Blood II: The Chosen

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Blood II: The Chosen
Developer(s)	Monolith Productions
Publisher(s)	GT Interactive
Designer(s)	James Wilson III
Engine	LithTech (1.0)
Version	2.1
Platform(s)	PC, Windows
Release date	October 31, 1998
Genre(s)	First-person shooter
Mode(s)	Single-player, Multiplayer
Rating(s)	BBFC: 18 ELSPA: 18+ ESRB: Mature (M) OFLC: MA 15+
Media	CD (1)
System requirements	Intel Pentium 133Mhz CPU, 32MB RAM, 3dfx or Direct3D compactible graphic card, Windows 95/98
Input methods	Keyboard, Mouse

Blood II: The Chosen is a first-person shooter computer game developed by Monolith Productions and distributed by GT Interactive, which was later purchased by Infogrames. Released on October 31, 1998, it featured Monolith's new fully 3D engine Lithtech, which was previously used in Shogo: Mobile Armor Division. An official expansion pack was released on August, 1999 under the title of Blood II: The Chosen - The Nightmare Levels.

Unlike the first installment, Blood, which was set in 1928, Blood II takes place in the year 2028, so in addition to conventional weapons and magical items also incorporates science-fictional technology. As well as its predecessor, the game is significant with excessive graphic violence and a crude style of humour.

Contents 1 Gameplay 1.1 Single-player 1.2 Multiplayer 2 Story and Chapters 2.1 Chapters 2.1.1 Chapter One 2.1.2 Chapter Two 2.1.3 Chapter Three 2.1.4 Chapter Four 2.1.5 Epilogue 3 The Nightmare Levels Expansion Pack 3.1 New Levels 4 Trivia 5 References 6 External links

[edit] Gameplay

[edit] Single-player

In single player mode the player can choose his character among one of the four Chosen. However major plot holes occur if any other character than Caleb is selected: in-game cinematics are not shown and the story does not develop properly. Blood II gameplay is influenced by the choice of character at the start of the game because every Chosen has different marksmanship abilities, amount of maximum hit points and armor level. Caleb, the protagonist of the first Blood, is the most balanced character, being able to use both firearms and magical means with good efficiency.

The game is divided into chapters, each of which is accessible only if the previous one is completed. A total of 17 weapons (some of them usable in dual mode) are available to player, although he has only 10 positions at his disposal and thus must choose which weapons will be included in his arsenal. Every weapon has also a secondary fire mode which deals higher damage to hostile creatures but consumes more ammunition units. Several power-ups including invulnerability, stealth movement or increased firepower gives the player an advantage over enemies for a limited period of time.

[edit] Multiplayer

Blood II is primarily focused on the single player experience, but also features a multiplayer mode. Instead of Deathmatch mode, authors decided to change the name to "Bloodbath" because it better reflects the game's title. Each player can choose one of the four Chosen to control during the match - Caleb, Gabriella, Ishmael and Ophelia. Since every character has different abilities, the weaponry they receive at the beginning of the game varies.

[edit] Story and Chapters

The game presupposes familiarity with the storyline of Blood.

The year is 2028 and Caleb, the undead anti-hero from Blood (again voiced by Stephan Weyte), after the final confrontation with his old master, the god Tchernobog, has spent the last century trying to figure out a way to resurrect his fallen comrades, including his lost love Ophelia, without success. During these years he has grown somewhat more tolerant towards others, so much so that he can actually avoid killing everyone he runs into but not so much as to stop him from carrying a weapon wherever he goes.

Despite his vengeful spree in the first game, "the Cabal" — the cult of Tchernobog — is not dead but has undergone a transformation into "CabalCo", a global megacorporation. The Cabal in its new form still seeks to dominate the world, but rather than using magical means it employs its economic might, penetrating into the everyday lives of billions and thus controlling them.

Apparently the Cabal has decided to briefly forget about Caleb (labeled as the "Great Betrayer"), but it has not forgiven him. Gideon, the prime mover behind the Cabal's transformation and current head of CabalCo, wishes to bring back his cult to its former glory by slaying Caleb and restoring the powers "stolen" from Tchernobog by the Chosen.

