The wait for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 has been an eternity, even by vampire standards. After a famously troubled development that saw the game change hands from Hardsuit Labs to The Chinese Room, the sequel to the 2004 cult classic has finally been released. The reviews are now pouring in, and they paint a picture of a game that is as brilliant as it is broken, a truly divisive experience that has critics torn.
The Good: A Story Worth Sinking Your Teeth Into
Across the board, one thing is clear: The Chinese Room knows how to tell a story. Critics are showering praise on the game’s narrative, characters, and writing. Game Rant called the narrative “bloody great,” highlighting a tight, compelling plot filled with political intrigue that feels refreshingly mature and confident [52]. Players take on the role of Phyre, a centuries-old elder vampire, and while Phyre has a more defined personality than the blank slate protagonist of the first game, the story is lauded for being more focused and engaging as a result [52]. IGN, despite its mixed feelings, called the writing and voice acting “positively exquisite” [47]. It seems that if you’re coming to Bloodlines 2 for a rich, character-driven story set in the World of Darkness, you won’t be disappointed.
The Bad: A Lifeless World and Repetitive Combat
Unfortunately, the praise often ends where the gameplay begins. A common complaint is that the game’s open-world Seattle is a major step down from the grimy, secret-filled Los Angeles of the original. Game Rant described the new setting as “soulless and trite” [52]. GamesRadar was even harsher, calling the world “dreary” and criticizing the mission design that has you running “back and forth between the same five buildings for the first 20 hours” [49].
The combat is another major point of contention. While the traversal and movement can be fun, with agile leaping and gliding, the actual fighting is described as monotonous [47, 49]. GamesRadar called it a “wet paper bag punch, dash, punch, dash monotony,” arguing that the game boxes you into a melee brawler style that makes you forget you’re even playing as a powerful vampire [49]. Many found that the combat simply fails to realize its full potential, a tragedy for a game about supernatural predators [52].
The Ugly: A Sequel in Name Only?
Perhaps the most damning criticism for longtime fans is the consensus that Bloodlines 2 is not a true successor to the original’s deep, choice-driven RPG experience [51, 53]. The first game was beloved for its reactivity and the different ways you could approach situations based on your character build. The sequel, however, is a much more streamlined action-adventure [53]. The deep RPG systems are gone, replaced by a more rigid progression model that rarely encourages creative use of your vampire powers [52]. This has left many critics and players feeling that while it might be a decent narrative game, it’s not the Bloodlines 2 they waited two decades for. As GamesRadar put it, the game is “neither the best of its ilk nor even a passably good interpretation of its source material” [49].
FAQs
What is the critical consensus on Bloodlines 2?
It’s extremely divided. Most reviews agree it has an excellent story but is held back by a dull open world and clunky, repetitive gameplay.
What do critics praise the most?
The writing, characters, and main story are almost universally praised as the game’s strongest elements [52, 47].
What are the biggest complaints?
The main complaints are a lifeless and repetitive open world, monotonous combat, technical issues, and a lack of true RPG depth [49, 52].
Is it a good sequel to the original Bloodlines?
Most agree that it is a sequel in name only. It abandons the deep, open-ended RPG design of the original for a more linear, narrative-focused action-adventure experience [51, 53].
Is the game buggy?
Yes, many reviews mention technical issues and jank that make the game feel like a title from an earlier era [53].
Should I play it?
It depends. If you want a masterfully written story in the World of Darkness and can overlook flawed gameplay, it might be for you [52]. If you’re looking for a deep RPG sequel to the original, you will likely be disappointed [49].
Conclusion
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is the definition of a mixed bag. IGN summed it up perfectly, stating they have a “love-hate relationship” with the game [47]. It’s a title with a brilliant narrative heart trapped in a clunky, underdeveloped body. The Chinese Room has succeeded in delivering a fantastic story, but it seems they couldn’t save the project from its troubled development entirely. The final product is a fitting, if tragic, continuation of its predecessor’s legacy: deeply flawed, yet unique and remarkable in its own way [47, 52]. This is one bite that comes with a bitter aftertaste.