There is a lot to like. Good visuals, combat, and crafting. The big problem is the drop system. You can max your loot finding skills and still never get enough of essential items. In most roguelikes the impact of randomness can be managed, and the further along you get in the game the more tools you have for managing that randomness. As you learn the ins and outs of a game you know what do to to prevent randomness from creating a disaster. In The Pit the randomness really kicks in hard in the last third after you have probably invested many hours into your game. Even if you have been conserving ammo all game you will probably run out. There is no farming or shops to even out the rng. In an entire game you might never get a weapon that can use a particular type of ammo and you will end up with 2000 rounds you cant fire. Lower floors are full of bullet sponge enemies and many of them will destroy your gear in melee. Others can destroy your gear from range. These aren't rare enemies either, just after you deal with one, you will face two more in the next room. After reading the forums, its clear that this is an intentional design choice. If you get unlucky you just can't advance. This game can be lost over and over and there is little the player can do to change this. The player won't die and think "I know what I need to do differently next time." I hope the expansion can fix the problems. Based on 15+ normal games. Beat it on easy 1st try, but I don't recommend it.
It's been pointed out by others that this game is a mish-mash of cliches. The protagonist, Rayne, is a half-vampire, secret-agent, nazi-fighting pin-up girl. The game, and the heroine in particular, has a decidedly juvenile tone. These things sound like they would make for a bad game, but the developers never seem to take things too seriously and as a result the whole thing ends up being a lot of fun, albeit with a tinge of guilty pleasure. Bloodrayne is a 3rd person actioner mixing melee and guns. The two aspects are nicely balanced and both have their uses. Nothing too groundbreaking gameplay wise, but the levels are nicely varied and it maintains an acceptable level of fun thoughout. Get it. Play it. Have some fun then set it aside.
