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A PS5 code was provided to GamingPizza for this review. Bloodhound is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.
There’s no denying that DOOM set off a wave of retro-inspired shooters back in 2016, reviving a style of fast-paced, arcade-like gameplay that had been somewhat overshadowed by more tactical, more story-driven shooters. Since then, we’ve seen umpteen indie titles try to capture that magic.
Bloodhound, developed by Kruger & Flint Productions, is one such game. With its dark, satanic theme and ultra-violent combat, it promises to be a love letter to classics like DOOM, Quake, and Painkiller. But while it nails some of that chaotic, old-school charm, it often feels like a mixed bag—fun enough in short bursts but ultimately a bit rough around the edges.
Guns Blazing and Demons Roasting
From the moment you start Bloodhound, you know that you’re in for an intense, no-nonsense ride. There’s barely any story—just a quick, comic-style intro that tells you everything you need to know: you’re here to shoot demons, monsters, and all sorts of grotesque creatures. And that’s exactly what you do, right out of the gate.
The gameplay throws you into a swamp, armed with a revolver, and you’re immediately surrounded by enemies. It’s fast, it’s frantic, and it’s all about overwhelming odds. Bloodhound doesn’t waste any time setting the pace. It’s pure, relentless combat with hordes of enemies swarming you in every room. It reminded me of those old arcade shooters where you needed a pocket full of quarters and some quick reflexes.
But here’s the thing—while the game captures that sense of chaotic fun, the controls can be a bit of a nightmare. The aiming feels loose, especially on a controller, making it tough to pull off precise shots. So loose, in fact, that I spent multiple pauses trying to adjust my settings, which is something I almost never do. There’s an aim assist feature that helps, but even then, it’s hard to shake the feeling that something’s just a little off. After a while, you get used to it, but it’s a lot to adapt to for some reason, and I imagine many players might be tempted to throw in the towel early on.
The good news is that Bloodhound doesn’t demand perfect accuracy. Most of the time, you’re better off spraying bullets and dodging attacks. The weapons themselves are fun to use (and what you’d expect from a game like this)—chainsaws, miniguns, rocket launchers, you name it. But for all the fun variety, I found that combat sometimes lacked the weight it needed. Sure, there’s a thrill to mowing down demons with a flamethrower-chainsaw (yeah, that’s a thing), but when the weapons don’t pack the punch you’d expect, it leaves you wanting more.
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Satanic Style With a Side of Nostalgia
Visually, Bloodhound leans hard into its satanic, apocalyptic theme. You’ve got gothic architecture, grotesque monsters, and plenty of satanic imagery, which all combine to create a dark, eerie atmosphere. It’s clear that the developers were going for something edgy, and to an extent, they nailed it. There are even pixelated, bare-chested female enemies, which I’ll admit, felt like a weird throwback to the early 2000s when shock value was a bigger selling point for games.
The game also has a “Juicy Retro Mode,” which drops the resolution to a pixelated 240p. It’s a neat touch, but honestly, it feels more like a novelty than a feature that adds real value. Bloodhound seems to be trying hard to look like a retro classic, but sometimes it just comes across as messy—especially with the control issues.
That said, even when things get hectic, with a dozen enemies on screen, the game keeps up its frame rates without a hitch. It’s just a shame that the visuals, while occasionally creative, couldn’t elevate the gameplay more consistently.
Heavy Metal Thunder… Sometimes
You can’t make a DOOM-inspired shooter without a killer soundtrack, right? Bloodhound delivers on that front, but only when it wants to. The heavy metal riffs that blare during combat are just what you’d hope for—loud, aggressive, and full of adrenaline. But here’s where things get weird: outside of these battles, the game is mostly quiet, with just ambient noise filling the void. This can make the quieter moments feel awkwardly empty rather than suspenseful. I get that the game’s focus is on non-stop action, but a little more effort in the sound department could have gone a long way in setting the tone.
Again, Bloodhound’s level design is an homage to classic shooters. You’ve got your colored keys, secret rooms, and lever puzzles, all wrapped in maze-like environments that bring back memories of DOOM and Quake. That said, the execution feels a bit too predictable. You’ll be running down corridors, entering rooms, and then—bam—enemies spawn in front of and behind you. It’s a pattern that repeats over and over, making the action feel a bit stale after a while.
To that end, don’t expect Bloodhound to last you very long. I finished the main campaign in under three hours, and while it was fun in bursts, I couldn’t help but feel like the game ended just as it was getting started. There are different difficulty levels to try, but the replayability component just isn’t really there. Without any additional modes, multiplayer, or co-op, there’s just not much incentive to dive back in.
Fun in Bursts, But Hardly a Standout
Bloodhound is the kind of game you play when you want to blow off some steam and relive the chaotic fun of old-school boomer shooters. It’s fast, aggressive, and unashamedly violent, and there’s certainly a charm in that. The weapons are varied, the soundtrack (when it plays) rocks, and it’s clear that the developers have a love for the genre.
But for all its strengths, Bloodhound is a bit too rough around the edges. The controls feel off, the visuals can be messy, and the sound design is inconsistent. The game’s reliance on shock value feels more like a gimmick than anything that adds to the experience, which, again, has a charm to it, but just doesn’t quite deliver. These days, you need more than just edgy graphics and a heavy metal soundtrack to keep players engaged.
I enjoyed my time with Bloodhound, but it’s hard to ignore its flaws. It’s a decent enough shooter that could have been great if it had focused more on polishing its gameplay and less on trying to pack in the edginess. For fans of the genre, it’s worth a try, especially at a discount, but don’t expect it to dethrone any of the classics it’s inspired by.
