The game starts off (after a brief tutorial) with Buffy at Sunnydale High at cheerleader practice when suddenly all the lights go out and vampires appear on the scene. What you find however isn't merely a group of bloodthirsty vampires but a plot set in motion by one of Buffy's greatest enemies. It's up to Buffy to stop this enemy and save humanity… again.

Buffy the Vampire Slayer has many strong points, sadly however the graphics aren't one of them. The character models are of an acceptable level but you'll find yourself wishing the vampires and other assorted demons were a bit more detailed. As far as the environments go they too are of an acceptable level though some levels do seem like they were a bit rushed. For Buffy TV fans there are places that they should recognize such as Sunnydale High School and The Bronze. Unfortunately many of the other areas such as the Spanish Mission and the Sunnydale Docks seem more like something you'd find in the Soul Reaver or Tomb Raider games, they are very disappointing.

A major part of the game that gamers will enjoy is the combat. Fighting as Buffy is a dream come true. Along with the usual punch and kick combos there are a number of special slayer moves, many of which you may recognize from the series. However, kicks and punches will only get you so far. You can beat up a vampire for hours or even days and they still won't die; to actually finish off a vampire you need something more. Buffy would be nothing without some great weapons so naturally there's a wide selection, starting with the obligatory wooden stake all the way to crossbows and water guns. Each has its own use, and some enemies can only be killed one way often necessitating a stake to the heart, decapitation or in some cases luring an enemy into sunlight.

As with any game there are flaws and the ones in Buffy the Vampire Slayer may put off fans of the series and hardcore gamers alike. One on one combat is great fun; however later in the game facing more than one enemy at a time is extremely difficult to survive. That in itself could actually be considered a good thing as it means this game is far from easy to complete, however there is one other flaw that really makes these battles an issue. Usually with games like this there are checkpoints, and some even allow you to save midway through a level. Buffy the Vampire Slayer allows none of this. Instead when you die during a level you simply restart the entire level. This problem becomes particularly annoying with some of the later levels where one slight misstep can lead to your demise.

For the hardcore gamer it's the combat and insanely hard battles that will attract you, but the Buffy fans will be attracted purely because it's Buffy. In the end if you're a fan of Buffy, and own an Xbox, this is a must have title. If you're an Xbox owner and like action games, then it's definitely worth checking out.