Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a first-person perspective action-stealth game developed by Hardsuit Labs and published by Paradox Interactive. It is the sequel to 2004’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, a game inspired by White Wolf Publishing’s tabletop RPG series Vampire: The Masquerade.

In Bloodlines 2, the player takes control of a freshly turned vampire, the so-called Thinblood. As the lowest ranking member of the vampiric community, the player must work their way up the complicated social ladder, filled by the members of rival clans. The game is played mostly in the first-person perspective; however, certain contextual actions are performed in TPP.

Gameplay

The gameplay of Bloodlines 2 begins with the player creating their character. Players can not only decide on the outside features of their in-game avatar but also their background before turning, which influences dialog and interaction options. The player can also choose the Disciplines, which allow them to use special abilities: gliding in the air and summoning bats, using telekinesis and mist in different ways. The game offers several ways of tackling encounters with enemies: open fight, stealth evasion or seduction.

Another important aspect of being a vampire is drinking blood. In Vampire the Masquerade 2, drinking the blood of a victim with specific Resonance grants player character certain enhancements. Players should be careful though, because committing too many vampiric acts when witnesses are nearby may cause adverse effects: people desert the streets and the protagonist becomes hunted by other vampires. Excessive cruelty might also cost the player humanity points – lose too many of those and you’ll become a monster. 

Story and setting

The game is set in the present-day Seattle, in a world where supernatural beings like vampires, werewolves, and demons shape the fate of humanity. Bound by ancient codes, vampires form a tightly knit circle, with its own rules and governing body – the Camarilla.

The clans united within the Camrilla live in relative peace. That changes when people of Seattle fall victim to Mass Embrace, a city-wide process of turning mortals into vampires. The protagonist of the game was one of them. As freshly turned, or Thinblood, they must navigate the complicated social ladder of vampiric society, choosing allegiances to clans ready to go to war with each other.

Initial response

The news of the sequel to the acclaimed Vampire: the Masquerade® – Bloodlines™ was met with very positive reception. Nowadays, the games about vampires are few and far between so the announcement of Bloodlines 2 was a real treat for the fans of classy creatures of the night. Critics praised the game for the familiarity it immediately brings and deemed it a worthy successor of 2004’s cult classic. 

Key features:

• A new story set in the world of Vampire: The Masquerade
• Customize your character and choose their background before the Mass Embrace
• Decide where your allegiances lie within the vampiric society
• Fight your way to the top using special vampire powers
• Explore Seattle drowned in the darkness of the night