#BLUD on PS5
When imagination takes over, and we get the chance to live out our favourite fantasies, there will be many of us who would choose the path of vampire slaying for our next journey. But instead of it all being pretend, this is Becky Brewster’s new life in Carpentersville as she comes to terms with school, friends, family, and yes, the unholy coming of bloodsuckers, in #BLUD, a dungeon crawler/action RPG from Exit 73 Studios and Humble Games.
The first thing that stands out about this particular game is its art style, a distinctly awesome homage to the cartoons that many of us grew up watching, now in playable, vibrant form. From its hand-drawn characters to the over-the-top animations, this is quite literally a cartoon you can play, and it is charming all the way through.
Of course, looks alone won’t get you too far, and in #BLUD, the demonic infestation that gets kickstarted by an extremely successful social media company threatens Becky’s encouraging start to a new chapter in life. After learning of her mother’s past as a vampire hunter, the young girl takes on the mantle of saving the town alongside a colourful cast of allies and takes the fight to the undead.
This means plenty of blunt force trauma using a hockey stick that continues to gain new functionalities through limited upgrades, and the use of other tools like pencils and bombs to give you a ranged option. As players make progress across the game, enemies get more plentiful and offer varying degrees of danger. The normal combos may no longer work, forcing players to use more of their abilities, like a dodge roll or an umbrella shield, to open up opportunities to dish out the pain.
This simple formula gets plenty of time to shine as Becky goes about the semi-open world and dives into dungeons in this American town. Who knew school classrooms could be arenas for battles against vampires and that a sewer-fast travel system makes so much sense? And as each chapter comes to a close, the fights against the bosses are usually something to look forward to.
Uniquely designed not just visually but also in terms of combat mechanics, it is always a thrill to encounter the larger monstrosities that threaten to slow down our town-saving progress. The way the developers are able to stretch the imagination when it comes to giving Becky a fighting chance with her moveset and the bosses as well, the creative work is very much laudable, even if there are certain issues that come close to being a wooden stake in the heart of #BLUD.
For starters, the more melee-centric nature of combat means Becky always has to be near danger. That would usually be fine if players were up against just a single enemy, but the numbers game is never in your favour, which means the inconsistent attack timings can sometimes leave you open to a free hit. The fact that hit detection can vary wildly is also something that needs getting used to, making it harder to enjoy sending the vampires once more to their graves.
The dodging needs some tightening as well, never feeling quite right in getting you a sufficient distance away from enemy attacks or avoiding AoE attacks competently. And it might just be a preference, but Becky can feel a little too slow with her general movement, especially when you are trying to get to places fast and the sewers are locked up.
Puzzles that can help break up the monotony of constant combat are usually quite straightforward, too, with hints readily scattered in the vicinity for players to find. What doesn’t work as well are those that involve constant waves of enemies while trying to move stuff or even stealth sequences; those need to be slain immediately.
Thankfully, the strong, witty writing of #BLUD tends to pull it through most of the time. The banter between Becky and the people of Carpentersville is always a hoot, and the way the game skewers social media with its in-game use as both commentary and mission tracker is smartly delivered, even under the guise of a goofy cartoon.
With all the right ingredients and some questionable ones, #BLUD is well worth a look for anyone looking to enjoy a genuinely fun story and generally enjoyable combat. The sharp visuals don’t hurt either; just be ready for some occasional frustrations when the action gets too thick and heavy, even for the thirstiest of vamps.
#BLUD is available on the PSN Store for S$35.54.
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Summary
Vampires beware! #BLUD delivers a zany dungeon crawler oozing with style and brilliant writing, but watch out for those rough edges when it comes to combat and puzzles.
