailed and beautifully rendered on each level. There was lots to see and take in, making certain areas of the locales quite memorable.

All in all, if you are used to violent games and can handle it, I would recommend Blood Omen 2. It's sort of a RPG/Action/Horror game, and it's sure to keep you busy for days. A very interesting game with lots of action and even spells to cast. I really enjoyed it.

This series keeps getting worse. The first game, for the PS1, was good. The second in the series, Soul Reaver, was fairly entertaining. The third, Soul Reaver II, was so-so, but far too short. Blood Omen II is just plain bad. On the plus side, the urban feel of the level design is a nice change from the rest of the series where the developers focused more on ancient ruins, canyons, and forests. On the down side, game play is sluggish, at best. The controls are not responsive, making fight sequences tedious. The dialog during the cut scenes is totally off. I don't mean by a second or two, I'm talking about voices coming from the wrong characters. Sometimes the soundtrack is nonexistent. On top of that, ambient sounds have a tendency to get stuck in a loop, repeating themselves over and over, drowning out every other sound. The only remedy is to restart the game. I have also had some problems with the graphics. On occasion, when I enter a new area, the entire screen, aside from Kain, goes blank. Once again, the only effective remedy I have found is to restart the game. I've used other discs on my console, so I know my system isn't on the blink. Last, but not least, this game suffers from the curse of mandatory cut scenes. I'm tired of having to sit through long, drawn out movies with no bypass option every time I replay a section of the game. I really wish I could give this game a better review, seeing that the developers must have put some sort of time and effort into making it, but I can't