Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room reveal more details on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, including character details, narratives, clan, and gameplay elements.
After Paradox Interactive broke their silence with a Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 update this June, the game’s new protagonist and the role-playing features incorporated in the relaunched project were among the many details that The Chinese Room revealed a few weeks ago. These revelations, particularly those involving the game’s narrative and RPG features, excited franchise fans. The Chinese Room broadcast and a few public service announcements divulged some of these alterations.
Among the details revealed in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, one of the highlights is the main character, an elder vampire known as Phyre. It seems like we’ll be taking on the role of an established character who is open to some personalization. In addition to Clan and gender, we can select a background for the individual we choose.
They pushed the analogies one step further so that even if you play a specific character, it isn’t entirely clear who you are portraying. The developers have stated that four Clans will be playable at launch, with two more promised as downloadable content. Furthermore, it was unclear whether or not this character was modifiable. However, the character’s male and female set models were displayed.
The extent to which this character’s look can be altered is unknown. While they did display a few alternates, it remains to be seen if you can alter the appearance of this individual in any way. Given that we didn’t receive that impression, it looks like a long shot. Having gotten that out of the way, though, who exactly is Phyre?
As indicated, she is an elderly vampire who awoke in Seattle with a mysterious symbol on her hand and a thin layer of blood Vite or blood on her face after sleeping for a century. While simultaneously hearing a “thin-blood” voice inside their heads. However, that bit, in particular, is likely meant to connect the narrative to knowledge. I think they are so fixated on the mark on Phyre’s hand because of the ties you share with the mysterious entity, Fabian.
However, Phyre in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 will effectively have a thin-blooded vampire identified as Fabian implanted in their brain. I believe this objective is twofold: as an elderly vampire, that vampire in this environment should know how to be a vampire.
It makes it challenging to introduce even the most fundamental ideas in a narrative that feels natural. However, Phyre is unfamiliar with contemporary culture because he is a vampire who has recently awakened from a state of torpor. The link between these two will provide a solid foundation for educating a new player and constructing the foundations for understanding this universe.
While providing a plausible justification for Phyre to acquire knowledge of modern conveniences, she is not yet ready. I like the concept, but whether or not it works in practice depends primarily on how much of a pain it is to have Fabian constantly butting in. However, I think the idea works quite well as a storytelling tool. I don’t see that as a terrible thing by any stretch of the imagination if they can make it work.
After that, they discuss Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2’s various role-play possibilities, beginning with acquiring authority. They say that as an older vampire, you’ll enter the game with “a fair bit of impact,” meaning you won’t be completely vulnerable. However, because you’ve awoken from the trip, you’re still going to be quite weak, which is in contrast to your powered-up version.
Playing the game will be like reclaiming some of that lost strength and power. You’ll probably start off rather powerful, but they’ve left room to increase your stats, just like in role-playing games, gradually. The other half is your decisions, how the world responds to you, and the outcomes and conclusions you reach. These topics were also mentioned briefly.
To begin, there is the Clan of choice in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. As I said, this will determine what abilities you have at your disposal. However, I believe there is some leeway. Even though we are all playing the same character, you are free to speculate on their backstory to some extent, and the Clan you choose will significantly impact your character’s traits and shortcomings. The developers have hinted at the possibility of openly fibbing about Phyre’s pre-game activities because vampires aren’t known for being the most honest of animals.
Your history, decisions, and interactions with the many Seattle vampires and other players in the game will all affect the story’s outcomes, which involve chowing down on Seattle’s populace. The developers clarified that the game’s resolution heavily depends on the player’s interactions with the game’s civilian, hunting, and kin populations.
Having only four Clans isn’t a deal breaker, in my opinion, but announcing their intention to add more through DLC in a post made after the stream is probably putting the cart before the horse. Having DLC plans is wonderful, but this game is probably at least a year out. The news that they intend to restrict access to clans via DLC is, in my opinion, not ideal.
It should make a difference in the game if you’re a vampire who takes the population’s lives into his own hands and treats them like the food supply they are or if you’re attempting to be more Humane and keep your beast in check. This incorporates elements like the resonance system. However, details on that were largely omitted.
However, they explained that how many playable characters you have to address depends on your attire and other factors. I am intrigued by how comprehensive that system will be. Nonetheless, they emphasized the importance of a character’s outer appearance in influencing how others see them. The repercussions of that are still up in the air.
Nonetheless, they did emphasize that the game will have other conclusions. The story’s conclusion is dependent on your actions and how you engage with other people, including the folks of Seattle. While exactly what they signify is unclear, the developers want the game’s endings to have lasting consequences for the city and the people you encounter.
Having alternate conclusions is a welcome addition in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. Towards the end of their discussion, they hinted that a yellow taxi would play a role in the game. And this is a nod to Kane’s cameo as the cabbie in the original game. Though the response to this issue was equally hazy, the fact that they brought it up at all and that it’s a sequel to the previous game makes that appear a touch on the nose.
Having said that, the content of this video is essentially limited to the points just mentioned. The role-playing element certainly seems to be a focal point. They didn’t reveal much of that, but their ideas look sound. I think the ideas they brought up, like the story structure they mentioned, have merit if put into practice correctly.
However, it’s certainly a bit too early to say one way or the other on those things because we haven’t seen them in motion. There will presumably be more of that in the first few months of the new year, so keep an eye out.
However, many aspects of this demonstration left me on the fence about a game that really needs a good showing. It would be a shame if they didn’t give you some control over your character’s appearance beyond choosing between a male and female gender.
While promising, the gameplay of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, demoed here, is still in the early stages of development. I think the animations, in particular, could improve, as they are still a ways off and not a pressing issue. You want to put your best foot forward in a showcase, which will get you noticed.
All of that information is interesting to understand and adds to the puzzle, and I appreciate that they are attempting to build expectations, but it hasn’t convinced me either way. The success or failure of many of these proposals rests on how they are implemented and carried out. For instance, having a predetermined protagonist isn’t necessarily a deal breaker if the character is well-written and engaging.
Now that the devs are actively sharing information on Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, we will soon learn the identities of the playable clans that have been discussed. Soon, we may expect to hear more about the actual gameplay from Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room and see some demonstrations of the different powers, disciplines, and other elements.
