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The resurgence of classic video games has become a welcome trend, and Nightdive Studios, founded by Stephen Kick in 2012, has been at the forefront of this movement. Their successful revival of System Shock 2 with the Enhanced Edition paved the way for other classics like Turok, Wizardry, Forsaken, and Strife to receive modern updates. Now, they’ve resurrected another gem: Blood.

The journey to bring Blood back to life was uniquely challenging. Similar to Monolith Productions’ No One Lives Forever, the true ownership of the Blood IP was murky, aside from the original publisher, Atari. Furthermore, the game’s source code was lost. Nightdive Studios’ solution was ambitious: rebuild Blood from the ground up using their proprietary KEX Engine. This allowed them to recreate the original Build engine’s rendering techniques and AI while implementing modern enhancements like 4K resolution support, ambient occlusion, interpolation, V-sync, anti-aliasing, and more. The result is Blood: Fresh Supply.

Blood: Fresh Supply

A Unique Arsenal and Unforgettable Levels

Blood stands out among other Build engine games like Duke Nukem and Shadow Warrior thanks to its unconventional weaponry. Instead of the typical starting pistol, Blood: Fresh Supply equips you with a flare gun capable of igniting enemies. A pitchfork replaces the standard knife, bundles of TNT stand in for grenades, and an aerosol can and lighter serve as your flamethrower.

Beyond these unusual weapons, Caleb, the protagonist, wields more traditional firearms like a shotgun, Thompson submachine gun, and M-16. However, even these come with a twist: Blood was one of the first FPS games to utilize an alternate fire mode mapped to the right mouse button. This allows for double-barreled shotgun blasts, strategically placed TNT charges, and rapid-fire bursts from the Thompson. Not all alternate fire modes are equally useful, and some consume ammo quickly, but they provide tactical options.

Blood: Fresh Supply

Adding to the distinctive experience are the varied and bizarre environments across six chapters (four from the original game and two from the Cryptic Passage and Plasma Pak expansions). From train yards and dark carnivals to ancient temples and eerie hotels, each level offers a unique atmosphere. While the level design is interconnected and clever, it can also be complex, sometimes to the point of disorientation. A helpful addition would be markers for locked doors on the 2D map to aid navigation.

Blood: Fresh Supply

Modern Improvements and Comparisons

Built on the KEX Engine, Blood: Fresh Supply runs smoothly on modern PCs, supporting resolutions up to 4K, borderless windowed mode, customizable controls, updated visuals, and multiple graphics APIs (Vulkan, DX11, and OpenGL 3.2). It also boasts extensive mod support and split-screen multiplayer for up to eight players, all without needing DOSBox. While initial release had some technical hiccups, these have been largely addressed.

Blood is one of the first FPS games to utilize an alternate fire mode mapped to the right mouse button.

One might wonder how Blood: Fresh Supply compares to BloodGDX, a 2017 port built on the EDuke32 engine. For most players, the differences are negligible. For modders or those seeking specific features of the original Blood, like original skyboxes, there are still few distinctions. Given Blood: Fresh Supply‘s affordable price and seamless “plug-and-play” functionality, it’s an excellent entry point for experiencing this classic FPS.

Blood: Fresh Supply

Conclusion

Blood: Fresh Supply successfully revitalizes a classic FPS with modern enhancements while preserving its unique charm. The game’s unconventional weapons, bizarre environments, and smooth performance on modern hardware make it a must-play for fans of retro shooters and newcomers alike. While some navigation issues persist, the overall experience is a testament to Nightdive Studios’ dedication to preserving gaming history. If you’re looking for a thrilling and unique FPS experience, Blood: Fresh Supply delivers.