Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong

 PlayStation 5
User Score
3.9

Generally unfavorable reviews- based on 42 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11 out of 42
  2. Mixed: 9 out of 42
  3. Negative: 22 out of 42
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  1. M-49
    May 22, 2022
    6
    An interactive story of intrigue and horror locked securely behind a boring, impenetrable game system.

    From the moment you begin, everything about Swansong screams that you WILL play the way the developers want you to play. You play at their pace (no skipping repeated interactions), their stakes (no manual saves, no precise level selects), and their rules (obtuse skill systems that    An interactive story of intrigue and horror locked securely behind a boring, impenetrable game system.

    From the moment you begin, everything about Swansong screams that you WILL play the way the developers want you to play. You play at their pace (no skipping repeated interactions), their stakes (no manual saves, no precise level selects), and their rules (obtuse skill systems that leave you unprepared for every interaction).

    Moving beyond the user-hostile interface, in a market filled with open-world games, Swansong puts you in a box and firmly on the rails. Yes, there are some switches on the tracks ahead, but mostly it feels as though you're trapped in a room with nine paintings of elaborate doors on the wall, and one actual real door that you have to go find a key to open. Wait, did I say it feels like that? I meant it literally is that.

    In all, the combination of the game system and the story feel as though there was too much thought put into how the game would feel on a second play through - where I can only presume the player can go through armed with hindsight and a much more robust skill tree. Unfortunately, in what feels like an attempt to guarantee multiple plays to explore different story options, they took away the players' freedom.

    What's left are some good vocal performances within a game the very much feels like its playing itself.
    Please don't interrupt.    … Expand
  2. Arkane7
    May 21, 2022
    1
    I played the original Vampire The Masquerade Redemption two decades ago which was a awesome title. This however, is a sequel in name only. The writing is atrocious as are the characters. Graphics are serviceable as is the voice acting which ranges from extremely cheesy to average. The gameplay is pretty unbalanced and repetitive. Give this one a pass and rather play Redemption or Bloodlines.
  3. x6po6go6x
    May 22, 2022
    0
    Extremely disappointing. I love Vampire The Masquerade and I was so excited to play this game, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my hopes and expectations at all. It is simply bad. The voice acting is terrible, the graphics are dated, the story is disjointed and boring, and there's no combat whatsoever. To be clear I am ok with the lack of combat if the story is interesting andExtremely disappointing. I love Vampire The Masquerade and I was so excited to play this game, but unfortunately it didn't live up to my hopes and expectations at all. It is simply bad. The voice acting is terrible, the graphics are dated, the story is disjointed and boring, and there's no combat whatsoever. To be clear I am ok with the lack of combat if the story is interesting and engaging. Disco Elysium is probably my favorite game from the last 10 years. But that game had an amazing story with meaningful decisions to be made. Disco Elysium kept you on your toes from beginning to end. That is not the case here. Anyway as if the game-play and story weren't bad enough, then you have to deal with all the force fed SJW BS on top of that. It's truly awful.… Expand
  4. VrrKdor
    May 24, 2022
    0
    The game looks awful. Game mechanics and graphics are mediocre but the most destacable is the character design, that is deplorable. The script seems developed from a napkin and game becomes boring, the only character that holds up a bit is Galeb. The discussion mechanic is the worst I've seen in the series and the SJW level is high.
    Also, I found bugs. Victoria Ash DLC caused my entire 2    The game looks awful. Game mechanics and graphics are mediocre but the most destacable is the character design, that is deplorable. The script seems developed from a napkin and game becomes boring, the only character that holds up a bit is Galeb. The discussion mechanic is the worst I've seen in the series and the SJW level is high.
    Also, I found bugs. Victoria Ash DLC caused my entire 2 hour game reset and I really don't understad why, because the content of the dlc it's poor.
    This is not what the fans deserve. If I could take a refund I would take it.
    Don't buy this garbage    … Expand
  5. OnlyOneHere
    May 23, 2022
    0
    This game is one big steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $50 for a mobile game. The graphics are poor. The animations are extremely pathetic and it rivals off-brand Pixar movies. This game has some of the worst lip syncing I have ever seen in my life. Keep in mind that this is a $50 PS5 game for goodness sake. The physics are beyond horrible.

