Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines has at all times held a particular place in my coronary heart for a lot of causes, however actually essentially the most outstanding is that this: It was the primary time I bear in mind taking part in a recreation and considering, “Wow, I’m completely too younger to be taking part in this.”
I used to be 11 years previous after I took my first stroll down the streets of Bloodline’s Santa Monica–when I clumsily WASD’d my method by rooms crammed with empty tablet bottles, condom wrappers, and different bits of paraphernalia that I can solely recall with an accompanying blush. I used to be too younger (and timid!) to be sucking on necks, canoodling with the scantily-clad Jeanette, and traversing the Ocean Home Resort’s totally horrifying floorplan. And but, I liked it. I liked figuring out video games might be… this: darkish, mature, and depraved.
Alongside 2002’s Neverwinter Nights, Bloodlines turned me right into a die-hard fan of each TTRPGs and CRPGs in equal measure. So, evidently, you may rely me among the many hundreds of us who’ve been waiting–impatiently and a bit nervously–for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.
Happily, I feel the wait (and absolutely the chaos of improvement) was largely value it. Although I would not name Bloodlines 2 an ideal recreation, per se, I had a good time taking part in it. For higher or worse, it retains a whole lot of Bloodline’s DNA, mixing motion, stealth, and thriller to create a mature and enthralling, choice-driven RPG. Although not as nitty-gritty or system-heavy as its predecessor, it nonetheless largely feels the identical to play. I swear, I skilled deja vu as I crouched by warehouses and nervously spoke with characters seemingly desperate to sink their tooth into me if I mentioned the incorrect factor to them. Nevertheless, it additionally carries with it some jank and technical points that make it really feel like an early aughts title.
But after I might seamlessly play, I really loved the expertise. Bloodlines 2 shouldn’t be, to be fairly frank, working on the similar stage of sheer abundance and selection as a whole lot of modern-day RPGs. Nevertheless, its streamlined method is not essentially a foul factor, contemplating simply how fantastic the sport’s narrative and characters are. I liked waltzing across the gorgeously rendered Seattle, gushing over science with Safia, and Fabien’s total noir schtick. I by no means received over the fun of stealthily eliminating a complete room of baddies with my elder vampire powers, or simply how paralyzing it may be to make a dialogue alternative that can finally seal which of the sport’s endings you’re locked into. Although Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 won’t supply a deep RPG expertise, it is actually a bloody enjoyable time.
Whereas the primary Bloodlines noticed gamers tackle the function of a freshly-turned vampire, Bloodlines 2 makes the impressed choice to have you ever play as an elder vampire–one roughly “150 years older than the US” and referred to by many as “The Nomad” earlier than they final resolve to undertake the title Phyre. The sport’s occasions kick off shortly after you awaken from a century-long torpor (consider it like vampire hibernation) with an all-consuming urge to feed and a mysterious, disembodied voice in your head. Seems, that mysterious, disembodied voice belongs to Fabien, a vampire detective who was turned within the Twenties and likewise has no concept why you two look like sharing a physique and consciousness. This kicks off the primary of the sport’s many mysteries–mysteries which see you play by three totally different timelines as you attempt to piece collectively what’s occurring to you, Fabien, the rapidly-dying Camarilla (or vampire court docket), and town of Seattle.
The following journey is one filled with political intrigue and twists that, whereas not completely sudden, nonetheless ship and delight. And although it is actually not the primary recreation to discover the liberty versus safety dichotomy–or how so many are keen to endure damaged techniques when resisting them is seen as uncomfortable or inconvenient–Bloodlines 2 does so with enough ability and loads of flourish.
A big a part of what makes Bloodlines 2 really shine is its characters. Contemplating Fabien is each the individual you’re round essentially the most and is basically a Twenties detective archetype, it might be all too straightforward for him to be unbearable. However even with these qualities and the truth that he serves as the sport’s comedian reduction going towards him, he is truly a well-written and, dare I say, endearing character.