[edit] Chapters

The in game story line and action is shown through four chapters, as elaborated in the succeeding sections. As in the original Blood the architectural styles of the levels vary. Some are set in an urban backdrop slightly laced with near future elements including various city installations such as apartments, diners, laundromats, and stores. Others are set in industrial complexes, warehouses, offices, and laboratories. Finally there are some more dark mystical themed levels set in deconsecrated churches and Cabal temples. It should be noted that some levels may be skipped through the use of cheat codes for example from "Pickman St. Station" one can go directly to "The Cathedral" thus allowing the player past most of Chapter One. Each chapter also has a select “Chosen” mostly due to when they appear in the game and highlighted by a portrait in the level loading screen. Chapter one shows Gabriella, Chapter Two shows Ishmael, Chapter Three shows Ophelia, and Chapter Four shows Caleb.

[edit] Chapter One

Blood II: The Chosen begins on a CabalCo subway where Caleb finds that Gideon himself is conducting. Caleb proceeds to the front after the CabalCo leader but finds that he has sprung a trap and the train collides with another knocking Caleb unconscious. He latter awakens at the subway station where he chases Gideon through a city called New Town (obstructed by CabalCo soldiers), occasionally meeting up with him but never battling him. Caleb does however finally get into a combat situation with him inside the Lafayette Museum of Antiquities, alongside Gideon's prophet bodyguard and a mad scientist. A prototype singularity generator (a gun that creates an inter-reality vortex) is fired but instead of destroying Caleb, Gabriella a fellow betrayed Chosen miraculously appears (who was once the man "Gabriel"). This causes Gideon and party to retreat. Gabriella states that she must accompany Caleb and attempt to find what is going on, though she somehow is taken elsewhere through a singularity. Caleb then continues his quest for Gideon's destruction raging through the some apartments, the sewers, and the steam tunnels. Caleb also runs into many a creature to which there is no explanation, in Caleb's own words “These aren't Cabal”. He then proceeds into CabalCo disease management which contains many people who are the victims of the mystery creatures and other captured curiosities that have appeared out of nowhere. Caleb then proceeds upward and breaks into the air ship: CAS Revenant (Where Caleb thought Gideon was flying) that he later sabotages and departs from, destroying the airship in flight. After landing in New Town, Caleb hears that Gideon is heading to a Cabal dominated Cathedral to present a speech. After heading there himself, Caleb finds not Gideon but the terrible Naga, another of the strange creatures that have suddenly appeared. After finally defeating the creature, Gabriella walks in after detonating the wall, she asks Caleb about the strange monsters to which Caleb has no good answer. Gabriella then states her concern over Caleb's ability to handle to ever worsening situation. She then later runs off after Caleb rather roughly assures her that he will solve the issues. Caleb then proceeds back to the subway station.

[edit] Chapter Two

Back aboard a CabalCo subway train filled with their Fanatics, Caleb again proceeds to the front, where the train yet again collides with another knocking Caleb unconscious. Caleb awakens inside the wreckage of the train “They just don't make em like they used to”. Caleb makes his way out to a near by subway station that leads out to a degraded apartment complex which he passes through in search of Gideon. Caleb climbs up a stairwell to the roof of the apartments and finds Gideon with his head scientist and bodyguard heading towards a helicopter, with a trap set for Caleb. The prophet bodyguard fires his singularity generator but it again fails to destroy Caleb and brings Ishmael another of the Chosen through a rift and so Gideon and company retreat with the helicopter. Talking to Caleb, Ishmael warns Caleb of the apparent damage he is doing to the reality strain and says to Caleb that he is "the One that Binds" (a title already used for Tchernobog). Trying to tempt Caleb into listening to him, Ishmael mentions that Ophelia the last Chosen and Caleb's lost love is alive again as well. Before mysteriously leaving through a singularity causing Caleb to head back down and out of the apartments. Where he heads down into a largely strange beast infested sewage plant. Once out of the sewers Caleb enters the meat packing plant, one of the many product production centres of CabalCo. After blasting through this CabalCo hideout Caleb proceeds through another part of New Town entering another apartment building. Then he finds and enters a diner, which finally takes him into Horlock's Station via a hole in the wall. Where Caleb is to enter the underground through the Blue Line terminal but it is found to be locked so Caleb has to seek out another route. He proceeds out into the streets of New Town again before entering a large water supply area and catches a train, one infested with the strange beasts. Once reaching the end of it, Caleb has to jump onto another that is controlled by the Cabal. After killing these foes Caleb for once, experiences a peaceful train ride. He returns to Horlock's Station and finally is able to head down the Blue Line terminal which takes him into the underground, also called the crypt. Once done fighting through it against numerous mystery beasts he encounters the boss for chapter two: Behemoth whose kind is also a menace in subsequent levels. After killing the creature Ishmael appears again, he tells Caleb more about Ophelia and her current whereabouts, she is captured and is held by the Cabal in Gideon's temple. He also reveals the answer about the invading creatures, they are of another reality that is passing through the tears left by Tchernobog's nonexistence. Tchernobog it turns out was more than just a ruthless deity, but the one that maintained the realties and with him gone all places are in danger from each other. These particular invaders are out to conquer and destroy our realm, CabalCo headquarters itself turns out to be the epicentre of the damage possibly due the Cabal's cross-realty experiments. Ishmael says that Caleb is the only one that can save this realm from being destroyed, because he inherited Tchernobog's powers after defeating him as does the essence of Tchernobog pass between incarnations. Caleb however scoffs at this and Ishmael heads off.

