Over its first couple of hours, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 does its greatest to persuade you that it’d really be fairly good. Towards all odds, this deeply troubled mission might rise above expectations.
However as the sport’s construction turns into increasingly more obvious, the true Bloodlines 2 shapes as much as be a little bit of a catastrophe. This sequel to Troika Video games’ 2004 cult traditional in a short time collapses in on itself, regardless of some robust story moments and a smattering of cool concepts.
On varied ranges, Bloodlines 2 does perceive what made its predecessor so endearing. That was an undeniably flawed launch as properly, however it lives on as a fascinating little time capsule — an extremely camp however richly atmospheric tackle early 2000s subculture.
Regardless that it is set in 2024, the sequel does handle to faucet into that very same enjoyably schlocky tone — no less than now and again. There are real moments of intrigue, be it by means of the sport’s lore-tinged dialogue or twisty storytelling.
Should you’re into that aspect of Vampire: The Masquerade — digging into the unwritten guidelines of undead society — you then’ll most likely like a number of what Bloodlines 2 cooks up between its solid of (largely) entertaining characters. There is a clear appreciation for the property’s underlying lore right here.
Nevertheless, in contrast to the primary sport, Bloodlines 2 is severely stripped again as an RPG — to the purpose the place we would hesitate to even name it one. Developer The Chinese language Room has tried to decrease expectations on this regard, suggesting that it is extra of a ‘streamlined’ expertise, however that is placing it frivolously.
Sure, you are handed loads of dialogue choices, and the title particularly tells you that your selections will have an effect — however finally, solely two or three key selections really matter throughout the sport’s 15-hour runtime.
And even then, the ramifications are sometimes questionable. Characters will inform you that your actions have resulted in one thing, however you may not often, if ever, get to see these penalties take form. More often than not, your chosen dialogue will merely end in flavoured responses from the particular person you are speaking to — after which it will all be forgotten the following time you meet.
What little role-playing there’s additionally suffers from Fallout 4 syndrome. That’s, you may be introduced with 4 dialogue choices, however all of them simply say the identical factor with a barely totally different perspective. It is an phantasm of alternative by means of and thru.
And that is actually our fundamental concern with the sport’s method; it goes out of its approach to make you assume that you simply’re making a distinction. For instance, Telltale-esque relationship updates seem on the prime proper of the display screen when deciding on an interplay, however once more, they equate to very, little or no.
Sadly, that is additionally the case in relation to selecting a clan and background on your character. You play as a largely preestablished lead — an elder vampire known as Phyre — and whereas there’s nothing essentially flawed with that, your wiggle room is noticeably restricted.
Clan choice is arguably the largest disappointment. Bloodlines 2 has a heavy emphasis on motion fight (extra on that later) and your alternative of clan determines the way you combat. Besides you may have unlocked your entire clan’s talents by the point you attain the second chapter of the story, simply two or three hours in.
The ability bushes — they’re extra like ability traces — are woefully undercooked, leading to what seems like a close to complete lack of character development for many of the sport.
Equally, you get to briefly speak about Phyre’s previous close to the start of the narrative. It is an admittedly fascinating second, because the centuries-spanning elder reminisces about no matter background you select — however then it is principally by no means introduced up once more past a few throwaway mentions.
As we have already coated, Bloodlines 2 has various these sparks the place it reveals real promise, however there’s one explicit a part of the expertise that completely cripples every part round it: Fabien’s flashbacks.
Fabien occurs to be a Nineteen Twenties-styled detective whose psyche is someway trapped within Phyre’s head. At the same time as a faceless voice, there is a quirky allure to his character and his presence is undeniably intriguing. As you’d count on, he is key to the overarching plot; there is a thriller on the coronary heart of Phyre’s sudden awakening, and Fabien’s occupation can assist you crack the case.
Having trawled the streets of Seattle for over 100 years earlier than being jailed in one other vampire’s mind, Fabien provides perception and vital world constructing all through your journey. The issue, as alluded, is that a lot of this data is relayed by means of sickeningly prolonged and criminally boring flashback sequences.
On the finish of each chapter, Phyre returns residence to relaxation, and Fabien goals of the previous. You are then plopped into the detective’s sneakers as he trudges the identical sandbox Seattle that Phyre does — an already barren assortment of streets, alleys, and rooftops which can be an outright chore to navigate as a result of Fabien lacks Phyre’s traversal talents.
So, as Fabien, you stroll between goal markers. Over and over and over. If you lastly get to at least one, you discuss with a personality, by means of dialogue choices which can be someway much more pointless than those discovered within the current.
You are supposed to be enjoying detective right here, however uncovering leads actually boils all the way down to choosing each dialogue alternative and utilizing one in all Fabien’s 4 vampiric powers to make folks or objects spill the beans.
There’s zero participant company throughout these flashbacks. It is not even an phantasm of alternative — it is an train in losing the participant’s time. Fabien needs to be an empathetic ally, however due to these tediously padded sequences, you may most likely find yourself hating his wisecracking guts.
The flashbacks kill the sport’s momentum time and time once more — together with any form of replay worth that Bloodlines 2 might presumably provide. A really baffling misfire within the storytelling division.
So what concerning the fight? Motion may very well be one of many title’s solely saving graces, however all too predictably, it is hamstrung by a variety of disappointing design selections.
Basically, it is a combination of sunshine and heavy assaults, topped off with a zippy dodge mechanic. There’s really a point of depth to the melee system; dodging in several instructions allows you to carry out distinctive follow-up assaults, every with their very own makes use of.
The Chinese language Room fairly clearly spent a great period of time on these things, and the fundamentals are satisfyingly punchy. Plus, your clan talents — as stunted as they could be — can provide encounters an actual kick. A few of them really feel nice to drag off, just like the Brujah clan’s Fist of the North Star-style punch combo.
However some enemy varieties are only a nightmare to cope with, dragging quite a few encounters down into irritating territory. Weapons are arguably the largest concern, with shotgun and SMG-wielding foes locking you down with little to no warning, and making the display screen shake like Phyre’s eyes are about to blow up.
Projectiles is probably not too troublesome should you’re enjoying as a stealthier Phyre, however stealth is so typically tossed apart anyway, in favour of compelled, head-on clashes. In case your clan talents are centered on choosing opponents off from the shadows, good luck going up towards melee-only bosses and their infinite provide of lackies.
Dangerous fight balancing is one factor, however it will get even worse if you throw input-eating body price drops into the equation. Sure, Bloodlines 2 runs so badly on PS5 — and PS5 Professional — that it actively impedes the motion.
And we’re not simply speaking about little dips right here and there — the sport’s full of single-digit body price tanks. Stutters are shockingly considerable no matter how hectic issues are; even simply turning round in an enclosed area can hitch the sport.
That is the form of technical efficiency that beggars perception. In terms of full value releases, we have not seen something this dire because the days of Bethesda’s open world PS3 excursions — and so they have been far extra bold video games than Bloodlines 2.
