Following the tradition of any decent visual novel, most of the chapters have different endings and, as is only right, there are trophies available for finding all of them. Don’t expect any vastly different revelations, however. The alternative endings are really just a fancy way of saying ‘whoops, dead’. The true ending to each chapter basically just means surviving it. There will be choices along the way that will either move you towards this goal or stop you in your bloody tracks. There’s a strange noise coming from a locker; do you let your friend investigate or do you stop him? You’ll find out soon enough. Save whenever you spot a glowing candle. This will also restore your HP so they’re very handy indeed. Try to remember where they are because it’s better to nip over to the Infirmary for a quick save rather than getting chopped in half later on and have to backtrack for an hour. The layout can be confusing in the dark and as the school is crumbling to pieces, some direct routes are blocked off. I’d advise drawing yourself a map as the game, very unfortunately, does not give you one. If you’re too lazy to draw one there’s a nice one already done for you at www.playstationtrophies.org. Just don’t expect it to carry you all the way through…
Corpse Party: Blood Drive is a great story and its secrets, explanations and twists are worth finding. The characters are all interesting and the Japanese voice acting sounds pretty great to my ears (manic screaming is the same in any language, isn’t it?). Fans of the series will be glad to see many returning characters as well some brand new faces, and there’s no face I want to see less than the ultra creepy Sachi. I won’t say too much about her lest I shudder my laptop to the carpet. Naomi Nakashima’s ‘injury’ also gave me the major willies. Blughhhh. Get set for some major empathy for these poor characters. They really do go through it, right up to the end. Big time pat on the back to the writers. The gruesome and terrifying plot is worthy of a Hollywood movie, and it comes complete with a Hollywood soundtrack to back it up. Music can make or break a game, and Corpse Party: Blood Drive has one of the best soundtracks going. It’s atmospheric, it’s exciting and I’m still listening to it as I write thanks to the Cursed Phonograph option in the Bonus menu. It’s very John Carpenter with its slightly eighties twanging baselines, epic melodies and dramatic percussion all thrown together. It’s not so much the icing on the cake but the arterial blood clot on the corpse. If my book ever sells its movie rights, I want these guys to compose the score.
There are thirty eight trophies available including a Platinum and it will take a fair amount of time to achieve them all. We popped nineteen of them on one playthrough with fifteen hours of game time. It’s hard to say how long the Platinum would take, but with a decent guide detailing all the collectables and wrong endings, we would estimate an extra four or five hours. In theory, with some strategic saving, a couple of microwave ready meals and a six pack of diet coke, it should be possible to Platinum Corpse Party: Blood Drive in one big fat playthrough. This is a game worth getting your head down for. Turn off the TV, turn off your phone, close the curtains. Only your PSN friends will know you’re still alive. Kiss everyone else goodbye.
Conclusion
I do like a slice of death with my coffee,
and with Corpse Party: Blood Drive you’ll
be brushing plenty of bloody crumbs off
your jumper. A great balance between visual
novel and action, disturbing story and
challenging puzzles, this is a horrific and sinister
experience that will linger in your mind long
after Halloween is over for another year.
45