Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York

Forget the fact that Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York is a visual novel, as it really knows what the setting is all about. From the world, to the characters, to the absolutely fantastic setting and handling of the franchises deep lore, this is really a Vampire: The Masquerade game done right, and one that's highly replayable. There are a few flaws here and there, like how forgettable the plot at hand is, or how the paths don't diverge as much as one would want them to, but this is such an engrossing, and deeply atmospheric experience that it doesn't really matter.

Although this game consists of quite a lot of reading, the story and overall feel of the title should keep VTM fans and newbies alike entertained from start to finish. It is a shame that there is no time to experience each and every storyline, and the inability to save multiple games is a bit of a deterrent. Overall, this indie RPG is a pretty good distraction for vampire fanatics to delve into as they anxiously await the upcoming releases this year.

I’m hoping that Coteries is the first modern step forward for an IP long overdue for mass recognition. Vampire: The Masquerade fans will enjoy this, and fans of vampire fiction in general might want to give it a whirl, as this is an easy introduction to an awesome universe.

Even though it would have certainly benefited from being a bit more open-ended as far as its main plot is concerned, Coteries of New York is still a remarkably fun visual novel based on the 5th Edition Vampire Rulebook, that should serve as an adequate appetizer ahead of the "main course" set to arrive in 2020.

Excellent writing and vibrant characters help to overcome prominent technical issues and unwelcome repetition.

Exploring and appreciating a visual novel with writing as good as this one shouldn’t be tiresome. With luck, future patches and updates will address these minor concerns because Coteries of New York is something well worth sinking one’s fangs into.

Of course, the sound accompaniment is not up to the other elements, but thanks to a collective of memorable characters, to original and functional mechanics for the genre, to an excellent bouquet of missions to follow and to a main story that loses hits only on the final, the boys of Draw Distance have sketched a remarkable work, with which it will be pleasant to get lost in the night of New York.

I could see this being a solid primer for anyone wanting to get into the World of Darkness to prepare for Bloodlines 2, or those who need another excellent adventure to hold them over and sate the hunger.

While clearly not as impressive in gaming terms as the Bloodlines series, Coteries of New York is a welcome addition to the digital world of The Masquerade. Offering up an immersive and atmospheric take on the politics and personalities of the undead Big Apple, it seduces with it’s quality of writing and characterisation, proving to be more than a mere snack to tide the Hunger over until the main course of Bloodlines 2. If you have any taste for the Gothic you should give yourself over to the vampiric delights of Coteries.

A well-written interactive visual novel aimed primarily at the newcomers to the world of the Masquerade. The progress is, however, a bit too linear and you can’t really change the outcome of the story.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York is a hell of a mouthful, but one that you should at least take a nibble at. The streamlined gameplay and engrossing story make it an approachable title that artfully embraces The World of Darkness. While its relative lack of role-playing depth, linearity, and brevity may be off putting to some, when taken for what it is there is a lot to enjoy here.

It’s a classic initiation story. Unfortunately the quantity of content wins over its quality so it may seem that the game drags on while simultaneously being too short. [03/2020, p.78]

For a quick introduction into the World of Darkness setting it’s a fine novel to read through and play through. But it has some rather quality of life options that are missing from this type of game and they should not be missing. Give it a chance if it's on some nice sale.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York is an entertaining visual novel with a good style but few real choices.

If the intention of Coteries of New York was to remind me how excited I am about Bloodlines 2, and how much I enjoy the lore of Vampire: The Masquerade, then we’ll call this a win. As a visual novel, it is a solid story, flawed only by visual repetition and some bare-bones production. It’s an intriguing tale, well told, but over too soon and not inviting to revisit.

Coteries of New York is an excellent entry point and a good adaptation of the traditional tabletop RPG. If you’re looking for a solid vampire story this is definitely for you.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York left me feeling hungry. The game is certainly well-written, but its truncated story doesn’t quite do its complex, captivating world justice. If you’re a dedicated VTM devotee, Coteries of New York is a solid appetizer, but you’ll have to wait until next year for something to truly sink your fangs into.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York does an excellent job of introducing new gamers to the World of Darkness. Players who have waited fifteen years for a new Vampire: The Masquerade game will feel right at home.

Vampire: the Masquerade - Coteries of New York is a well-written interactive story in the World of Darkness that fans of the franchise will enjoy. While mostly a good read, it's let down by repetitive visuals, bugs, and relatively shallow choices. Players used to approaching Vampire as an RPG should temper their expectations.

World of Darkness marks its return to the videogame scene with a simple, yet intriguing visual novel. It's not the most memorable story about vampires, but despite being a low budget game, it definitely has its good vibes.

Coteries of New York is a return to the world of Vampire: The Masquerade that fans will enjoy. Those unfamiliar with the series might be left feeling underwhelmed, however.

I simply cannot recommend Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York, because it's asking full price for what feels like half a game. I wanted to like this game because its graphics, sound, and general vibe reflect the kind of vampire story that appeals to me. Unfortunately, what I experienced was a massive heap of squandered potential that left me feeling cold and dead inside. I hate to say it, but Vampire: The Masquerade - Coteries of New York earns the dubious distinction of being my biggest disappointment from 2019.

An average visual novel that, despite the attempts, fails to transport Vampire: The Masquerade' mechanics. What remains is an interesting story that is clearly aimed at the niche of devotees in the world of White Wolf.

If you absolutely can't wait until Bloodlines 2 for your next Vampire: The Masquerade fix, Coteries of New York is a decent enough way to fill the time.

Coteries of New York does offer a glimpse into intriguing lore, and I can envision it as a companion to the Bloodlines 2 release for new players if it adds some much-needed basic features seen in most visual novels. It introduces the ideas, societies and cultures of World of Darkness adequately but its short length might leave fledglings and die-hard fans hungry for blood.

What began as a compelling exploration of the Vampire: The Masquerade universe quickly became an endurance test. This is a peculiar, idiosyncratic game, both in its narrative structure and the many capricious design choices. I’m sad to say I can’t recommend it.