Blade (2013 video game)

***Blade*** (also known as ***Blade 2013*** or alternatively called ***Blade: It Takes One to Kill One***) is a hack and slash action-adventure video game co-developed by Hammerhead and Mucky Foot Productions and published by Activision. Based on the Marvel Comics character of the same name, it draws inspiration from the comic mythos, Blade film series, and anime series produced by Madhouse. In the game's storyline, Blade comes into conflict with the mysterious multinational conglomerate known as "Genesis", led by a man known as Lucas Cross. Cross makes a pact with the overlord of the Vampire Nation in order to obtain the Darkhold and only Blade can stop them.

Played from a third-person perspective, *Blade* is a 3D brawler with platforming elements. The player has complete control over what kind of attack Blade executes, using hits, kicks, and sword slashes against various enemies. Blade can also block, chain attacks together into combos and perform "finishing moves", such as grabbing an enemy in a headlock and driving a stake into their head. Most levels culminate in a boss fight, which become more frequent as the game progresses. He has a small arsenal of weapons to arm himself with courtesy of Whistler. Blade always has his trademark sword but can also use his fists as well as a variety of firearms including pistols, shotguns, and machine pistols. Each firearm has three different types of ammunition: standard, explosive, and silver, each with its own effect on different enemies.

The game received critical acclaim, particularly for its combat and the performance of Wesley Snipes (who reprised the role he originated in 1998). It was tied for the highest-rated video game of 2013 according to review aggregator Metacritic, and was the recipient of several awards from media outlets. It is considered one of the greatest video games of all time and a massive improvement over the first two video games based on the character. A sequel, Blade: Blood & Shadow, was released in 2022.

## Gameplay

Played from a third-person perspective with an over-the-shoulder camera angle, *Blade* is a 3D brawler with platforming elements. The player has complete control over what kind of attack Blade executes, using hits, kicks, and sword slashes against various enemies ranging from familiars (humans that do a vampire's bidding), vampires, zombies, monsters, killer dogs, and other creatures of the night. Blade can also block, chain attacks together into combos and perform "finishing moves", such as grabbing an enemy in a headlock and driving a stake into their head. Most levels culminate in a boss fight, which become more frequent as the game progresses. He has a small arsenal of weapons to arm himself with courtesy of Whistler. Blade always has his trademark sword but can also use his fists as well as a variety of firearms including pistols, shotguns, and machine pistols. Each firearm has three different types of ammunition: standard, explosive, and silver, each with its own effect on different enemies.

Combat relies on three options - light attacks, heavy attacks, and grabs. Blade can also use the environment to his advantage, such as by impaling foes on spikes or immolating them. During combat, Blade's rage meter builds up, and when full allows him to use more devastating attacks, like the rage mode, which increases Blade's overall strength until his Rage Meter empties. Experience (XP) is collected from defeating enemies, destroying elements and accumulating collectibles. The XP is used to level up, and each new level results in gaining skill points, which are used to purchase upgrades. The game also has a New Game + feature.

## Plot

In Moscow, Blade and Whistler track down a nest of vampire who've been terrorizing a crime-ridden neighborhood in the city. Blade discovers that the vampires are under the control of a witch who he dispatches after she informs him of a prophecy involving the Darkhold. With the witch vanquished, Blade and Whistler are visited by a mysterious Dhampir named Iyanla Tepes who requests their help in stopping the prophecy. While initially reluctant, Blade ultimately agrees after learning innocents lives are at stake. The trio then travel to Japan where the Darkhold is rumored to have been purchased by an industrialist named Kenuichio Harada.

In Japan, Blade infiltrates the Yashida Zaibatsu and eavesdrops on a meeting between Harada and Lucas Cross, the CEO of the multinational company Genesis. Harada refuses to sell the Darkhold to Cross which offends him. However, Cross politely leaves, surprising both Blade and Harada. Blade continues on to retrieve the Darkhold but the building is placed in a lockdown protocol and attacked by the Kobejitsu vampire clan. Fighting through hordes of vampire, Blade comes face to face with Harada who refuses to part with the Darkhold and engages Blade. Blade exploits a weakness in Harada's armor and kill him, only to find the Darkhold stolen by the vampire. Blade narrowly escapes the authorities and meets with Iyanla shortly after. Iyanla informs Blade that Cross has made a deal with the overlord of the Vampire Nation in exchange for something arcane. Blade reveals he may know an expert on the Darkhold and its contents, leaving Whistler and Iyanla headed for Louisiana while he departs for New York.

