Over its first couple of hours, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 does its greatest to persuade you that it would really be fairly good. In opposition to all odds, this deeply troubled undertaking 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 basic in a short time collapses in on itself, regardless of some sturdy 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, nevertheless 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 — at the least from time to time. There are real moments of intrigue, be it by the sport’s lore-tinged dialogue or twisty storytelling.
When you’re into that facet of Vampire: The Masquerade — digging into the unwritten guidelines of undead society — then you definitely’ll most likely like a whole lot 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.
Nonetheless, in contrast to the primary recreation, 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 calmly.
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 inform you that your actions have resulted in one thing, however you will hardly ever, 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’s going to all be forgotten the following time you meet.
What little role-playing there may be additionally suffers from Fallout 4 syndrome. That’s, you will 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 alternative by and thru.
And that is actually our major difficulty with the sport’s method; it goes out of its solution to make you assume that you just’re making a distinction. For instance, Telltale-esque relationship updates seem on the high 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 to your character. You play as a largely preestablished lead — an elder vampire known as Phyre — and whereas there’s nothing essentially incorrect 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 struggle. Besides you will have unlocked your whole clan’s talents by the point you attain the second chapter of the story, simply two or three hours in.
The talent timber — they’re extra like talent strains — are woefully undercooked, leading to what looks like a close to complete lack of character development for a lot of the recreation.
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 mainly 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 all the pieces round it: Fabien’s flashbacks.
Fabien occurs to be a Twenties-styled detective whose psyche is in some way trapped within Phyre’s head. Whilst a faceless voice, there is a quirky attraction 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 career will 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 gives perception and vital world constructing all through your journey. The issue, as alluded, is that a lot of this data is relayed by sickeningly prolonged and criminally boring flashback sequences.
On the finish of each chapter, Phyre returns dwelling to relaxation, and Fabien goals 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 talents.
So, as Fabien, you stroll between goal markers. Over and again and again. Whenever you lastly get to 1, you discuss with a personality, by dialogue choices which can be in some way 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 individuals or objects spill the beans.
There may be 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 must be an empathetic ally, however due to these tediously padded sequences, you will most likely find yourself hating his wisecracking guts.
The flashbacks kill the sport’s momentum time and time once more — together with any sort of replay worth that Bloodlines 2 might presumably provide. A really baffling misfire within the storytelling division.
So what in regards to the fight? Motion may very well be one of many title’s solely saving graces, however all too predictably, it is hamstrung by quite a few 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 numerous instructions enables 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 items, and the fundamentals are satisfyingly punchy. Plus, your clan talents — as stunted as they could be — may give 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 difficulty, 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 might not be too troublesome should you’re enjoying as a stealthier Phyre, however stealth is so typically tossed apart anyway, in favour of pressured, head-on clashes. In case your clan talents are targeted on choosing opponents off from the shadows, good luck going up in opposition to melee-only bosses and their limitless provide of lackies.
Unhealthy fight balancing is one factor, nevertheless it will get even worse while you throw input-eating body fee 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 filled with single-digit body fee tanks. Stutters are shockingly ample no matter how hectic issues are; even simply turning round in an enclosed area can hitch the sport.
That is the sort of technical efficiency that beggars perception. With regards to full worth releases, we’ve not seen something this dire because the days of Bethesda’s open world PS3 excursions — and so they have been far extra formidable video games than Bloodlines 2.
