We had the chance to get a peek at a new build of Vivendi Universal's upcoming Buffy the Vampire Slayer game, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds. The game follows on the heels of last year's promising Buffy the Vampire Slayer game from Electronic Arts and The Collective. This year's version is being developed by veteran studio Eurocom, whose recent conversions of Nightfire and Harry Potter have kept it busy on the latest batch of consoles. We took a look at the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox versions of the game to see how they're shaping up.

The story behind Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds follows the pattern of its predecessor in that it is being billed as a "lost episode" of the series. Buffy enthusiasts hoping to place it in the series chronology can catalog it as an episode from the fifth season that fits between episodes 17 and 18. The narrative follows Buffy and the gang as they work to deal with the combined threat of the First and Ethan Rayne. The story will actually tie into a Dark Horse comic of the same name due shortly before the game's release. The tale will have maximum fanboy appeal thanks to the time-tested sci-fi and fantasy device known as "the alternate universe." As a result, you'll see a variety of familiar faces during the adventure. Anyone looking for Dawn, however, may be disappointed that she is "away at camp" for this adventure.

The game will build on the previous Buffy game by offering more playable characters, a wider variety of moves, a multiplayer mode, and a variety of unlockable extras. The single-player game will offer six playable characters: Buffy, Faith, Spike, Willow, Xander, and Sid the dummy. The game's story will determine which character you play as during a level, in some cases requiring you to alternate between two players in order to clear an area. For example, in one section you'll start out as Buffy but will be joined by, and eventually switch to, Sid, who can access areas Buffy can't. The characters will each have their own set of moves. For example, Willow will be able to cast spells in addition to engaging in fisticuffs. Buffy and Faith will share some similarities due to their slayer abilities. Unlike in the previous game, Buffy won't be earning new slayer moves as she progresses--she'll gain new weapons instead. This time out Willow will be the one learning--she'll learn new spells as you go through the game. The gameplay will be similar to the previous Buffy game, although the ratio between hand-to-hand combat and puzzle elements will shift a bit. At present the game is expected to consist of roughly 60 percent action elements and 40 percent puzzle elements. The puzzles in the game are bit more involved this time and will require you to do more than find a key or a switch. In addition to offering a story-driven single-player game, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds will offer a multiplayer mode with four different game types: survival, bunny catcher, slayer challenge, and domination.

The game content will be beefed up by a solid helping of unlockable extras you'll gain by playing through the game. You'll be able to unlock 24 characters to use in the multiplayer mode as well as video segments that feature interviews with the game's cast. Speaking of the cast, you'll find most of the television show's cast voicing their virtual selves. Sarah Michelle Gellar and Alyson Hannigan are the only major no-shows. Fans will recognize the vocal stylings of Eliza Dushku, Anthony Stewart Head, Nicholas Brendon, James Marsters, and Amber Benson, who capably give voice to their alter egos.

The graphics in Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds are shaping up pretty well across the board. Eurocom is doing solid work on each of the platforms, with each version of the game featuring console-specific tweaks where possible. The PlayStation 2 game is look surprisingly solid, although there are some frame rate inconsistencies. The GameCube version is on par with the PS2 version, though it's a bit cleaner and has a few smaller visual touches. The Xbox version is the most visually striking, with an improved frame rate and more-refined special effects. Control is pretty solid in all versions of the game, though the PlayStation 2 version actually fares the best because of its controller. In spite of general issues with button placement, the game handles well and even has some new features, such as a "quick stake" button that actually helps the flow of combat.

From what we've seen so far, Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is coming together pretty well. The story and gameplay are solid, and the graphics do a fine job of re-creating the Buffy universe. At present all three versions of the game will feature roughly the same content, although the PlayStation 2 version of the game will feature an extra video interview with James Marsters. Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Chaos Bleeds is slated to ship this August for the GameCube, PlayStation 2, and Xbox. Look for more on the game in the coming months.

Source