Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines Reviews

rrmanhas

9.7
superb

Amazing plot and atmosphere more than make up for flawed implementation...

  • Posted May 19, 2006 8:19 pm PT
  • Recommended by 13 of 13 users.
Gameplay
9
Graphics
10
Sound
10
Value
10
Tilt
10
Difficulty:
Just Right
Learning Curve:
1 to 2 Hours
Time Spent:
40 to 100 Hours
The Bottom Line:
"Underappreciated"
Vampire: the Masquerade - Bloodlines (VtMB) is the most immersive game I have ever played. Dark and chilling, the game's environment, music, and storyline come together to create a somber and perpetually bleak atmosphere that makes one truly believe they were living in a world of vampires, werewolves, and evil spirits. Conceptually, this game is peerless: the whole idea of vampire societies pulling the strings of the mortal world (and ancient Antediluvian vampires influencing the thoughts and actions of these very vampires through their dreams) is fascinating. The biblical history of vampires and its significance for the future is equally intriguing, and as one progresses through the game, one will constantly find himself speculating these mysteries. VtMB also does an great job of making one feel alone and desperate—you don’t know who to trust, as every other character in the game has their own machinations and has been plotting long before you were ever Embraced and turned into a vampire. Depressing at its most optimistic points, and suitably morbid and depraved at its darkest, VtMB truly makes you feel like you have become one of the Damned.

The gameplay is relatively simple, and in an hour or so most players will find themselves used to combat and their characters’ powers and abilities. One nice aspect about the game is that it usually allows one to complete an objective either through combat or through persuasion, although many secondary abilities are more useful than others (hacking is much more practical than haggle, for example). The main line story is well-formed and addictive, and the side-quests are plenty and really enhance the gameplay experience. The graphics are great and the voice-acting is phenomenal. Another noteworthy part of the game is that the music fits very well with the dark atmosphere.

Despite its conceptual brilliance, VtMB does fall short in a few ways. For one, the loading times can be extremely lengthy, and, additionally, there are a lot of bugs in the original version of the game (although most of these are fixed in the official and unofficial patches). The game’s ending is also somewhat of a let-down at first, but given time to mull over it will grow on you.

At the end of the day, VtMB is one the best games out on the market, despite a somewhat flawed implementation. With an excellent story, characters, atmosphere, this game will most likely consume your thoughts for the time you play it.
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User Videos

  • Bloodlines - Music Video

    Watch this video

    Gameplay footage of Bloodlines set to Lecher B***ch, the song that plays in the anarchs hideout.

    • Posted Dec 27, 2008
      by SYdoggXxX | 3'43" | 954 Views

  • Ming Xiao fight

    Watch this video

    Fight near the end of the game against a transformed Ming Xiao using mostly ranged combat and disciplines to overcome the nasty tentacle beast.

    • Posted May 15, 2007
      by nutcrackr | 2'19" | 2,595 Views

User Images

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Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Game Stats

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