Vampire games fill a particular niche in many players' hearts. They can be surprisingly versatile, from roleplaying titles like the upcoming Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York to action-oriented titles like Legacy of Kain.
Among the action vampire titles, many players immediately think of Castlevania. But there's another series that has lain dormant for many years that once commanded huge attention: BloodRayne. Following a female half-vampire named Rayne as she battles Nazis and uncovers ancient artifacts, the games held a Lovecraft meets Indiana Jones feel. Now, both original BloodRayne titles are getting a re-release, and many improvements have been made to the once smash-hit titles.
Players have known for a little while that BloodRayne 1 & 2 are getting updated versions, but only now is their release on the horizon. Both games have Steam pages listing their release dates, and they go live on November 20 on Steam and GOG as BloodRayne: Terminal Cut &Â BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cut. Each game is a remastered version of the original, with updated graphics and cutscenes. Designed to run smoothly on Windows 10 and other modern computer systems, these games are meant to reinvigorate a series that has lain dormant for 16 years.
Even among games that let players be vampires, a few things have always made the BloodRayne titles stand out, one being the protagonist. Similar to Blade, Rayne is acrobatic and deadly in combat. She brings impressive blade work to bear against foes, which results in some really, really bloody combat.
Enemies in BloodRayne games have messy deaths, whether Rayne is draining them directly or chopping off their limbs and letting them bleed out. When it comes to the new updates, players can be sure that these blood effects have been updated, as they were one of the most distinguishing aspects of the BloodRayne franchise.
Unlike the original titles, it doesn't look like publisher Ziggurat will be bringing the new BloodRayne versions to consoles. Players can find the original BloodRayne on the Xbox One, but it's a Steam or GOG version that players will want, as anyone with a Steam or GOG version of the original games will get their Terminal Cut free.
Hopefully, these new, updated versions quench BloodRayne's fans' thirst for new games, at least until actual new BloodRayne titles emerge, if they ever do. Provided the gameplay is good enough, maybe it will make players forget about the Uwe Boll adaptation of the franchise.
BloodRayne: Terminal Cut and BloodRayne 2: Terminal Cut launch for PC on November 20.