All of Bloodlines 2’s characters are caricatures, of a form, however developed and way more well-rounded. Lou Graham, the previous vampire Prince of Seattle, is an aristocratic narcissist, however there’s nonetheless part of her that feels human, comprehensible, and pitiable, even. The Camarilla’s present Prince, Ryong, tries her hardest to keep up a tough-as-nails facade, but is clearly struggling along with her rise to energy, and learn how to bridge her idealism along with her pragmatism. Katsumi is a former surgeon and chief of the Anarchs, however heralds this rebellious trigger not as a technique to attain energy or incite violence, however as a result of the aged Chinese language girl is aware of somebody wants to face up for all of the vampires the Camarilla ignores or abuses. Safia is the Camarilla’s designated scientist, and comes with all of the awkwardness you may think. That being mentioned, she’s additionally extraordinarily passionate in the case of the folks she cares about and makes use of her vampiric charisma in her personal method.
And regardless of there being so many different characters value mentioning, I would be remiss to not convey up Tolly. As a Nosferatu, Tolly not possesses standard beauty, having misplaced that a part of his humanity in his transformation. That is touched upon in a really fascinating method, because it’s revealed that whereas he used to be obsessed along with his look, residing by the ’80s as a homosexual man has left him merely blissful to nonetheless be right here.
Briefly, I used to be constantly impressed by the quantity of thoughtfulness and compassion that went into setting up these characters, and completed the sport desperate to play once more and study much more about them. It is also value noting that, sure, you may romance a few of these characters, although it’s admittedly a reasonably shallow function. Nonetheless, if you wish to hear an aged vampire yell, “I feel the youngsters name this ‘edging,'” I extremely advocate giving it a whirl.
Regardless of completely loathing Phyre’s title (hear, I do know she noticed it on a poster and simply went with it, nevertheless it’s so unhealthy and by no means will get higher to listen to), I truly liked them as a personality as properly. Even after 45 hours of taking part in, I by no means uninterested in their clichéd and vaguely Romanian accent, and the delicate however persistent method they simply do not get sure elements of contemporary residing. At instances, the jokes made about it may possibly get a bit of too “how do you do, fellow children?” however by and enormous, they labored, and did not induce too many groans or eyerolls.
But essentially the most compelling a part of Phyre is their backstory, and the way seamlessly woven into the sport’s overarching story it’s. This could be a considerably area of interest comparability, however in some ways, taking part in as Phyre jogged my memory of taking part in as The Darkish Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3. Just like The Darkish Urge, Phyre is a pre-established and considerably darkish character with a storied previous and individuals who know them–for higher or worse. They’re a lot greater than an everyman with a chip on their shoulder and the need to kiss and/or kill everybody, and it makes for a much more fascinating expertise total.
That mentioned, I feel one draw back of the emphasis on Phyre’s backstory is that it attracts much more consideration to how disappointingly little Phyre’s clan affiliation issues to the plot. On this planet of Vampire: The Masquerade, clan affiliation is an especially necessary a part of a vampire’s id. For instance, Toreadors are famend for his or her charisma, inventive prowess, and seduction abilities, whereas Tremere are sometimes feared for his or her obsession with academia, rituals, and the occult. Many dismiss Gangrels as beasts and Brujah as brutes, whereas Ventrue are seen as boastful aristocrats. Bloodlines 2 addresses all of those orders and their respective histories, sure, however exterior of very barely altering the way in which some characters speak to you and figuring out which skills you begin out with, I discovered that the clan I selected had no actual impression on gameplay; all clan-specific skills, and outfits, might be unlocked later down the highway by speaking to different characters, no matter what you select at the start.
However I am going to admit, the truth that you may attain all fight skills was an ideal choice. Whereas the sport’s primary, melee-focused fight is relegated to easily hitting R1 to assault and L1 to dodge, your vampire skills utterly rework what would in any other case be an especially boring affair.
No matter class, Phyre is given telekinetic skills, which can be utilized in battle to push and pull enemies, or fetch and use weapons. It by no means grew previous, flitting forwards and backwards between rooftops and utilizing my energy to drag enemies right down to their demise, or yanking their rifles and bats away earlier than turning them towards their house owners. However past that, every vampire can be allowed to make the most of 4 better powers as properly. A few of these are macabre, such because the one which instructions an enemy to–I am going to phrase this delicately–take care of themselves, and one other that makes their blood actually boil. Others, like Possess and Mass Manipulation, are merely devious. When strung collectively, these abilities make for gameplay that’s extraordinarily enjoyable, no matter whether or not you’re approaching issues head-on or extra stealthily.