In New York, Blade goes to the Sanctum Sanctorum to seek out Stephen Strange, the Sorcerer Supreme for information on the Darkhold. He finds the Sanctum abandoned and derelict, a shadow of its former self. Defensive, Blade investigates this demonic, shadow version of the sanctum, finding it densely populated with demons. Battling the demons and attempting to determine their origins, Blade discovers the sanctorum's skylight, which bears the *Seal of Vishanti,* is broken; allowing the demons entry. Only the return of the *Book of Vishanti* will return the Seal and banish the demons back to Hell. Blade descends further into the hellish version of the sanctorum to find it. Blade's trek into the inner sanctum takes him into a Hellscape where he finds Mephisto who has been torturing Doctor Strange for the location of the Darkhold. Blade confronts Mephisto, demanding to know the importance of the Darkhold and its proximity to "the prophecy". Mephisto explains that the Vampire Nation needs the Darkhold to awaken an entity known as *Varnae;* a foe he claims Stephen Strange has intimate knowledge of*.* Blade engages Mephisto, intent on freeing Strange; the two battle and Blade uses a forbidden sword technique to critically wound the demon. Mephisto begrudgingly accepts defeat and releases Strange. Blade brutally rips the *Book of Vishanti* from Mephisto's clutches who threatens his soul and Blade simply replies, " I ain't Johnny Blaze". The return of *Book of Vishanti* reverts the sanctum back to normal, restoring the seal and dispelling the demons. The weakened Doctor Strange ascends into the sanctum and Blade follows with his katana unsheathed, aggressively demanding information on Varnae from Strange. Strange reveals to Blade that Varnae is sought after by Vampire Nation because it is an ancient vampire god, possibly the first vampire and a progenitor of Dracula. Before Blade departs, Strange informs him that prophecy involving the Darkhold spoke of the *Daywalker*'s death and the "rise of eternal night".

Shortly after, Blade returns to Louisiana to rendezvous with Whistler and Iyanla. Blade and Iyanla apprise each other of the respective information they've learned with Iyanla revealing that Cross was spotted in Madripoor where Genesis is rumored to have a top-secret laboratory. Blade readies his arsenal and prepares to depart but is stopped by Iyanla who insists that she accompany him. Blade initially refuses until Whistler reveals that he feels they can truly trust Iyanla. More trusting but still reluctant, Blade allows Iyanla to join him in Madripoor. The two board a private plane as Whistler wishes them luck.

Upon arrival in Madripoor, Blade and Iyanla descend into a warzone, becoming separated in the chaos. Blade is ambushed by criminals who disorient him with car bomb and steal his weaponry. Upon regaining consciousness in the care of a hermit, Blade tracks down the cabal of criminals and fights his way through their stronghold, reclaiming his weapons. Using the access tunnel hidden the factory, Blade proceeds to the Genesis facility hidden beneath the city. Inside the facility, Blade is forced to use stealth to find Iyanla, taking down vampires disguised as paramilitary soldiers. Blade discovers Iyanla, locked away in a dungeon, where she reveals that Cross isn't trying to awaken Varnae but something far more dangerous. After releasing her, the two find the ceremonial chamber where Cross is harboring the Darkhold. A vampire known as Dragonetti allows Blade and Iyanla into the chamber after informing that "no one can control the Darkhold" before departing the facility. Blade and Iyanla engage the vampire monks officiating the ceremony as Cross unveils himself among them. Cross begins the ritual while callously notifying Blade that he is attempting to re-imprison Varnae inside of the Darkhold. This confuses Blade who quickly realizes Iyanla is Varnae, the *mother* of Dracula. However, she has no memory of her life and previous battles with Doctor Strange. The ritual restores Iyanla's memory against her will, transforming her into a large, raging vampiric monster who attacks Blade with tendrils, causing Cross to risk his life to save him. Angered by her true nature, Blade engages the monstrous Iyanla. The battle is grueling and Blade's arsenal mostly has no effect on the transformed Iyanla, whose psyche reemerges through the monster, pleading for Blade to destroy her. Blade fends her off with his katana and uses the Darkhold to separate the two, splitting them into individual entities. The incantation takes a devastating toll on Iyanla's body as Varnae is imprisoned within the Darkhold. Sullen, Blade surveys the facility's destruction and departs with Iyanla's body in his arms.

Later that night, Dragonetti and members of the Vampire Nation infiltrate the facility and retrieve the Darkhold.

## Development

Team members from both Hammerhead and Mucky Foot Productions were brought in 2011 to help with the game's development. Blur Studio provided all of the CGI cutscenes for the game. The music for the game was composed by RZA.

## Reception

Reviews of the game have been mostly positive. GameRankings gave it a score of 86.13% for the PlayStation 3 version, 87.14% for the Xbox 360 version and 90.17% for the Microsoft Windows version. While, Metacritic gave it 83 out of 100 for the PlayStation 3 version, 86 out of 100 for the 360 version, and 89 out of 100 for the Microsoft Windows version. Many praised the free flow combat system, a mechanic taken from the *Blade II movie game* and revamped. The system did not initially receive praise in 2002 but was later taken and used in the Batman: Arkham series which, in turn, inspired other games but the system was originated by *Blade*. Other elements that received praise included the stealth mechanics, comic-inspired visuals, enemy AI, and challenging difficulty, making the game's replay value high. Empire was very enthusiastic about the game, giving it five stars out of five, praising the voice acting and design. It received G4's award for 'Best Graphics on PS3'.

## Sequel

Due to the game's success, a sequel was announced in 2014 but the development stalled. In 2017, Sony Computer Entertainment attempted to gain exclusivity to the Blade license and hope for a sequel died down. However, with the success of the Marvel Cinematic Universe and Spider-Man PS4, talks of a new Blade game were revealed by Game Informer. A direct continuation, titled *Blade: Blood & Shadow*, developed by the original Hammerhead team with a was released in 2022 for the PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X.