Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines 2 Review – Aged, But Still A Fine Wine

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I have a lot of fond memories of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, but what really stands out is realizing it was the first game I played that felt a little too mature for me at the time.

I first played Bloodline’s Santa Monica when I was eleven, and I remember awkwardly navigating its unsettling environments – rooms littered with things like pill bottles and condom wrappers, which even now make me a little embarrassed to think about. I was far too young and shy to be involved in the game’s more adult interactions, like kissing characters or exploring the creepy Ocean House Hotel. But despite that, I absolutely loved it. It was the first time I realized games could be so dark, mature, and edgy.

I first became a huge fan of tabletop and computer role-playing games with the release of Neverwinter Nights in 2002, and Bloodlines cemented that passion. So, like many others, I’ve been eagerly—and with a little anxiety—awaiting the release of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2.

Despite a difficult development and a long wait, I think Bloodlines 2 was ultimately worth playing. It’s not a perfect game, but I really enjoyed my time with it. It successfully captures the spirit of the original Bloodlines, combining action, stealth, and investigation into a mature RPG where your choices matter. While it’s not quite as complex as the first game, it still *feels* very familiar – I often felt like I was replaying the original, sneaking through warehouses and carefully choosing my words. However, it does have some noticeable bugs and technical problems that sometimes make it feel a bit outdated.

When the game ran smoothly, it was genuinely enjoyable. Bloodlines 2 doesn’t quite have the same level of options and freedom as many newer RPGs, but that’s not necessarily a drawback. The strong story and memorable characters more than make up for it. I especially loved exploring the beautifully designed city of Seattle, discussing science with Safia, and Fabien’s whole detective vibe. It was incredibly satisfying to silently take down rooms full of enemies using my vampire abilities, and the weight of dialogue choices – knowing they determined the ending – was really impactful. While Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 might not be a super complex RPG, it’s definitely a thrilling and entertaining experience.

The original Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines put you in the shoes of a newly turned vampire. Bloodlines 2 takes a different approach, letting you play as a much older vampire – around 150 years old, known as ‘The Nomad’ before becoming Phyre. The game begins after you wake up from a 100-year slumber with a powerful hunger and a strange voice in your head. That voice belongs to Fabien, a vampire detective from the 1920s who is equally confused about why you share a mind and body. This sets off a series of mysteries that unfold across three different time periods as you try to understand what’s happening to you, Fabien, the struggling vampire society (called the Camarilla), and the city of Seattle.

The game that follows is packed with political scheming and surprising turns, offering a satisfying experience even if you can anticipate some of the plot points. While many games have tackled the trade-off between freedom and safety—and how people often accept flawed systems rather than face discomfort or inconvenience—Bloodlines 2 handles these themes well, with a good amount of style and flair.

One of the best things about Bloodlines 2 is how well-developed its characters are. Fabien, who you spend a lot of time with and is modeled after a classic 1920s detective, could easily be annoying. However, despite that potential and the fact that he’s meant to be the game’s source of humor, he’s surprisingly well-written and genuinely likable.

The characters in Bloodlines 2, while exaggerated, are surprisingly complex and well-developed. Lou Graham, the former vampire Prince, is a narcissistic aristocrat, but she also has a vulnerable, relatable side. Ryomi, the current Prince, tries to appear strong, but is clearly struggling with the responsibilities of leadership and balancing her ideals with practical concerns. Katsumi, a former surgeon and Anarch leader, isn’t motivated by power or violence; she genuinely believes someone needs to protect the vampires the Camarilla overlooks and mistreats. Safia, the Camarilla’s scientist, is understandably awkward, but deeply passionate about those she cares for, and uses her vampiric charm in a unique way.

Even with so many other notable characters, I have to mention Tolly. As a Nosferatu, he’s lost his good looks, a consequence of becoming something other than human. It’s compellingly revealed that while he once cared deeply about his appearance, his experiences as a gay man during the 1980s have left him simply grateful to have survived.

I was consistently struck by how well-developed and empathetic the characters were, and I immediately wanted to replay the game to get to know them better. There’s a romance option too, though it’s not very deep. However, if you’re curious to hear an old vampire talk about modern dating, this game is definitely worth trying.

I really didn’t like the name ‘Phyre’ – it feels like a random choice that never grows on you – but I genuinely enjoyed the character. Even after 45 hours of gameplay, I didn’t get tired of their familiar accent and the amusing way they struggled with everyday modern life. Sometimes the jokes about it felt a little forced, but mostly they were funny and didn’t feel too cringeworthy.

