Once again it seems that I’ve scored a chance to review a game that’s part of a greater franchise while being completely ignorant of anything that came before it. While I would argue that having no dog in the fight would likely make my opinion much more objective, lacking any rose-colored glasses for the legacy of what came before, I could also see where people could choose to dismiss it on those grounds. So to those who feel that way I’ll bid you adieu, and move on to my thoughts on what I see as merely another game which may have an obvious sense of style, but comes up short on overall execution.

One thing I will say is that the flow of play here is actually unlike anything I can say I’ve played before. Rather than being a side-scrolling slasher in a more classic style, I’d say that more often than not this would qualify as maybe a flapping slasher? You see, while over the course of the game you’ll play as a few different characters, what stands out is the fact that you’ll get to play the part of a vengeful vampire, who’s here to suck blood and chew gum, but is all out of chewing gum. While the pretty rudimentary attack moves you possess may make for combat that’s repetitive more often than not, I can at least appreciate the opportunity to spray some blood while slaking your thirst and gaining back a little health. It’s messy, but at least it helps lend a somewhat unique feel to things on a very general level.

I suppose I do like the game’s sort of retro-gothic aesthetic, which somehow feels both of another time and yet moderately contemporary. The level design isn’t quite at the same level though, usually making you feel like you’re going through the motions, trying to take out enemies while not falling through the bottom. The verticality of the stages in some places makes for a little interest, as do some secrets that are hidden about, but more often than not your typical moments in the game begin to blend together all too quickly with a sense of general sameness that’s hard to shake. It would likely help greatly if you have deeper ties to prior games in the series, at least helping the story beats make a little more sense and adding some depth as well. Throw in a few annoying bugs I ran into over the course of play, and while the game’s look and feel are at least refreshingly different, it fails to stand up well against its peers in the space.