Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Call of the Siren places you in the uncomfortable loafers of Xander Harris, the ever-clueless but lovable sidekick of the Scooby Gang. The core mechanics revolve around a mouse-driven icon interface: you point, you click, you collect, and you combine. Inventory management is surprisingly deep for a fangame of this era. You’ll find yourself juggling stakes, holy water, and mysterious trinkets alongside more… risqué photographs that serve as both trophy and gameplay reward.

(HEY YOU!! We hope you enjoy! We try not to run ads. So basically, this is a very expensive hobby running this site. Please consider joining us for updates, forums, and more. Network w/ us to make some cash or friends while retro gaming, and you can win some free retro games for posting. Okay, carry on 👍)

The missions are a curious blend of puzzle-solving and stealth. One moment you’re skulking through the dusty halls of Sunnydale High to avoid faculty patrols, and the next you’re sneaking into abandoned crypts to lift a siren’s curse. Each area offers multiple branching paths, encouraging exploration and replayability. Side objectives pepper the experience, from rescuing schoolmates to gathering magical artifacts that unlock secret erotic vignettes.

What really sets the gameplay apart, however, is its unabashed erotic focus. As you navigate Sunnydale, your interactions with Sarah Calling and other characters can trigger intimate cutscenes. These moments are integrated into the progression system: the deeper you delve into the siren’s influence, the more explicit the encounters become. While this may not appeal to all Buffy fans, it undeniably adds a daring twist to the traditional adventure formula.

Graphics

Visually, Call of the Siren is a patchwork quilt of photo-manipulated celebrity images. The developers have clearly labored over cut-and-paste assemblies of publicity shots, repurposed to fit the game’s erotic narrative. Backgrounds are lifted from still frames of Sunnydale High and the familiar Bronze nightclub, lending an uncanny sense of authenticity to the setting.

Character portraits are where the game’s photographic approach shines—and sometimes creaks under its own weight. Buffy’s steely gaze and Xander’s unkempt hair are instantly recognizable, but the lighting and resolution often clash with the pixel-art environments. There’s a jarring charm to seeing high-resolution faces against low-res tiles, though purists may find the discrepancy distracting.

Animations are minimal, yet serviceable. Walk cycles consist of a few frames, and most special actions trigger static images or brief audio clips ripped from the show. Don’t expect fluid motion or cinematic flair; instead, enjoy the novelty of seeing your favorite characters in never-before-seen—and decidedly R-rated—poses. It’s rough around the edges, but the collage-like aesthetic has a certain underground fan-game appeal.

Story

The narrative kicks off when a seductive siren descends upon Sunnydale High, ensnaring students and faculty alike with her deadly song. Into this perilous mix arrives Sarah Calling, an Irish exchange student with her own hidden agenda. As Xander, you must unravel the myth of the siren, rescue Buffy from emotional—and physical—peril, and uncover Sarah’s true motives before the entire town succumbs to temptation.

Call of the Siren leans heavily into erotic fan fiction tropes, delivering a plot that oscillates between supernatural intrigue and salacious interludes. Dialogue snippets lifted from the series mingle awkwardly with newly written, often flirtatious exchanges. Purists may bristle at the tone shift, but fans of adult-oriented Buffy fanfic will find the written scenarios surprisingly well-paced, balancing tension, humor, and titillation.

While the overarching quest to stop the siren is straightforward, the game peppers in rivalry scenes, romantic detours with Willow and Cordelia, and flashbacks that flesh out Sarah’s mysterious past. These narrative branches may not rewrite the Buffy canon, but they offer enough twists to keep you invested in seeing how far Xander will go to save his friends—and indulge his baser desires.

Overall Experience

Buffy the Vampire Slayer: Call of the Siren is an undeniably niche experience. As an unlicensed fangame, it lacks polish in areas like animation fluidity, sound design, and legal legitimacy. Yet these rough edges also give it a raw, underground charm that’s hard to find in more mainstream adult titles. If you’re curious about a boundary-pushing Buffy adventure that fully embraces its erotic premise, this game delivers a uniquely brazen take on the Bronze-and-stakes formula.

On the flip side, Call of the Siren’s reliance on photo-manipulated celebrity nudes and recycled audio clips can feel exploitative. The contrast between high-quality images and game engine limitations occasionally breaks immersion. Additionally, the explicit content means it’s not suitable for younger audiences or those seeking a faithful, family-friendly Buffy experience.

For adult fans of the series with a taste for risqué storytelling and puzzle-driven gameplay, Call of the Siren is an intriguing curiosity. It challenges conventions, offers surprisingly robust side quests, and serves up steamy fan-service in generous portions. Approach it with an open mind—and perhaps a willingness to overlook a few visual hiccups—and you’ll discover a fangame that dares to ask: what if Buffy took a walk on the wild side?

Retro Replay Score

null/10