There have been three "BloodRayne" movies since the last game was released in 2005, and all of them were directed by Uwe Boll. Do you need any more indication than that of how far the series has fallen? It's a shame too; after all, we're talking about a gun-toting vampiress with blades strapped to both of her arms. Majesco, the series' publisher, has been so busy reaping the rewards of "Cookin' Mama" that its forgotten all about Rayne and her badassery. No longer, though. Rayne is coming back THIS summer, and she's got a brand-new 2-D side-scrolling outfit to show off to all of her fans in "BloodRayne: Betrayal."
"Betrayal" is being developed by WayForward, the same folk who did the Nintendo DS revival "Contra 4" and the 2009 Wii comeback, "A Boy and His Blob." If there's any studio that can figure out how to repackage Rayne's adventures for present-day audiences, it's WayForward.
The dev team is certainly striking out in a different direction, shifting away from a full-blown disc-based release for a digital download that will be coming to Xbox Live Arcade and PlayStation Network "this summer." The 3-D environments and third-person action are gone too, replaced with a 2-D side-scrolling setup.
The story follows Rayne as she is convinced to join with the Brimstone Society for one, last vampire-hunting mission. She'll have a new companion along for the ride -- co-op anyone? -- but there are no details about who this mystery character is. The press release announcing the game promises new characters, "gruesome environment puzzles" and an array of weapons, including, of course, Rayne's arm blades.
"It's been a long time since Rayne captivated players with her bold mix of brutality and beauty, and fans have been hounding us to release another BloodRayne installment," Majesco Entertainment CEO Jesse Sutton said in the press release. "We are excited to once again partner with the creative and committed team at WayForward to bring Rayne back. 'BloodRayne: Betrayal' delivers the action-packed experience franchise fans have been waiting for in a digital format that's also accessible for new players unfamiliar with Rayne's over-the-top, stylized gameplay."
There is an official website up, complete with a teaser trailer, but the emphasis there is definitely on "tease." No screens, no gameplay beyond what you read above, nothing. With a summer release date expected though, we'll certainly be hearing more before long.