Over its first couple of hours, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 does its finest to persuade you that it’d really be fairly good. Towards all odds, this deeply troubled venture might rise above expectations.
However as the sport’s construction turns into increasingly more obvious, the actual 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 numerous ranges, Bloodlines 2 does perceive what made its predecessor so endearing. That was an undeniably flawed launch as effectively, nevertheless it lives on as a fascinating little time capsule — an extremely camp however richly atmospheric tackle early 2000s subculture.
Despite the fact that it is set in 2024, the sequel does handle to faucet into that very same enjoyably schlocky tone — not less than now and again. There are real moments of intrigue, be it by the sport’s lore-tinged dialogue or twisty storytelling.
For those who’re into that aspect of Vampire: The Masquerade — digging into the unwritten guidelines of undead society — then you definitely’ll most likely like numerous what Bloodlines 2 cooks up between its solid of (principally) entertaining characters. There is a clear appreciation for the property’s underlying lore right here.
Nevertheless, not like the primary sport, Bloodlines 2 is severely stripped again as an RPG — to the purpose the place we might 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 flippantly.
Sure, you are handed loads of dialogue choices, and the title particularly tells you that your choices will have an effect — however finally, solely two or three key decisions really matter throughout the sport’s 15-hour runtime.
And even then, the ramifications are sometimes questionable. Characters will let you know 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 individual you are speaking to — after which it will all be forgotten the following time you meet.
What little role-playing there may be additionally suffers from Fallout 4 syndrome. That’s, you may be offered with 4 dialogue choices, however all of them simply say the identical factor with a barely totally different perspective. It is an phantasm of selection by and thru.
And that is actually our primary concern with the sport’s strategy; it goes out of its method to make you assume that you simply’re making a distinction. For instance, Telltale-esque relationship updates seem on the high proper of the display when choosing an interplay, however once more, they equate to very, little or no.
Sadly, that is additionally the case in terms of 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 unsuitable 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 selection of clan determines the way you struggle. Besides you may have unlocked your whole clan’s skills by the point you attain the second chapter of the story, simply two or three hours in.
The ability timber — they’re extra like ability strains — are woefully undercooked, leading to what appears like a close to complete lack of character development for a lot of the sport.
Equally, you get to briefly discuss Phyre’s previous close to the start of the narrative. It is an admittedly attention-grabbing 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 lined, 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 the whole lot round it: Fabien’s flashbacks.
Fabien occurs to be a Nineteen Twenties-styled detective whose psyche is someway trapped inside Phyre’s head. Whilst a faceless voice, there is a quirky allure to his character and his presence is undeniably intriguing. As you’d anticipate, he is key to the overarching plot; there is a thriller on the coronary heart of Phyre’s sudden awakening, and Fabien’s occupation might help 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 presents perception and necessary world constructing all through your journey. The issue, as alluded, is that a lot of this info is relayed by sickeningly prolonged and criminally boring flashback sequences.
On the finish of each chapter, Phyre returns dwelling to relaxation, and Fabien desires of the previous. You are then plopped into the detective’s footwear 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 skills.
So, as Fabien, you stroll between goal markers. Over and time and again. Once you lastly get to 1, you discuss with a personality, by dialogue choices which can be someway much more pointless than those discovered within the current.
You are speculated to be enjoying detective right here, however uncovering leads actually boils right down to choosing each dialogue selection and utilizing one among Fabien’s 4 vampiric powers to make folks or objects spill the beans.
There may be zero participant company throughout these flashbacks. It is not even an phantasm of selection — it is an train in losing the participant’s time. Fabien must 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 type of replay worth that Bloodlines 2 might probably supply. 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 numerous disappointing design choices.
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 permits you to carry out distinctive follow-up assaults, every with their very own makes use of.
The Chinese language Room fairly clearly spent an excellent period of time on these items, and the fundamentals are satisfyingly punchy. Plus, your clan skills — 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 take care of, 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 shake like Phyre’s eyes are about to blow up.
Projectiles is probably not too troublesome for those who’re enjoying as a stealthier Phyre, however stealth is so usually tossed apart anyway, in favour of compelled, head-on clashes. In case your clan skills are targeted on choosing opponents off from the shadows, good luck going up towards melee-only bosses and their limitless provide of lackies.
Dangerous fight balancing is one factor, nevertheless it will get even worse whenever you throw input-eating body charge 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 charge tanks. Stutters are shockingly ample no matter how hectic issues are; even simply turning round in an enclosed house can hitch the sport.
That is the type of technical efficiency that beggars perception. With regards to full value releases, we’ve not seen something this dire because the days of Bethesda’s open world PS3 excursions — they usually have been way more bold video games than Bloodlines 2.
