GamerSpeak:
It's Raining Vampires on Xbox LIVE
Published July 27, 2007
She's an Xbox Ambassador, an original Xbox GamerchiX member, a forum moderator, and a 2007 graduate of Augusta State University. Chrissylas306 recently tried out the joys of hunting Nightwalkers on Xbox LIVE® in the game Vampire Rain™. She had a great experience with the multiplayer options of the game, and tallied some nice achievements during the process.
Chrissylas306 and the Godfather of Soul.
Multiplayer Vampire Rain
In Artoon Software's new game, Vampire Rain, you are charged with entering a town and exterminating all of its unwanted night-walking vampiric guests. Unfortunately, since this title is often thought of as being a single-player game, the multiplayer aspect is generally discounted. Vampire Rain has quite a lot to offer those in search of a fun evening of multiplayer gaming. As every Xbox 360™ addict knows, achievements are the name of the game and Vampire Rain offers 750 achievement points available for the taking via Xbox LIVE.
Gamers venturing into the Xbox LIVE tab on the main menu will be greeted with several different choices. There are eight multiplayer modes including Deathmatch, Death or Nightwalkers, Capture the Flame, and Destroy. Each match supports eight players, and is available as a solo venture in addition to a team multiplayer option. The game ships with four maps, Factory, Hotel Under Remodeling, Gravel Pit, and Warehouse.
At the conclusion of five games, I'd netted four separate
achievements and earned a cool 200 points.
Team Deathmatch
The first match I jumped into was Team Deathmatch. It was Blues against Reds in Hotel Under Remodeling. I sensed trouble when the guys on the other team were talking about a new "secret" spot that they'd found. Apparently my teammate also sensed trouble, because he bailed about four minutes into the 30-minute long match. Perhaps I should have played a little bit of the single campaign before jumping on Xbox LIVE. I wish I could say that, despite my inexperience, I won the match. Well, I could say it, but it would be a bold-faced lie.
"I have never met a vampire personally,
but I don't know what might happen tomorrow."
— Bela Lugosi
After my teammate left, it was open season and I was the prey. With 20 minutes left to go, I finally gained some proficiency with the controls, but my newfound ability to fight was not enough to keep the final score from reading Blues 35, Reds 6. While my 5 kills in the match doesn't seem like much, I'm particularly proud of them, since the other team consistently stayed together and outflanked me during the round.
Death or Nightwalkers
Next stop on the multiplayer trail was Death or Nightwalkers. This is the best mode offered by far. The object is to reach a predetermined score designated by the host, and each kill is assigned a certain number according to the status of the victim. Killing a competitor while he or she is a Nightwalker will net you more points than killing a normal human. Playing as a Nightwalker provides several advantages and disadvantages. The Nightwalker has increased speed and superior jumping ability, but is limited to short range attacks. Conversely, the human player can climb ladders and pipes obtaining unique weaponry along the way. This adds an interesting dynamic to the match because although the Nightwalker is significantly more powerful in a hand-to-hand fight, the human can climb a water tower and pick off opponents from the safety of the top of the tower.
It's quiet out there. Too quiet. And creepy.
Capture the Flame
Capture the Flame is essentially the same as the traditional capture the flag with one major exception. The good guys at Artoon made it more interesting by dispensing with the flag, and instead setting the player on fire, and having him run back to the base while covered in flames. I definitely find it much more interesting to see a guy running across the map like a moving bonfire, as opposed to simply carrying a flag.
Not so quiet any more.
At the conclusion of five games, I'd netted four separate achievements and earned a cool 200 points. The rest of the multiplayer achievements look as if consistent players would easily obtain them in a few days.
I honestly wasn't sure what to expect when I first popped Vampire Rain into my system. The premise of the game is undeniably different from most of the offerings available right now, which gives it a powerful advantage. Although I haven't spent very much time with the single-player aspect of the game, the multiplayer modes are definitely where the action is. The majority of achievements are focused on online play which leads me to believe that the developers fully expect the players to spend most of their time there. So if you're looking for a fun third-person action game with a strong online mode, give Vampire Rain a try.
Article by Christina Peck
