Corpse Party: Blood Drive Critic Reviews

What horror games should be. Genuinely unsettling, smart, and intense, it is rare that a horror game aims to break past the jump scares and combat-heavy gameplay and simply tell a creepy story, so it's a small miracle that not only does Corpse Party try, it also largely succeeds.

A clear love letter to J-Horror games of decades past, incorporating common horror tropes while also presenting its own fresh ideas.

Blood Drive marks a largely transitional time in the series, and despite its minor flaws, still manages to be a shining example for the genre and provides a satisfying end to the “Heavenly Host” saga that has endured for decades.

I'm not sure what caused it, but I definitely did not have the same sense of dread and fear in Corpse Party: Blood Drive. It's definitely an improvement over Book of Shadows, and worth playing to end the Heavenly Host saga, but know that it's going to have some flaws, from a design, and technical standpoint.

It is unfortunate that Corpse Party: Blood Drive suffers from the technological leap to the Vita, as the new visual style and gameplay features are the best improvements seen in the series from a conceptual standpoint.

The series’ signature horror themes are ever present here, but the clashing character design choices and other questionable decisions keep Corpse Party: Blood Drive from being an entirely bloody good time.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive had the makings of being one of the all time greats for the PS Vita but technical problems prevent the game from achieving that goal. But if you can look past the problems, there's a fantastic story that's there for long time Corpse Party fans.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive definitely feels more like a survival horror RPG than the first one. Its twisted story and death scenes are something you either love or hate. I found myself enjoying the game right until the end I do not want to ruin the end but it didn’t really deliver all the promise it had. Still this may be the end of the Heavenly host series I am sure Dead patient will at some point refer back to the characters in this one and maybe the questions I still have at the end of the game will be answered in that.

Newcomers will find it baffling, but for anyone who wants closure on the kids of Heavenly Host, you may just find that here.

It’s just a shame that the actual gameplay ends up being underwhelming, and the art style prevents anything from being frightening. Blood Drive could’ve been something special, but a general lack of polish really hurts the overall quality of the product.

While not exactly the swan song to send this tragedy off to the ever after in satisfaction, fans that have kept up with this cult favorite will be pleased to see how it all plays out.

For series fans, Corpse Party: Blood Drive is simply a must play.

As a farewell to the characters and settings of the original Corpse Party, Corpse Party: Blood Drive is a flawed, frustrating adventure that strays too far from what made its predecessor so beloved. And yet, at times, it still shows signs of brilliance—enough that at least hardcore fans of the franchise can find joy amongst the relentless torture.

Fans of the series will take plenty from the impressive narrative conclusion of the saga, though some flawed gameplay mechanics hold it back from being a game of any substance.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive is more scary in execution than anything. Veterans of the series may be happy to see the continuation of its plot, but the game offers little to bring in any new fans. Those looking for a good scare would be better pointed in another direction, as the promises of previous games are not lived up to in this new iteration of the series.

Infinite loading screens, irresponsible characters, and dubious gameplay designs contaminate Corpse Party: Blood Drive. Without the franchise's usual brand of supernatural scares, only the most zealous fans need apply.

Its worst sin? It's boring.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive is sure to upset many fans; it certainly upset me. The shift to 3D visuals completely changed the dynamic of the game, and while gameplay didn’t suffer for it, storytelling and immersion certainly did. If this were a new game separate from the narrative of the previous entries, it could be an excusable attempt at experimentation, but as the anticipated climax to a years-long story of engaging horror and developing characters, it only serves to muddy an otherwise engaging series of indie horror games. Corpse Party: Blood Drive is offensive to fans and a poor representation of the series to newcomers.

Corpse Party: Blood Drive has very little going for it. The amusing contrast of seeing cutesy anime kids in a horror story can't sustain such a jumbled plot, muddy visual design, and irritating construction. It may be worth investigating as a cultural curiosity, but otherwise this is a party to avoid.