Buffy the Vampire Slayer (2002 video game)
| Buffy the Vampire Slayer | |
|---|---|
North American cover art | |
| Developer(s) | The Collective |
| Publisher(s) | Electronic Arts Fox Interactive |
| Producer(s) | Trevor Snowden |
| Designer(s) | James Goddard Tony Barnes |
| Artist(s) | Chris Aguilar Daniel Cabuco Kye-wan Sung |
| Writer(s) | Christopher Golden Thomas Sniegoski |
| Composer(s) | Steven von Kampen Tony Barnes |
| Platform(s) | Xbox |
| Release | |
| Genre(s) | Action-adventure, beat 'em up |
| Mode(s) | Single-player |
Buffy the Vampire Slayer is a 2002 action-adventure beat 'em up game developed by The Collective and co-published by Fox Interactive and Electronic Arts for the Xbox. It is the second video game based on the Buffy the Vampire Slayer franchise, and the first for a home console. The story is set during the third season of the TV series, and follows Buffy Summers as she and her friends and allies attempt to thwart the plans of an ancient being who seeks to conquer the world. Gameplay focuses on fighting vampires and other supernatural enemies using hand-to-hand combat as well as various melee and ranged weapons.
The game was announced in 2000, originally as a multi-platform title for the PlayStation, the Dreamcast, and Windows. Production was moved to the Xbox in 2001 to take advantage of its more powerful hardware. The Collective developed the Slayer Engine for use with the game, which was later used for several of their subsequent projects. The team sought to create an innovative mix of adventure and free-roaming 3D combat that would appeal to fans and adhere closely to the style of the show. The narrative was written by Christopher Golden and Thomas Sniegoski, who had previously worked on several Buffyverse novels.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer was released in North America on 19 August 2002, and in Europe on 13 September 2002. The game received generally favorable reviews, with praise for its combat and its faithful adaptation of the show. Retrospective reception has remained positive, with critics ranking it as one of the best games based on the franchise. Despite fan interest, it remains exclusive to the Xbox and has not been re-released for newer platforms.