Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 review: Was it worth the 21 year wait?

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Even though *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* faced a lot of problems and almost didn’t happen, it’s still a game with a great story and setting, though it doesn’t strongly resemble traditional role-playing games.

Bloodlines 2 was first announced in 2019, but its development hasn’t been smooth. The original development team, Hardsuit Labs, was taken off the project and replaced by The Chinese Room, though the reasons for this change weren’t shared publicly. Additionally, plans for paid downloadable content releasing on the game’s launch day, featuring two new clans, sparked criticism from fans.

Fortunately, plans for a remake were scrapped, meaning fans can soon experience the original *Vampire: The Masquerade* game – a beloved classic from 2004 – for the first time in over two decades.

Bloodlines 2 Screenshots

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What is Bloodlines 2 about?

Okay, so I’m totally hooked on this character, Phyre! They’re an ancient vampire who just woke up after a *long* sleep, and things are immediately weird. They’ve got this voice in their head – it turns out it’s Fabien, this really cool detective straight out of a noir film. And get this, there’s a serial killer called the Rebar killer going around, and they’re targeting both humans *and* vampires! It’s a crazy setup, and I can’t wait to see what happens next.

You and Fabien will navigate a decaying Seattle overrun by the undead, a city riddled with political conflict, feuding groups, and dangerous vampire hunters who threaten to expose the vampire world. Your mission is to protect the Masquerade – keeping vampires hidden from humans – and survive the chaos.

A masterclass in worldbuilding

Let’s clarify what Bloodlines 2 offers. It’s not a sprawling RPG like The Witcher. Don’t expect large-scale boss fights, character leveling, or stat improvements – there’s limited combat. Instead, think of it as an adventure game similar to Infamous Second Son, focused on conversations with both vampires and humans. Your choices in these conversations will ultimately decide the fate of Seattle’s vampire community, the Kindred, and how safe the city becomes.

You have to hide your supernatural abilities from humans to maintain the Masquerade – the secrecy that keeps vampires hidden. You’ll often face difficult moral choices, and your decisions significantly affect the story.

Vampire: The Masquerade has a rich and detailed backstory, so learning terms like ‘Kindred,’ ‘Torpor,’ and the different vampire clans is important for understanding the narrative. Fortunately, the game explains these concepts as you play.

If you’re willing to give it a try, you’ll find yourself captivated by a stunning and ever-evolving world of vampires. From the cold streets of Seattle to witty conversations with arrogant royals, the story is both easy to follow and incredibly engaging.

Let’s discuss Seattle, the setting of this story. The map provided is quite small, and while that was initially a letdown, it actually turned out to be helpful. The story is already intricate, and the simplified map made it easier to get around. You always knew where you needed to go and what you’d find there, which allowed you to focus on the story itself.

Fabien’s sections are particularly well-done. His character, a charming and unique individual, investigates things in a way that’s fun to watch and helps both Phyre and the player learn more about the game’s world.

Left hungry for missing features

I’ve been a huge fan of Vampire: The Masquerade for years, starting with the first video game, Redemption, back in 2000. It’s all based on a really popular tabletop RPG, and what I always loved about the tabletop version was how realistically it portrayed what it would *actually* be like to be a vampire. I was really hoping they’d capture that same feeling in Bloodlines 2, but it just didn’t quite hit the mark.

You don’t have to worry about time limits, letting you explore side quests at your own pace – though they can get a bit samey. This freedom is nice, but it also means there’s no pressure to address your character’s main flaw, which feels like a missed opportunity.

The game uses hunger to unlock and improve your abilities, which is really helpful at first. But once you’ve gotten the best abilities, the ‘blood’ resource becomes unnecessary, as it’s only used in combat. This feels odd, considering the game emphasizes playing as a stealthy vampire.

The tabletop role-playing game version includes ‘The Beast’ – a powerful, uncontrollable urge representing your vampire nature. This narrative element often happens when you fail skill checks or don’t feed, turning you into a dangerous predator. It manifests as an inner voice pushing you to harm others, and it would have been a fantastic addition to the video game.

Being a vampire mostly just seems to be about avoiding eating around other people, and that feels like a waste of a potentially much more interesting existence.

Restrictive but brutal battles

While the game doesn’t feature much fighting, the battles it *does* have are intense and clearly demonstrate how much stronger the older vampires are compared to their opponents.

Having the power to severely injure or even kill your enemies – like delivering incredibly fast and forceful attacks – is incredibly intoxicating. Similar to a vampire’s need for blood, you’ll quickly become obsessed with finding and overpowering opponents just to feel that rush.

Battles are enjoyable and flow well, particularly when playing as the Brujah, a character who excels at close-range combat and can take a lot of damage. But the game often felt like direct confrontation was the only way to win. In the more structured levels, you *have* to defeat every enemy to move forward. While the Brujah is strong enough to handle that, it doesn’t allow for strategies like sneaking past enemies or avoiding combat altogether.

Even so, battles were consistently enjoyable, from challenging boss encounters to skirmishes with regular enemies. While the game does focus on a single combat style, there’s a unique satisfaction in defeating even the most irritating vampires.

Verdict

Bloodlines 2 offers a compelling and mature political story where your decisions truly matter, creating a complex and engaging experience. The game features a beautifully atmospheric city filled with memorable characters. While it excels as an adventure game, it doesn’t fully embrace the role-playing elements that would make you feel like a vampire, hindering its potential as a true RPG. This both helps and hurts the game overall.

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2025-10-17 16:48