    The gameplay in    This game is one big steaming pile of garbage. The greedy developers are charging $50 for a mobile game. The graphics are poor. The animations are extremely pathetic and it rivals off-brand Pixar movies. This game has some of the worst lip syncing I have ever seen in my life. Keep in mind that this is a $50 PS5 game for goodness sake. The physics are beyond horrible.

    The gameplay in this game is boring and repeti... wait a minute. What gameplay? There is practically no combat in this game. All you do is walk, talk and solve worthless puzzles. This isn't even a game, this is a movie. It is the exact same trash as The Medium. If these cheap and lazy developers are going to keep making these walking simulator movie games, would it kill them to make good facial animations? The face mask animations are laughable. The story is terrible and it is full of SJW garbage. The voice acting is an embarrassment. This game literally put me to sleep out of boredom.

    There is no multiplayer. So once you beat the story, there is literally not a reason to play this game again. Charging $50 for a game with no replay value is a cash grab. There is a stand-alone free-to-play battle royale for this game called Bloodhunt. Surprisingly enough it actually has combat. Bloodhunt is just as bad as Swansong, but at least it's free. Do I at least get any multiplayer benefits for paying $50 for this trash? Not that I remember. I don't recommend this poor excuse of a game at all.    … Expand
  6. Morgan35
    May 21, 2022
    0
    Story is a meh but Graphics and Animations Are So Bad. It was difficult to tolerate this game. It's bad on next gen, even cyberpunk's release was better than this.
  7. alirezaporshe
    Dec 17, 2022
    0
    Dont waste your time and money and even internet traffic data for this pice of crap. I played two hours free trial ony ps plus membership and the game is really annoying. The graphics are beyond terrible. The lipsync is ridiculouse the music is boring the story is none sense and everything else is terrible. I have no idea that why they made those perfect trailers before realasing the game
  8. Cha0ticneutral
    Jun 3, 2022
    5
    What could have been a good game gets so terribly boring by the mid point, I can't even bring myself to finish it. Lots of potential, unfortunately you're pelted with insufferable puzzles that only gets more so as the game progresses.
  9. ClayLamm
    May 26, 2022
    10
    These reviews are really sad. They don't realize that this isn't a sequel to bloodlines, it's a quasi-sequel to a graphic novel series, Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York & Shadows of New York.

    So I came in with radically different expectations for this title, it is exactly what I knew it would be and frankly, it's a nice change of pace to all the endless killing I do    These reviews are really sad. They don't realize that this isn't a sequel to bloodlines, it's a quasi-sequel to a graphic novel series, Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York & Shadows of New York.

    So I came in with radically different expectations for this title, it is exactly what I knew it would be and frankly, it's a nice change of pace to all the endless killing I do (though you will also kill people in this game) in the other games I play. Without giving too much away, it's very much an interactive novel with fully rendered 3d models using some light gameplay in the form of investigation, puzzle-solving, and dialogue sleuthing to tell most of its story. I found the voice acting to be quite good, and while it's clear the game needed a little more polish, and to be blunt could've sold for a little bit less, I will most likely play through it a few times. The only real complaint is it is lacking a New Game + mode and this game is begging to have one!

