Buffy the Vampire Slayer (Xbox, 2002)

Gameplay:
The controls in Buffy the Vampire Slayer are so easy to get into that gamers will master the basic mechanics of it pretty quickly. Combat, on the other hand, takes a little practice in order to unleash Buffy’s true fighting style or Slayer Power moves. And Buffy’s fighting style changes constantly and that keeps the action from becoming repetitive and ultimately boring. Gamers will also come to rely on the help of her friends and people you just happen to save. Rescue a woman from a vampire and she’ll give you a health elixir or gather enough white power crystals for Wiccan-in-training Willow and she’ll give you power weapons such as vials of holy water.

Graphics:
The visuals are simply jaw dropping and seldom does a game’s graphics reduce me to a wide-eyed wonder as this game does. You won’t believe how gorgeous the backgrounds and surroundings are until you see the first mission or the levels that involve Sunnydale High. The details are numerous and you can see it in everything from the shadows cast by the moonlight to the crackling and dancing flames of a bonfire. And it’s almost eerily beautiful watching a vampire get dusted; the staked corpse rising a little as it disintegrates into dry brown ash. And, of course, there are the characters. Buffy is amazingly like her real counterpart while other recognizable characters such as Cordelia and Angel aren’t exact matches but they’re close enough that you’ll recognize them right away before they are properly introduced.

Sound:
Another amazing quality is the game’s sound that compliments the game’s rich visuals. Fans of the show will instantly recognize the show’s opening theme song at the beginning of the game and you can find that excellent score played throughout the game. You’ll swear you’re watching an episode from the show thanks to the fluidity of the score. And while Sarah Michelle Gellar does not bring life to Buffy (an impersonator does it and does it excellently), the other key cast members were all at hand to voice their perspective characters (Giles, Willow, Xander, Angel, Cordelia and even Spike). And kudos should go to the writer whose dialogue is scripted so all the characters sound the way they do on television.

Difficulty:
Since the controls are smooth and easy to handle, gamers can concentrate on perfecting their combat skills. Buffy isn’t all about punches and kicks, she can mix and match moves and unleash several different combos and fighting styles seen on the show. And the game also leaves gamers enough room for creativity, leaving it up to you to decide how to dispatch an enemy. The game’s puzzles are mostly put-this-stone-into-that-slot but that’s okay because the real challenge is the enemy itself. Various vampires fight differently and many of them actually pose a real threat to Buffy while demons can be a lot trickier to dispatch. Each level also throws in a boss that becomes more difficult to more you advance.

Concept:
Those gamers who are familiar with the show and its supernatural theme will be thrilled to be surrounded by familiar surroundings and interacting with familiar faces (and voices) such as the various characters that show up in the show. You’ll be amazed how close to the show this game really is and how sometimes it seems as if you’re truly playing a lost episode. You don’t have to be a fan of the show to enjoy this action packed game that, aside from looking really good, is both fun and highly addictive.

If you're a Buffy fan and a gamer, you will probably love this game even if it's the first time you've played it after all these years. While not terribly innovative, there are some nice gameplay designs like Buffy's fighting combos, and moving her is far more natural and easy than, say, most of the early Tomb Raider games. Weapon selecting is a bit dodgy, but not prohibitive. The most enjoyable thing for Buffy fans is that most of our main friends return to voice the characters - Hannigan, Head, Brendon, Carpenter, & Marsters are all here. What's more surprising is that, while Gellar is absent, they cast an incredibly workable replacement. She has her own distinct voice from Gellar, but it's similar and she has Buffy's cadence down. For someone NOT Gellar, it's hard to find fault.

This is unquestionably worth playing for gamers who are Buffy fans, and likely worth the time of those who aren't who like 3rd person action/adventure games. Where adaptations of TV shows and movies are notoriously spotty, developer Double Helix games does an admirable job with Buffy.

i just brought this game , i know its been out for a long time and im really way behind :) but i finally got it and i love it , the game has all the real voices from the real characters of the show which really helps to bring the game to life and just like in the series you have spike and all the same people from the show , buffy herself has the same sence of humor and gets to really kick vampire but and of course she carries stakes to take out her vampire enemies and turn them into dust , you kick but in her high school ,in the gym library , you can free roam almost anywhere in the school , minus some locked doors in the building, i love it im waiting for the second buffy to arrive in the mail, i dont even know what else to say accept all the characters from the game are exactly as the are in the series , cordelia is still stuck up and snotty , ect if you loves the series i really believe you will love the game its just as good i hope i have helped , and i hope you purchase and enjoy it, happy gaming :)

I enjoyed the game a lot, although it isn't quite as good as the later Buffy game Chaos Bleeds. In that game, the fighting system is better; you can stake vampires dead after just tossing them to the ground. In this one, you can only stake them dead after you reduce their energy level to zero. It's a minor difference, but it makes the battles noticeably harder.

Chaos Bleeds is also better because it allows you to play not only Buffy but also Willow, Xander, Spike and Faith. Still, I enjoyed the storyline which takes place during Season 3 involving the return of the Master. It was fun to explore locations such as the high school and Angel's mansion. It was also great fun to be able to battle Spike. I definitely recommend this game!

This game is not only classic but if you are a fan of the series it creates the mood of the show very well wether by the amazing voice work, the awesome sounds directly from the series or the art style that is truly Buffy. A must have for series fans and just so you know, it also plays on the xbox 360.