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Blood cover art
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Blood

by Monolith Productions·published by GT Interactive Software

1997Mature31
PCDOS

Reader score

8.2/ 10

158 votes

Where to get it

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Trailer

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About

Caleb was once a feared gunslinger, until he met a woman who was involved with a mysterious cult known as Cabal. Caleb, too, is sucked in, and soon becomes one of the Chosen - the most favored worshippers of the evil god Tchernobog. But one day, Tchernobog inexplicably kills the four Chosen, including Caleb. Mysteriously resurrected years later, Caleb is out to get revenge, and learn why his lord cast him down so abruptly.

Blood is a first-person shooter with horror elements, which uses the Build engine. Similarly to Duke Nukem 3D, the environment is interactive: many objects can be physically moved or affected in other ways. Destruction of landscapes is possible (although only in specific spots), with bullet holes being left by misplaced shots. The Build engine version is 2.5D, so there are rooms above rooms and puzzles which are based on this.

The game consists of four episodes, each containing a set of maps that have to be traversed by the protagonist in a specific order. The levels are usually realistic-looking structures, e.g. a carnival complete with twisted attractions, a city district, a moving train, etc.

Throughout the levels, Caleb will have to find keys (up to six in a level) and hit switches in order to work his way to the exit. On the way, he will meet a variety of enemies, such as zombies that tend to come back to life after killed, cultists armed with shotguns and tommy guns that shout in pseudo-Latin language, crawling hands that attempt to choke him, hell-hounds that can set him on fire with their breath, and many more. Boss battles await Caleb at the end of each episode.

To defend himself against this menace, Caleb utilizes a variety of weapons: a pitchfork; a flare gun that can set enemies on fire; a sawed-off shotgun; a tommy gun; a napalm launcher; TNT bundles which come in three different varieties; a home-made flamethrower made of an aerosol can; a tesla cannon that electrocutes enemies; a magical staff dubbed "Life Leech"; and a voodoo doll.

There are items to pick up strewn around. Unlike most other 3D shooters, the protagonist's health is not replenished via medikits, but by "Life Essences", heart-like power-ups randomly dropped by enemies upon their death. It is also possible to find armor, which comes in three different varieties - Physical, Fire, and Spiritual, each one defending Caleb from different attacks. There are also other power-ups: some (such as Jumping Shoes or Doctor's Bag) can be picked up and activated at any time, while others (such as Partial Invisibility) activate immediately when taken.

As the title implies, violent and gory imagery plays a significant role in the game. Enemies might explode when taken out; it is possible to kick severed heads; impaled victims can be found lying around; enemies die in different ways depending on how they are attacked and in which part of their body, etc.

Ways to play

Modes

Single playerMultiplayer

Perspective

First person

Engine

Build

Editions

Blood: One Unit Whole Blood

Expansions

Mods

Death WishBloody Pulp FictionFrench MeatBloodLinesInherit the EarthHostile TakeoverFrench Meat 2SectantSectant 2Kill BillFleshed OutFate of the DamnedMarrowDead LettersThe Way of All Flesh-AgainFinal Alone in the DarkEvictionSomewhere Under the SeaBlood Chronicles Volume 1Blood Chronicles Volume 2Banzai's AddonThe CultThe Dreamwell Enigma: Barlington Estate

Included in

Blood: One Unit Whole Blood

Remastered as

Game details

Business Model

Shareware

Drivers/APIs Supported

Glide

Media Type

CD-ROM

Input Devices Supported/Optional

Gravis Gamepad, Keyboard, Mouse

Controller Types Supported

Analog Joystick

Multiplayer Options

IPX, Modem, Null-modem cable

Multiplayer Game Modes

Co-Op, Free-for-all / One-on-one (VS)

Number of Offline Players

1-2 Players

Number of Online Players

2-8 Players

Miscellaneous Attributes

3Dfx, Audio CD Tracks

System requirements

Min. CPU Class Required

Intel Pentium

Min. OS Class Required

MS-DOS 6.0

Min. RAM Required

16 MB

Min. CD-ROM Drive Speed Required

2X (300 KB/s)

Video Modes Supported

VGA

Sound Devices Supported

Adlib, General MIDI, Gravis Ultrasound / ACE, Pro Audio Spectrum, Sound Blaster, Sound Blaster AWE32

Box art

Also known as

Horror 3D — Working title

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Facts

Released

1997

Series

Blood

Platforms

PCDOS

Age ratings

ESRBMatureACBMA15+BBFC18

Standing

Top 4% by visits

Tags

1st-personShooterDirect controlEuropeFantasyNorth AmericaHorror