    My real score would be more like a 7 out of 10, but these goobers gave it zeros because they don't know how to use google and read. I recommend it on sale if you have doubts, but if you're a fan of the two previous titles this studio made, it's kind of a no-brainer.    … Expand
  10. Huuman
    May 27, 2022
    10
    You have to like the genre.
    Yes the graphic is not the best and there are small bug. But it feels like they put a lot of love in it and i like the setting and the story.
    it is a narrative game like life is strange and of course there is a lot of text and all, but dispute that, i really enjoyed playing it !
  11. Dziki213
    Jun 25, 2022
    10
    Just finished the game and the more I played the more I grew to like it. It's tough at begging with all the skills and disciplines, very chaotic for new player. Visually it's pleasing, music is nice as well. Story has its slow downs but it's satisfying and definitely worthy of replaying with different outcome. Game definitely for genre or vampire® fans.
  12. SGRevan
    Jun 3, 2022
    5
    While you have three characters to play as throughout the story, only the Malkavian, Leysha, has a somewhat engaging story and made me curious where it was going. The other two characters are way too bland, and they lost my interest fairly early. Though, each has unique ways to approach their objective and it alters your gamestyle slightly. Sadly, you a forced to play with the vampire theyWhile you have three characters to play as throughout the story, only the Malkavian, Leysha, has a somewhat engaging story and made me curious where it was going. The other two characters are way too bland, and they lost my interest fairly early. Though, each has unique ways to approach their objective and it alters your gamestyle slightly. Sadly, you a forced to play with the vampire they choose, and you can't pick another character for that single mission.

    The puzzles can be very obvious to almost impossible to understand at first. Some are clever, while most are unimaginative.

    Sadly, with an interesting lore to expand on and with an OK RPG system/idea, it fails to deliver on multiple accounts. While it is interesting to discover new stories in the V:TM-series, its poor gameplay and sometimes tedious objectives stop this from being an engaging experience.

    And the ending is lackluster and plain disappointing.

    I will just go back to V:TM Bloodlines for now, as that game is still much more compelling and true to its RPG roots.    … Expand
  13. DukeJon
    Nov 18, 2022
    5
    First one was a diamond in the rough. Not so sure about this one. Starts off very slow, lots of dialogue choices and stats but I had no idea what I was doing. All the characters talked as though they knew each other and assumed that I, as a player, knew all the lore. So little interaction I felt I was playing Detroit: Become human - just walking from one conversation to another. GraphicsFirst one was a diamond in the rough. Not so sure about this one. Starts off very slow, lots of dialogue choices and stats but I had no idea what I was doing. All the characters talked as though they knew each other and assumed that I, as a player, knew all the lore. So little interaction I felt I was playing Detroit: Become human - just walking from one conversation to another. Graphics were shockingly bad, like playing an early xbox 360 game with shiny-faced characters. Animation wasn't much better.… Expand
  14. Chickenph
    Apr 22, 2023
    7
    Imagine if someone designed a really good car but had it manufactured by whoever would do it cheapest. This game is very interesting, it has a cool approach, but it looks like a PC game running on the lowest settings. A lot of the voice acting is painfully bland, it seems like they didn’t even try to make dialogue match the characters' lip movement…idk, it just seems like a game that wouldImagine if someone designed a really good car but had it manufactured by whoever would do it cheapest. This game is very interesting, it has a cool approach, but it looks like a PC game running on the lowest settings. A lot of the voice acting is painfully bland, it seems like they didn’t even try to make dialogue match the characters' lip movement…idk, it just seems like a game that would have to have released in 2013 for people to accept the overall presentation.

