Summary
For some, who were so bold to have expected, or hoped, for a follow-up toVampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines(often referred to as the best vampire video game ever) in a timely manner, this wait haslasted nearly twenty years. For others, the wait started whenVTM-B2was publicly announced all the way back in 2019.
While years might fly by for an immortal, many fans of the game have found it a painstaking ordeal to have to wait for an announcement and hope that it won’t end up canceled. With the game finally, supposedly, coming out later this year, it could be the perfect time to sharpen one’s teeth on a few older titles that also focus onthe alluring undead species, while also allowing for some customization and player choice.
This game is brilliant in concept and setting, but unfortunately not so good in execution. Set in 1918, the game makes good use ofits historical settingand the social sytem it employs for sparing or draining citizens. The effect this has on the streets of London is a fun element that creates variability in the environmental storytelling based on player choice.
It’s not a bad game, but it is disappointing, considering how good it could have been from the potential on display. This disappointment is doubled because of all the vampire games to come out sinceVTM, this one is closest in essence to its progenitor. Sadly, it fails to capture the same blood magic that madeVTMa classic.
One of the most unexpected and enjoyable horror-themed expansions to a non-horror game,Festival of Bloodonce again puts players in the trainers of superpowered Cole McGrath, this time in a fight against a vampire scourge led by Bloody Mary. After getting turned into a vampire himself, Cole is given a host of new abilities. In a dark turn, rather than protecting the civiliansof New Marias, he must feed on them to regain strength.
The vampires themselves look great, pulled right fromDusk Til DawnandThe Lost Boys.While it would have been good if the vampiric powers and combat had a little more depth, the mechanics in place are very fun to play around with.
TheDawnguardexpansion brought many extra features, such as new areas, abilities, monsters and, most notable of all, the possibility of becoming a vampire lord. The Forgotten Vale is a particularly beautiful addition to the land of Skyrim, and brings the memorable moment of Naaslaarum and Voslaarum bursting forth from the ice lake for a double dragon boss encounter.
Unlike many other vampire focused games,Dawngaurdallows the player to choose whether they will beallied with or fighting againstthe vampires. Playing as a vampire also creates some notable changes in gameplay and how the player character must navigate the world.
A surprise hit from Stunlock Studios, a small Swedish developer,V Risingdoes an excellent job at allowing the player to live out their own personal vampire fantasy.V Risingmakes good use of the limitations of being a vampire and factoring them into gameplay, such as the constant necessity for blood and a day/night cycle in which the player can burn up if exposed to too much sunlight.
One of the best-loved features is the ability to create a custom castle for their vampire to rule over. Starting from humble beginnings with four walls and a couple of torches, the player can grow their home into amulti-storied gothic masterpiecethat would make Dracula drool.
A bit of a five-in-one cheat entry, but while each game has its own fantastic story to tell, players need to experience the whole series to get the full breadth of the epic narrative. Much likeVTM,TheLegacy of Kainseries takes place in a setting full of lore and dark details for the player to uncover throughout their adventure.
While TheLegacy of Kainseries has a fixed story to tell, it is an excellent one, full of luxurious, dark and gothic settings and thoughtful character-driven dialogue.
Obviously, one of the best choices to go for is the firstBloodlinesgame itself. This masterful RPG fully embraces the role-playing aspects, giving the player plentiful choices to createvastly different charactersand stories. The writing slides between thought-provoking, unsettling, funny, and even seductive, delivering every flavor of vampire one could ask for.
The quests also vary greatly and bring a sense of escalation that shows off how far the player character has evolved and risen from a fledgling, scraping by on the streets, to a feared/respected member of the masquerade – worthy of their own legend.
