A Kotaku review of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 highlights its compelling narrative and character writing rooted in the tabletop RPG's lore, but faults the game for shallow mechanics and a hollow open world. Set in a snowy Seattle, the game follows protagonist Phyre, a 400-year-old vampire navigating vampiric themes of humanity and monstrosity. Despite strong voice acting and dialogue, the review notes a lack of meaningful consequences for player actions.
Overview
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, developed by The Chinese Room after taking over from Hardsuit Labs, builds on the 2004 original's legacy. The game explores core Vampire: The Masquerade themes, such as balancing vampiric hunger with remaining humanity, through protagonist Phyre's story. Phyre, recently awakened from a long slumber, interacts with a co-protagonist in their mind, leading to engaging dialogue and voice performances.
Story and Writing Strengths
The review commends the narrative for handling VtM lore effectively, including the Masquerade code that vampires must uphold to avoid detection. Characters like Patience, a Toreador clan vampire obsessed with trash as art in a pawn shop, embody deep archetypes. Interactions with Patience prompt reflections on mortality and individualism, capturing the philosophical essence of the tabletop game. The writing sparks discussions on vampiric nature, making the story a highlight despite unfinished playthroughs by the reviewer.
Gameplay Shortcomings
However, gameplay feels hollow. Open-world sections in Seattle create false urgency with intensifying music, sirens, and helicopter sounds during Masquerade violations, but no real police or vehicles appear. There's no hunger meter impacting ethics or world consequences for feeding or killing. Vampiric powers, like telekinesis or blood blades, offer brief fun, but the loop tires quickly. Quests, such as collecting items for Patience, resemble checklists without integration into the world or studio.
Development Context
The game uses assets from Hardsuit Labs, whose dismissal led to speculation from leaked content. The original Bloodlines required modders to fix its launch issues. Bloodlines 2 echoes this uncertainty, trapping vibrant elements in a lifeless execution, per the review.