Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2

Despite much of the game delivering an unpolished or incomplete experience with warnings in almost all of its foundations, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 still has some highlights that are well worth it for fans of the franchise.

Despite its issues with underbaked sidequests, technical polish, and combat jank, I’m glad I played Bloodlines 2. It’s a game that shouldn’t exist from a publisher that’s never put out anything quite like it, and a developer best known for slow-paced experiential games, who salvaged a failed project and put its own spin on it. It has no right to be this good. When you’re playing your part and wearing your social mask, navigating murky alleyways and murkier politics, solving grisly murders and listening to the sounds of the street, Bloodlines 2 pulls you into its sharp embrace and refuses to unlatch until you reach its climax.

Bloodlines 2 is a let-down, but not irredeemable. Despite a sparse open world and a story that's inflexible until the later hours, there's fun to be had here. Action and stealth gameplay help fulfill the vampire fantasy, and strong performances from the voice cast make the noir narrative one that I didn't mind revisiting each session. My 22 hours with Bloodlines 2 were mildly entertaining, but like an insatiable vampire, I'm left feeling a little empty.

This more or less reflects Bloodlines 2 as a whole: sometimes charming, other times, not so much. There is a lot here that is great; I loved the narrative, the characters, the drama, and the sheer power fantasy of it all. At the same time, it's one of the more unpolished games I've reviewed, and definitely lacks the same level of ambition, scope, choice, and general tightness of other modern RPGs. Oftentimes, I found myself thinking that Bloodlines 2 is a great game in spite of itself--which really only makes it a pretty good game, ultimately.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is not the vampire adventure you were hoping for, but it also isn't the massive disappointment you might have expected given its troubled development process. Even though the game clearly needs more development time, especially since the ending feels particularly rushed, there is some charm to Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2. The gameplay can be truly engaging, thanks to the vampiric powers and dynamic traversal... as long as you don't spend too much time in its melee combat.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 has a wealth of issues, from an open world that feels wasted to combat that feels scrappy throughout. Thanks to a gripping narrative that you can shape with your actions, however, you'll likely still enjoy your time spent sucking blood across Seattle.

A moody, atmospheric vampire RPG with strong narrative moments and memorable characters, but held back by dated visuals, clunky combat, and a hollow open world. Beautiful ideas, flawed execution.

Bloodlines 2 has undeniable qualities: its rich world, its political intrigue, its immersive atmosphere, and some vampiric powers offer real moments of pleasure. But the game multiplies good ideas that it executes poorly and, in this sense, is neither a good RPG nor a good action game. It's a mixed experience that, despite solid writing, suffers from rather poor level design, minimal progression, and low-impact choices, tarnishing the full potential of an otherwise promising sequel. Bloodlines 2 gives the impression of a game rushed out, which did not fully exploit what its flamboyant universe had to offer.

Despite well-written central characters that, at their best, radiate charm and intrigue, Vampire The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is an overstretched affair darkened by the shadows of its own limitations. Those looking for a well-realized vampire fantasy will find part of what they’re looking for here. However, should they stray from the central story or look too closely at The Chinese Room’s Seattle-by-night or the systems that underpin it, they will find themselves disappointed.

For all the old school mechanics and minor gripes, I ultimately really enjoyed playing Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2. Once I got the hang of gliding across rooftops, scurrying up fire escapes, and kicking some vampire butt, Bloodlines 2 gave me that immersive vampire roleplay feeling that led me to pick up the Vampire: The Masquerade TTRPG in the first place. It may not quite live up to what I wanted it to be, but it still feels like a vampire game worth playing if you’ve been craving a spooky, blood-soaked RPG this October.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 delivers a compelling Neo-Noir story with intriguing characters and bloody combat, but its shift to a more linear, action-focused experience sacrifices the freedom and depth of its predecessor.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will certainly appeal to the die-hard fans of its world, thanks to the story. Unfortunately though, it commits the cardinal sin of simply not being fun enough to play, and that's a difficult coffin to clamber back out of.

While I did have fun with my time in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, I felt myself saddened by just how much it strayed from the immersive sim formula. I really hope that the upcoming DLC packs emphasize the RPG features more than the action-focused gameplay, but as of right now, I don’t really have as much of a desire to replay Bloodlines 2 as I do other entries in the genre. For better or for worse, my greatest takeaway when the credits rolled was that I wish I had played the original game instead.

Bloodlines 2 is more of an action game with light RPG elements. While the world and lore are great, the game shows signs of a rocky development. If you enjoy vampire themes and detective-style gameplay, it’s worth checking out just not at full price.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is the epitome of wasted potential. It’s one of the most beloved TTRPG franchises of all time, and the original game has become a cult classic over the years. This isn’t the sequel we hoped for, wanted, or even expected. It’s a Vampire: The Masquerade in name only.