After all, these highly effective skills require that you’re repeatedly consuming blood–be it from enemies whereas combating, pedestrians, or blood packs–but by the point I reached the sport’s last chapters, I used to be blown away by how simply and gracefully I might take down a complete constructing filled with enemies. Although I stored issues various, typically, it went a bit like this: After stealthing my method as much as the rafters, I would use Possess on the biggest enemy and drive them to strike an ally. After the complete mob turned on them, I would then use Mass Manipulation together with Blood Curse or one of many extra instant-death abilities, clearing out the majority of smaller enemies and making them drop their weapons. Any further enemies would then make their method in after listening to this commotion, and I promptly greeted them with a stealth assault, adopted by using the small arsenal of their former allies’ weapons towards them. Once more, I am unable to understate how nice this felt, time after time.
Traversal is one other necessary a part of Bloodline 2’s core gameplay loop, and it too feels equally fast-paced and fluid. Early on, Fabien remarks that he’ll “by no means recover from a flying vampire” after seeing the way in which during which Phyre’s elder standing permits her to glide throughout town, and truthfully? Identical. It is a rush, getting in that groove and seamlessly bounding and gliding between buildings–although I am going to admit that the sport’s clunkiness could make these mad dashes a bit unwieldy at instances. Nonetheless, that is the closest I’ve gotten to Batman: Arkham Metropolis in a very long time, so I am going to take it.
All that mentioned, it turns into unlucky that Bloodlines 2’s total construction does not do a lot to intensify the enjoyment of roaming town or incentivize gamers to take action. Whereas there are collectibles scattered in regards to the metropolis and rudimentary aspect quests–one character will ask you to ship a package deal every evening whereas two others supply up the occasional bounty–by and enormous, it’s an extremely linear recreation that duties you with working forwards and backwards between the identical handful of places. Facet quests are largely inconsequential, and thus attending to know these Seattle blocks feels inconsequential as properly.
But that is to not say that developer The Chinese language Room’s tackle Seattle is not beautiful. In truth, it is one thing of a disgrace that exploration and curiosity aren’t fostered purely due to how detailed and wonderful this small piece of town is. I adored wandering round Pioneer Sq. as a grungy-sounding motif slowly constructed round me, moonlight and road lamps refracting on the freshly fallen snow. And I used to be delighted by how sure locations are very clearly impressed by real-world Seattle places, corresponding to the doorway to town’s notorious underground. Although I am no Seattleite myself, I might see bits and items from my quite a few journeys mirrored on this world simply as simply as I might see the hassle poured into making the situation really feel stunning and polished.
Much less polished, nonetheless, is Bloodlines 2 as an entire, and that’s maybe its greatest downfall. Whereas taking part in on my PlayStation 5, I skilled round seven or so crashes; my colleague taking part in on PC reported a minimum of two. At one level, I used to be rendered unable to play the sport for days as a result of I had been inexplicably locked out of a room I wanted to get into to show in a quest and progress the story. I attempted numerous issues earlier than finally loading up a a lot earlier save and replaying an hour or two of the sport to get again to the identical spot. Fortunately, that did the trick.
Enemies typically defied physics, Phrye incessantly clipped by partitions, and characters behaved in some really asinine methods at instances. At any time when I unintentionally broke the Masquerade–meaning I did one thing decidedly vampiric in entrance of a human viewers, thus threatening to disclose “our form”–it was handled with altogether much less urgency than “oh my god, vampires are actual” would necessitate. I would merely skulk away someplace, look ahead to a bit, after which resume what I used to be doing. Generally, all of this made the sport extremely humorous and added some appeal; different instances, not a lot.
This kind of displays Bloodlines 2 as an entire: generally charming, different instances, not a lot. There’s a lot right here that’s nice; I liked the narrative, the characters, the drama, and the sheer energy fantasy of all of it. On the similar time, it is one of many extra unpolished video games I’ve reviewed, and undoubtedly lacks the identical stage of ambition, scope, alternative, and normal tightness of different fashionable RPGs. Oftentimes, I discovered myself considering that Bloodlines 2 is a superb recreation regardless of itself–which actually solely makes it a fairly good recreation, finally.
Gallery