#BLUD: Claws for Alarm Deep Look
There’s more to come for Becky Brewster and her friends, and it’s going to be crazy.
Coming off of a full-length JRPG, I was in the mood for something short and sweet. Then I noticed that I had multiple updates queued up for download on my Switch that I’d ignored for an entire month. Among them was a patch and free DLC for #BLUD, which I thoroughly enjoyed last July. This turned out to be a full post-game chapter to experience.
So, what monsters are threatening the peace and quiet of Carpentersville? What dangers shall Rebbecca “Becky” Brewster vanquish with her recently refurbished field hockey stick, Brenda? With a chapter title like “Claws for Alarm,” there’s only one possibility: Werewolves. Not only are some fellow students from Carpentersville High turning hairy on the night of the full moon, but there’s a militant lycanthrope group now gunning for Becky. With several friends and the school secretary kidnapped and held in the lupine lair, it’s up to her and Brenda to deliver blunt force justice and save the day.
In terms of gameplay, “Claws for Alarm” provides all the same fun as the main game, though without anything new being added. Same skills, same tools, as well as the same bombs and lethally sharpened pencils for long-distance stabbery. There is a damage upgrade, but it’s done for plot purposes. Becky will have to rush, roll, and rumble her way through enemies new and old, with a greater emphasis on the new monster types as the chapter progresses.
There’s also a good balance of old and new with the scene-setting. The chapter begins at Carpentersville High, re-opened but not completely repaired from that final boss battle sequence in the main game. After a few minor side-quests and an ominous intro to a later boss encounter, the story kicks into gear with a werewolf attack on campus. The leader of the lupines has it in for Becky and issues a challenge to face him at an abandoned factory out in the woods, or else various kidnapped friends will suffer the consequences. The adventure takes her through woods, sewers, the ruins of the old cemetery church, and the werewolves’ repurposed factory space.
All in all, this DLC chapter is a fun romp that extends the entertainment factor of an already enjoyable game by an hour or two. But more importantly, the ending leaves things open for further chapters, if not a complete sequel in the future. There’s more to come for Becky Brewster and her friends, and it’s going to be crazy.
 Disclosure: This article is based on a copy of the game provided by the publisher.
Recent Comments