    I still think there’s a lot to like about the thought put into the game, and interesting little touches like a character with vitiligo. But they weaken their own IP by allowing it to be presented like a indie dev's first try at a genre.    … Expand
  15. Lonitx
    Jan 11, 2023
    3
    Jesus Christ, people giving this a 10 are not right in the head, even if you're a fan of the franchise, how can you forgive the bad audio mixing alone?
  16. Ps5-reviews
    Aug 14, 2022
    8
    This game is so underrated.Maybe i liked it because it's the first time i play a game of this type.Maybe people didn't liked it because doesn't challenges games like Detroit Become human and it was expected to do that.Maybe when i will play detroit become human i will judge this game badly and not like i am doing today.The imporant is that the first run on this game has been reallyThis game is so underrated.Maybe i liked it because it's the first time i play a game of this type.Maybe people didn't liked it because doesn't challenges games like Detroit Become human and it was expected to do that.Maybe when i will play detroit become human i will judge this game badly and not like i am doing today.The imporant is that the first run on this game has been really good.Swansong is about a secret group of vampires who is risking to be sterminated by an old cospiration against the swansong.The swansong will need to find out who they are and defeat them.The dialogue sistem is about focalizing some of the dialogue choises to have higest chance to win the dialogue.The more you focalize the more the risk of your opponent is to focalize.I had a lot of fun with this dialogue sistem.You can also choose wich one of the three levels (one for each charatcher) you can play first.The level design is very good and the situation are alwayse different you pass from stealth missions to action-packed missions (especially in the ending) and you will have optionally to find suspicious objects of the swansong and remove that.For each charatcher you have a all different gameplay: leysha can copy someone else uniform to infiiltrate in places where he is not allowed to enter. Emem can teleteport from one place to another and Galeb also has a different gameplay.At the end of each level you will get a resum of what you have/haven't done right and what you could have done differently.The campign lenght is about 25 hours a good longevity considering how much each mission lasts.What not convinced me about the game are the facial animations, the cutscenes direction and the audio.There are also some logic errors.For example if leysha enters a room for copying someone else uniform and enter where he is not allowed, the guards of that place will let her enter even if he changed only the uniform (not the face but the uniform) do the guards recognize her?No.
    FINAL VOTE :83/100
    "The most underrated game this year"    … Expand
  17. Gunsumber
    Jun 1, 2022
    10
    I don't understand all these negative reviews, it's like today's kids demands impossible features. This game is both beautiful graphics wise and story wise, it was exactly what I needed, an amazing game to delve deep into. It has seriously sucked me so much in, that I've ended spending hours and hours into the night playing this game. Do yourself a favor and not pay attention to any ofI don't understand all these negative reviews, it's like today's kids demands impossible features. This game is both beautiful graphics wise and story wise, it was exactly what I needed, an amazing game to delve deep into. It has seriously sucked me so much in, that I've ended spending hours and hours into the night playing this game. Do yourself a favor and not pay attention to any of these reviews, play the game for yourself and judge, that always the best thing to do. My opinion is though that it's an absolutely fantastic game.… Expand
  18. Nhunil
    Aug 4, 2022
    8
    Great Game if you like story driven adventures.
    I had no touchpoint with this brand before and now curious if there is more.
    Don‘t play it if you want „action“.
  19. Badgerryan27
    Oct 16, 2022
    3
    What the hell was this? This was boring and just bad in every way possible. Everywhere from outdated design, graphics, bad voice acting and the puzzle/dialogue choices just not working. Waste of time.
  20. ulises1
    Mar 1, 2023
    8
    Me encantó la historia, no había jugado a los anteriores juegos de esta saga y me pareció muy interesante el lore. Tres personajes manejables. Jugabilidad limitada y con duración correcta. No entiendo tanta crítica es un doble AA con buenas ideas y ejecución correcta.

Awards & Rankings

64
#64 Most Discussed PlayStation 5 Game of 2022

Critic Reviews

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Metascore
64

Mixed or average reviews - based on 29 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 29
  2. Mixed: 15 out of 29
  3. Negative: 5 out of 29
  1. Malditos Nerds
    Aug 3, 2022
    80
    As a narrative adventure, Swansong delivers a good balance of exploration, character development, narrative decisions, puzzles and investigation. And as a board game adaptation, it is perhaps the most faithful game to Vampire: The Masquerade and a proof that video games can also adapt much more than the combat system of a pen and paper role-playing games.
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  2. PLAY
    Jun 29, 2022
    70
    While its limited presentation is a let-down, its narrative ambitions largely make up for it. Worth taking out for a drink and seeing where things lead. [Issue#16, p.120]
  3. Meristation
    Jun 21, 2022
    72
    Ambitious on paper, Vampire: The Masquerade - Swansong is one of those games that runs up against a budget that limits its good ideas. Technically, this Masquerade needs an overhaul, improved animations and textures. And in the gameplay there is a certain imbalance in sections such as puzzles and basic tasks that only extend the duration without contributing anything. But as a Vampire game it's worth it, especially in its deployability, because the world of The Masquerade is really well implemented. If you're a fan, give it the Embrace and become its Sire while you wait for the arrival of the messiah Bloodlines 2.
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