If I had to name a few of my favourite things, they’d be vampires, comedic horror, meta-references, and cartoons. Now, imagine mashing all that together with one simple question: what sound does a vampire make when you hit it with a hockey stick? And boom! You get #Blud – one of the most underrated games I’ve ever played, and it hits harder than a pie to the face in a 90s cartoon.
Lately, I’ve been feeling like I’m living in a Rocko’s Modern Life episode – everything’s just been that good in the gaming world. It’s like I’ve been hanging out with Freakazoid; every game I pick up is wackier and more fun than the last, even if they’re totally different.
My latest obsession? #Blud. This game is packed with more in-jokes and meta-references than a Deadpool movie, with the same staying power and the ability to make my ice-cold, stone heart glow like Captain Planet at full power.
In #Blud, you step into the shoes of Becky, who’s like a cross between a Powerpuff Girl and Buffy the Vampire Slayer. By day, she’s your average school kid; by night, she’s a full-on vampire hunter, proving once again that even the coolest heroes need to worry about homework.
The game’s all about teaming up with a bunch of other schoolkids to protect your town from blood-sucking baddies, kind of like if the kids from Doug decided to swap out their schoolyard skirmishes for vampire-slaying adventures.
Becky is a character and a half, packed with enough sass to make Daphne Blake look like she’s lost in the Mystery Machine. She takes no prisoners and is more than capable of carrying a game that’s as funny as a Tiny Toon Adventures gag reel.
Sure, the story’s premise might not be groundbreaking, but it’s served up with a fresh twist and enough laughs to keep you entertained. It’s like a Rugrats episode: nothing too new, but delivered in a way that’ll have you laughing all the same.
One of the things that makes #Blud stand out from the crowd is how it handles quests, sidequests, and its story. Picture this: a sinister tech company is taking over the town, complete with its own social media platform and a creepy tech billionaire who’s straight out of a Dexter’s Laboratory villain playbook.
In a twist that feels like it’s lifted from any 90’s show ever, this social media platform becomes a key player in the game’s narrative. While playing, Becky posts photos to her feed, driving conversation, quest ideas, and advancing the story, kind of like if the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles used Instagram to fight crime.
You’ll also use this social feed to track available quests, making it feel less like a boring checklist and more like a Recess episode where the playground drama unfolds in real time. It’s a clever system that integrates seamlessly into the game, adding a whole new level of character and witty banter to what would otherwise be just another list of tasks.
From a gameplay perspective, #Blud is like a light RPG. You’ll be upgrading your magical skills and trusty hockey stick, which feels like taking your gear from Rocko’s Modern Life to Street Sharks levels of awesome. You also unlock tools like a grappling hook and the ability to throw pencils.
While the game is straightforward, it’s supercharged by its art style and writing. It’s set in a semi-open world, allowing you to revisit areas depending on the time of day and what shenanigans are going down.
You’ll have side quests to tackle, shops to check out, and coin collectables to snag – just like a classic Chip ‘n Dale: Rescue Rangers level. There are also a few secrets and different paths to explore, but overall, it’s pretty linear. Yet, that never once took away from the fun for me.
Another key part of #Blud is the combat, which starts off simpler than a Teletubbies episode but grows more complex and entertaining as you progress.
You’ll begin with just a basic attack button and an evade button, but as you level up, you’ll unlock more cool stuff, making combat more intricate and amusing.
Even when the game ramps up with boss battles, it’s like facing off against The Adventures of Super Mario Bros. 3’s Koopa Kids – you’ll always encounter a familiar pattern and sequence to learn and adapt from. This ensures the game always feels incredibly fair, even in its toughest moments.
What sets #Blud apart from everything else is its presentation. The game dives headfirst into an over-the-top Saturday morning cartoon style that’s packed with more 90s charm than a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles marathon.
Playing #Blud feels like you’ve been zapped into a cartoon from your childhood—except now you’re an adult navigating a world that’s tailor-made for you. The art style is as vibrant and bold as a Power Rangers Megazord, and the writing is sharp and constantly entertaining.
Overall, the experience feels like getting a front-row seat to a cartoon crossover event you never knew you needed, and it’s a game I truly can’t believe didn’t pack a bigger punch at launch.
Why Handheld? #Blud is a game that’s conveniently divided into chapters. It is also split into handy day-night cycles, meaning there are lots of great, natural stopping points. This makes it the perfect game to fill in that gap where you want to pull out your handheld and play something to get your fill but don’t have hours on end to commit. It’s also the type of game that childhood me would have wanted to play on a handheld so adult me is going to make sure that I do.
