We might usually refuse to evaluation a recreation with a hashtag in its title, however #BLUD is finally value writing about. This can be a top-down motion journey with a perfectly realised aesthetic, evoking robust Cartoon Community vibes. If you happen to’re a fan of the extremely stylised reveals that helped outline the 90s and 2000s for a lot of a millennial, then #BLUD’s visuals might carry your entire expertise throughout its 12-ish hour runtime.
You play as Becky Brewster, an particularly plucky woman who’s nearly to get began at a brand new college. However her first day on campus rapidly goes to sh*t when vampiric energies are unleashed, plunging the small city of Carpentersville into chaos. Luckily, Becky’s obtained vampire-slaying blood in her veins, and armed with an omnipotent hockey stick, she units off to smite the undead menace.
#BLUD takes place throughout a sequence of maps that cowl the varsity, city, and a bunch of dungeons that exist beneath floor. It is just about a standard Zelda recreation by way of construction, as you steadily acquire entry to new instruments which have makes use of each out and in of fight. There’s some barely tedious backtracking every so often, when your goal is not instantly clear, however general, its manageable runtime ends in a decently paced launch.
Fights are pretty primary to start with, however unlocking and upgrading your skills ultimately results in a pleasant issue curve, the place encounters get an increasing number of advanced with out feeling convoluted. That mentioned, there are some arenas that really feel tacky when it comes environmental hazards — the sort that’ll have you ever questioning the way you had been ever speculated to keep away from such risks with out prior data.
Fortunately, the sport’s boss battles are a spotlight — regardless of some questionable hitboxes. #BLUD’s at its greatest when its problem is derived from precisely-timed dodges and intelligent use of your skills — and clashes with large baddies are likely to carry these parts to the fore.
#BLUD’s not with out its drawbacks. Quest aims can appear imprecise, the fight takes some time to actually get going, and its dungeon design teeters into tedious territory at occasions. However enjoyable boss fights, a great sense of humour, and a fully killer artwork model could make you neglect all in regards to the missteps.