Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the second installment in an action RPG series originating from 2004, set in an urban fantasy setting, the World of Darkness. It was initially developed by Hardsuit Labs, known for Blacklight Retribution, assisted by other developers (like Brian Mitsoda, the writer of the first game, and Chris Avellone). Eventually, however, Paradox Interactive removed the studio from the project and replaced them with The Chinese Room.

Delays and developer change

In 2020, some of the aforementioned people were fired (for various, not always clear reasons), while Hardsuit Labs were removed from the project by the publisher in February 2021. This meant Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 did not have an official developer for a long time, meaning its future was questionable. In September 2023 it was announced the project had been handed over to The Chinese Room, who were meant to complete it and implenet significant changes.

Plot

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is set in Seattle. We play as an elder vampire, enslaved by an unknown perpetrator. Losing most of their supernatural powers, we must find a new place for ourselves, gain valuable allies and get rid of our enemies. All the while we must maintain the Masquerade, making sure no outsiders learn our true nature.

It's worth noting Hardsuit Labs worked on an entirely different story premise. Originally, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 had us playing as a fledgling vampire investigating a conspiracy and a conflict between several powerful factions.

Gameplay

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a first-person game. The player traverses atmospheric areas, dark Seattle alleys and interiors, completing numerous quests. We also establish relationships with various characters, such as the members of different vampire clans. There are five different factions, all with their own history, philosophy and goals: Pioneers, Outsiders, Camarilla, Unseen and the Baron. It's up to us who to support, our choices affecting the course of the story. We must choose our allies carefully, as every denizen of the World of Darkness has their own secret motives and is prone to ruthless intrigue.

The game features fast-paced combat requiring managing different supernatural abilities and stealth. The developers tried to make our protagonist less of a typical stealth hero, but a night hunter, playing cat and mouse with their prey. As we progress through the game, we grow in power. Still, we must be careful, as we're never invincible.

One must also remember to hunt, as all vampires need blood. Still, we must be cautious, never break the Masquerade and make sure our hunger doesn't make us overly cruel - a vampire can turn into a mindless beast very, very easily.

Technical aspects

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 runs on the Unreal Engine 5, featuring appealing, atmospheric visuals.

Last updated on 31 October 2023