What really makes Phyre stand out is their history, and how well it’s integrated into the game’s main plot. Playing as Phyre felt surprisingly similar to playing as The Dark Urge in Baldur’s Gate 3. Like The Dark Urge, Phyre is a fully formed character with a complex past and relationships – people recognize them and have opinions about them. This makes them much more engaging than a typical player character who’s just starting out, and it significantly improves the overall experience.

Honestly, one thing that bugged me about the game was how much focus there was on Phyre’s past. It just highlighted how little your vampire clan actually *matters* in the story. In Vampire: The Masquerade, your clan is a huge part of who you are – like, Toreadors are all about charm and art, Tremere are into dark magic, and so on. Everyone has a reputation. Bloodlines 2 *does* acknowledge these clans and their history, but I was really disappointed because choosing a clan didn’t really change how I played the game. Sure, it tweaked a few lines of dialogue and gave me a different starting skill set, but you can unlock all the clan-specific abilities and outfits later on just by talking to NPCs, no matter what clan you picked at the beginning. It felt kinda pointless, to be honest.

I have to say, letting me learn all the combat skills was a brilliant move. The standard fighting, just mashing the R1 button to attack and L1 to dodge, felt pretty basic. But unlocking my vampire powers completely changed things and made combat so much more interesting – it saved what could have been a really boring experience!

Phyre, no matter its character class, has telekinetic powers, letting it push, pull, and even grab weapons during fights. It’s immortal, constantly moving between rooftops and using its abilities to defeat enemies – either by dropping them from heights or disarming them with their own weapons. Beyond this, each vampire also gets four powerful special abilities. Some are gruesome, like forcing an enemy to harm themselves, or making their blood boil. Others, such as Possession and Mass Manipulation, are simply cunning. Combining these skills creates a really enjoyable gameplay experience, whether you prefer direct combat or a stealthy approach.

The game gives you incredible powers, but you need to regularly replenish your health with blood – from defeating enemies, civilians, or using blood packs. By the end of the game, I was amazed at how easily I could clear out entire buildings full of foes. Usually, my strategy involved sneaking up high, taking control of the strongest enemy, and forcing them to attack their allies. Once the enemies were fighting each other, I’d use a powerful ability to quickly eliminate most of the weaker ones and collect their weapons. Any new enemies drawn to the chaos would then be taken down with a stealth attack, using the weapons I’d just collected. It was incredibly satisfying to pull this off repeatedly.

Moving around the world in Bloodline 2 is just as fast and smooth as the combat. One character even jokes about not getting used to seeing a flying vampire, and I agree – it’s exhilarating! Bounding and gliding between buildings feels fantastic once you get the hang of it, though the game’s occasional awkwardness can make it a little tricky. Still, it’s the closest I’ve felt to playing Batman: Arkham City in years, and that’s a huge compliment.

Despite its potential, Bloodlines 2 doesn’t fully utilize its city setting to create a rewarding experience for players. While the game includes some collectibles and simple side quests – like delivering packages or completing occasional bounties – it’s mostly a very straightforward game where you repeatedly travel between a limited number of locations. These side quests don’t have much impact on the story, making it feel pointless to explore the city’s different areas.

Despite the game’s flaws, the depiction of Seattle is truly beautiful. It’s a shame the detailed and charming environment doesn’t encourage more exploration. I especially loved exploring Pioneer Square, with its gritty atmosphere and realistic lighting effects on the snow. The game clearly draws inspiration from real Seattle locations, like the entrance to the city’s underground tour. Even though I’m not from Seattle, I recognized details from my own visits, and it’s clear a lot of effort went into creating a polished and beautiful world.

Bloodlines 2, unfortunately, feels unrefined, and this is its biggest weakness. During my time with the game on PlayStation 5, it crashed around seven times, and a colleague on PC experienced at least two crashes. I even hit a point where I couldn’t play for days because I got stuck in the game, unable to access a room needed to complete a quest and continue the story. I tried everything I could think of, and ultimately had to load an older save and replay a couple of hours to fix it. Luckily, that worked.

The game was full of glitches – enemies ignored the laws of physics, my character would walk through walls, and characters often acted strangely. Surprisingly, even when I accidentally revealed the existence of vampires to humans – breaking a major rule of the game – the consequences weren’t very serious. I could usually just hide for a moment and then go back to what I was doing. This inconsistency could be hilarious and endearing at times, but frustrating at others.

Bloodlines 2 is a bit of a mixed bag – enjoyable in moments, but flawed overall. There’s a lot to appreciate, especially the story, characters, and the feeling of being incredibly powerful. However, it feels unpolished compared to other recent RPGs, and doesn’t quite reach the same heights in terms of depth, player choice, or overall polish. It often feels like the game succeeds *despite* its issues, which ultimately leaves it as a good, but not great, experience.

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2025-10-17 17:00