[edit] Chapter Three

Upon leaving the crypt Caleb heads towards CabalCo headquarters after Ophelia as Ishmael informed. First he has to get to the stronghold, which is obstructed by the Cabal raising the Frank Cotton Memorial Bridge. This is overcome by a switch press after slaughtering through an industrial complex. Once at CabalCo HQ Caleb must blast his way through the security check point, basements and lower floors, while there he whiteness that even CabalCo headquarters is being besieged by the otherworldly invaders. Caleb finally finds his way into Gideon's temple of Poon where he finds Ophelia tied up. After some warm greetings and bargaining Gideon comes and interrupts the two. After a brief word exchange Gideon takes the still imprisoned Ophelia and himself through a rift, much enraging Caleb. Caleb then proceeds to search for Gideon again blasting through the rest of his temple (at one point betrayed by a rather dubious wooden bridge) and then through the Cabal offices. His first goal is to explore through the power generation area and shut the Cabal's electricity down, weakening the complex. Once completed flicking the switch Caleb again wages war in the offices which leads to the Cabal's main research facility: Research and Development (Or as the CabalCo head researcher, the "Doctor" likes to call it R&D). The top scientists seems rather excited about their new visitor and its impending "Dissection". However Caleb turns out the be the only one who gets the tear lifeforms apart as he destroys the complex and staff before snatching the prototype singularity generator and returning to the offices to fight more battles. After such strife Caleb finds a lift to the roof, where he knows Gideon should be waiting. The roof top is then the scene of a contest between the undead gunslinger and the Cabal leader. Eventually leading to Gideon being gravely injured, causing him to retreat through yet another rift into the realm of the invaders. Much to the now free Ophelia's protest Caleb proceeds through the rift as well.

[edit] Chapter Four

Chapter Four begins with Caleb materializing on a marble frame nearby a clump of CabalCo fanatics. They are guarding the region that has been claimed by CabalCo even with a flag to mark. A Behemoth comes out from a stone pathway and battle rages amongst Caleb, the fanatics, and the Behemoth against each other. After destroying all else, Caleb trudges on down the trail from which the beast came in the assumption that he will find Gideon there. He happens across an ancient temple surrounded by corpses slain on pikes. He enters through the door and finds Gideon on a podium like structure. Words are exchanged between the two men till Gideon has a surprise to spring. “I'm just changing into something unpleasant!” he taunts as his body transforms into a giant undead spider creature. After a little more discussion the final contest ensues. Caleb and Gideon struggle with all their might but Caleb once again prevails. Gideon lets out on last taunting statement before finally dying. “Life's not fair but neither is death, get used to it” Caleb exclaims walking out. Caleb finds that he is in the ruins of an ancient citadel, complete with more creatures of this realm and bone leach (one of the other realm creatures that are parasitic to humans) victims about as Caleb navigates the city until he happens across a stairway which he presumes leads to the Ancient One, the apparent mastermind behind our realties intrusion. The end takes him out to a structure of three upright coffins and a stone circle with a path leading to each box. Three figures emerge, an undead Gabriella, Ishmael, and Ophelia step out into the centre stone. They are the representatives of the Ancient One and they explain the Ancient One's intentions of cross realty conquest as well as telling Caleb that he is to pathetic to stop it. Caleb then fights and destroys each of the undead Chosen, which opens the stone circle into a deep dark tunnel which Caleb jumps down into. Caleb finds himself down near a pool of a grotesque liquid. Even more grotesque is the pool's inhabitant: the Ancient One who is in the form of a colossal aquatic squid being. “Hello mister fancy pants” Caleb taunts “Forgive me if I don't shake hands”. Then the final boss battle in Blood II: The Chosen ensues between the undead fighter and the ancient and malevolent monster.

