Blood Knights: A New Vampire Action-RPG

DTP Entertainment has announced Blood Knights, a new vampire action-RPG headed to consoles and PC. Blood Knights follows the story of Jeremy, a vampire hunter who is bound by blood to a sexy, mysterious vampiress named Alysa. “The former arch-enemies have to work together to rid themselves of the binding,” DTP Entertainment says.

Blood Knights is developed by German studio Deck 13, who previously worked on Venetica and Ankh. DTP says the game features “intense combat, tons of weapons, items as well as vampiric abilities that put players in total control over their enemies and let them feel the powers that vampires wield in the Blood Knights universe.”

Blood Knights will hit Xbox Live Arcade, PlayStation Network and PC on October 31st for $14.99 (1200 Microsoft Points). Check back to IGN for our hands-on impressions later this week. Until then, you can find more info on Blood Knights’ official site.

Andrew Goldfarb is IGN’s associate news editor. Keep up with pictures of the latest food he’s been eating by following him on Twitter or IGN.

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Avengers Academy #35 Review

With the first issue of Final Exam,"Christos Gage quickly and successfully transitioned Avengers Academy away from the Avengers vs. X-Men conflict and back towards more internal matters. Jeremy Briggs is back, and he comes bearing tantalizing promises of a world where only the most deserving of heroes are allowed to have powers. Issue #35 focuses on two splintered factions of Academy recruits -- those who have bought into Briggs' vision, and those who are on the receiving end of his wrath.

Both halves of the story offer plenty of juicy material for longtime Academy readers. On one front, Haz-Mat and Mettle are making the most of their newly human states, even as a chronic lack of privacy proves to be their newest foe. These scenes hit all the right emotional notes, particularly late in the issue as Gage throws the inevitable wrench in the works. Equally appealing but more dramatic are the scenes following the renegade teens, most of whom are suffering the debilitating effects that come with sudden power loss. X-23 and White Tiger shine in particular this month. Gage just seems to understand Laura in a way too few X-writers have over the years.

Unfortunately, this issue does take one major step back in terms of its portrayal of Briggs. I noted in my previous review my appreciation that Briggs wasn't cast as an overt villain, but merely a figure with murky intentions. Unfortunately, that sense of uncertainty begins to fade away now, and he becoems less interesting as a result.

Andrea Di Vito steps in for Tom Grummett this month. While it's disappointing this arc won't have one, consistent penciller, Di Vito handles the characters well and delivers a bit more detail and depth in his panels than Grummett's issues had been offering. What the issue lacks in style it makes up for in good, solid storytelling.

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

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