Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 Review

Hands up who amongst you thought this game would never release? After initially being announced in 2019, Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 was hit with numerous delays and even a change of developer, with even the most optimistic amongst fans beginning to worry if this would ever see the light of day. Now, thanks to developer The Chinese Room, we finally have the direct sequel to the 2004 cult classic!

But… was it worth the wait? Can this action RPG live up to the lofty standards of fans of the original game? Or should the developers have stuck a stake through its heart and turned it to dust?

Bloodlines 2 gets going straight away with its story and sinks its teeth into you from the outset. You play as Phyre, an Elder vampire who awakens in 21st-century Seattle after a century-long slumber. Not only are they in a completely different time period, but they also discover a mark on their skin that seals away their Elder powers. As if that wasn’t enough to contend with, Phyre also begins to hear the disembodied voice of Fabien inside their head. Just who is this lesser vampire, and how has he managed to become a part of Phyre? Well, that’s just one of many mysteries that make up Bloodlines 2’s narrative.

The plot is split up into two intertwining stories. You’ll stalk the nighttime streets of Seattle as Phyre, draining unsuspecting victims of their blood, conversing with a large cast of characters, and going toe-to-toe with dangerous factions. Then, when Phyre is resting during the day, you’ll play as Fabien as he recalls his investigative work as a vampire detective in 1920s Seattle. It’s a stark contrast from Phyre’s exploits, but these sections were genuinely enjoyable and always had me eager to learn more about Fabien’s story.

Overall, I was a big fan of the narrative, especially with the choices that are presented throughout. It’s not always apparent how NPCs will react to your decisions and just how far-reaching the consequences could potentially be. The Clan you chose during the opening of the game also dictates certain dialogue, with characters treating you differently depending on what you selected. And, with plenty of different endings, this is a story that changes practically each time you start afresh. It’s well-written and engaging, and though perhaps not as in-depth as the original Bloodlines, still managed to draw me in right from the start.

Just like the original, the atmosphere here is dark and gritty, which works well with the overall tone the game is going for. From streets that go from dimly lit back alleys to neon-drenched, shady-looking bars, to dilapidated buildings with shattered windows letting in moonlight, the environments look the part for sure.

Character designs are also very impressive. In particular, the facial animations during dialogue sequences are great at capturing the emotional range of those you interact with. This goes hand in hand with the voice acting, in which the majority of the cast do a stellar job. There are a few small issues, like some odd animations, lip synching not always matching dialogue, and underwhelming voice actors, but for the most part, the rich narrative and performances will draw you into the world.

Performance is a bit up and down. When playing in quality mode, the framerate jumped all over the place and rarely managed to stay at a solid 30 FPS. Unfortunately, performance mode isn’t the framerate saviour I was hoping it would be. Whilst it is an improvement, there’s juddering whilst exploring the city that becomes an annoyance far too frequently.

At a glance, Bloodlines 2 could be likened to something like the Dishonored series. It’s first-person (except during dialogue scenes and certain combat animations), with an emphasis on letting the player choose how to tackle missions. However, this may disappoint fans of the original, as this game definitely strips back some of the RPG elements to make it more action-focused.

Looking at the combat, there is a plethora of abilities at Phyre’s disposal, which all depend on which Clan you start with. Of the six available at launch, Brujah, Tremere, Banu Haqim, Ventrue, Toreador, and Lasombra, each has its own strengths and weaknesses when it comes to how you play. Opting to play as a Tremere, for example, will give you more ranged options, whilst Toreador focuses more on quick combat with an emphasis on crowd control.

Regardless of your Clan choice, melee combat always feels fast, frantic, and sometimes a tad sloppy. Pressing R1 delivers a swift light attack, whilst holding it charges up a powerful heavy blow. After a certain amount of damage has been sustained, enemies become vulnerable to a fatal strike or open themselves up to be fed upon, which in turn recharges your abilities. Of course, these powers play a vital role in fights, and many help spice up what would otherwise be a relatively mundane combat system. Phyre also has telekinetic abilities, allowing them to grab nearby objects to hurl at foes, as well as drawing enemies towards you in order to deliver a combo attack. There are unfortunately no equippable weapons, and any that are found can only be used with telekinesis to throw (or fire, if you find a gun) at your opponents.

It’s also worth noting that, whilst certain passive abilities are locked depending on which Clan you went for, most skills are obtainable as you progress. Though you’re set with one Clan’s powers for a while, you are eventually able to broaden your combat prowess. Which is quite a relief, as the skill trees aren’t all that in-depth!

Whilst exploring, Phyre can glide, dash, and use telekinesis in order to traverse the world quickly. It’s enjoyable and, as I’ve already mentioned, shares some similarities to Dishonored, but you’ll need to keep your vampiric actions in check, lest you face breaking the Masquerade! Simply put, this is the code that all vampires adhere to when in public. Don’t reveal your true nature, or you’ll find a stake through your heart very, very quickly. Quite literally, as if you decide to go and cause mayhem on the streets of Seattle, killing, feeding, and using your powers in plain sight, a meter at the top of the screen will rise, and once it fills, it’s an instant death!

Playing as Fabien almost feels like a playable noir film, and his sleuthing sections are some of the most enjoyable parts of the game. He has his own unique abilities as he investigates a brutal murder, and though these portions of Bloodlines 2 are more linear, they’re incredibly engaging. Using his supernatural powers to investigate crime scenes in 1920s Seattle, he’ll even be able to communicate with inanimate objects in order to pursue any leads. It’s a nice break from all the fighting and stealth sections, and helps to flesh out Fabien as a character.

Overall, I can see Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 not resonating with fans of the original or with fans of the World of Darkness franchise as a whole. There are a lot of stripped-back RPG elements, which is a shame, but the story is nevertheless still an interesting one. Despite some choppy framerate issues and an over-reliance on a combat system that feels chaotic yet not all that satisfying, this is still a fairly enjoyable game.