[edit] Epilogue

Caleb watches as the Ancient One lets out on last scream as it falls down dead. The other three Chosen appear through the rift. Ishmael tells Caleb that he must bind the realties before they tear themselves apart. Caleb protests but eventually summits to the Chosen's demands and attempts the focus. A shrill cry bellows from Caleb's body as he releases the power of Tchernobog, attempting to rebind the realities. Content that they have saved the universe the Chosen together as comrades begin their long journey across the otherworld. After that there is a large series of text that shows credits and other names as well as a promise that mysterious such as what happened to "Gabriel... er Gabriella" would be answered in the next chapter of the Blood series (one which never was actually made). The end text also contains many attempts at humour.

[edit] The Nightmare Levels Expansion Pack

Released in August 1999, the Nightmare Levels added new levels, items, weapons, and storyline to Blood II: The Chosen. It also added new enemies into the game such as the gremlin and robed cultist. Two new weapons where added, the combat shotgun and flayer.

[edit] New Levels

The Nightmare Levels Expansion adds six levels new levels to Blood II: The Chosen. The back story is told by the spirit of Gideon, as he talks about the Chosen's encounter with a physic terror known as the Nightmare, while attempting to return back from the Ancient One's realm. Each Chosen gets a level set in their own “personal hells” or nightmares from their past, which the Nightmare has the ability to conjure up. Caleb revisits the north as he experienced it in the first Bloods second episode (complete with the original robed cultists). The second level is Ophelia's nightmare, her exit from her sorority (called IOTA ETA PI) to join the Cabal. The third level focuses on Ishmael's brief stint as “JoJo the Idiot Circus Boy” while trapped inside a carnival, which he leaves violently to join the Cabal and serve Tchernobog. Gabriella's nightmare is next, and takes place during a night long stay in a haunted mansion. The succeeding level is set in a old west church and surrounding “ghost town” from the point of view of Caleb (a reference to his back story as introduced in Blood) who proceeds down a mine shaft that takes him out into the other realm's wastes where he finds and defeats the Nightmare, ending the expansion with Gideon presenting an end narration.

[edit] Trivia

Trivia sections are discouraged under Wikipedia guidelines. The article could be improved by integrating relevant items and removing inappropriate ones.

• In the underground maintenance tunnels, a secret room can be found which appears to belong to a Predator hunter from the Predator movie series- green glowing blood on the floor, several wall-mounted skulls with spinal columns attached, a round disc weapon on the table, and two xenomorphs' (Alien series) skulls on the wall as well.
• The glove of Freddy Krueger can also be found on a wall in the underground tunnels.
• The CabalCo building has several barracks which have posters on the walls. These include movie posters for Dirty Harry and From Dusk Till Dawn, as well as the box artwork for Shogo: Mobile Armor Division.
• The Coral Essex Hotel's neon sign flickers constantly, causing the "C", first "E" and first "s" to disappear. The result is that the sign intermittently reads "oral sex". This is a reference to the film Revenge of the Nerds.
• The first "o" in the neon sign for the Hello Motel flickers, reducing the message to "Hell Motel", most probably a reference to Motel Hell.

[edit] References

• Blood II: The Chosen computer game manual

[edit] External links

• Blood II official homepage
• PlanetBlood - A source of information for all Blood games
• The Blood Wiki - free content Blood knowledge base
• LithTech Homepage - The official Lithtech Game Engine homepage