Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Hands-on Review, Coming October 21st Vampire: The Masquerade – Informe práctico de Bloodlines 2, disponible el 21 de octubre

As night approaches, the fangs emerge, and the darkest of deceptions begins. From its roots in board games to its transition into visual novels and action RPGs, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 raises the stakes in the beloved series.

I explored a sinister Seattle in this final version of the first-person adventure sequel, discovering what has emerged in the World of Darkness for its October 21 launch on PlayStation 5.

A living world of the undead

The Emerald City takes on a distinct white hue in Bloodlines 2, following a brutal winter snowstorm that has restricted all transportation. It’s the perfect setting for isolation as you take control of an ancient vampire of 400 years, known only as Nomad (or Phyre, for the more familiar), who you can customize through a variety of outfits, facial styles, and accessories. These choices can also affect how others react to you: do you want a biker to respect Phyre? Then donning a power suit won’t be enough.

After completing an action-packed tutorial through an abandoned building, I was given the freedom to explore the brightly lit streets of Seattle, rat- callejones infestados, and towering skyscrapers. Even though set in the middle of the night, the city is filled with life. Among its varied vagrants, street art, and radio programs that broadcast everything from weather bulletins to the mood of the people, environmental storytelling is everywhere, filling every area with something to pay attention to.

Move like a vampire

From the very first moments, the game teaches the importance of verticality, with Phyre’s enhanced jump achieved through a quick double press of the X button, allowing him to climb high fences and reach elevated ledges.

Between supernatural leaps, high-speed sprints, the ability to climb drains and fire escapes with ease, and the power to glide through the sky without worrying about fall damage, navigating the city was an enriching experience. Especially because I often had to use Phyre’s enhanced senses via R3 to track scents across rooftops. However, there is a problem…

Preserving the masquerade

According to the series’ established rules, performing unusual, supernatural, or even vampire-like actions in front of the public eye is punished by the Camarilla, the vampire court that enforces the code. This meant my activities had to be carefully managed to avoid sending hunters after my immortal head. And the mortal police roaming these snowy streets won’t hesitate to shoot if they suspect ill intentions.

Supernatural abilities

But none of this limited my vampire expression. The fun was discovering how to bypass the law, supernatural or not, especially because combat is a huge part of Bloodlines 2.

Starting off simply, a tap of L1 lets you dodge attacks, while R1 performs a melee strike. The latter is devastating against humans (often turning them into instant mulch), but only slightly harms enhanced enemies, like demons or other vampires. Since I was fighting half a dozen brutes at once, stealth and quick strikes… y- The tactics of running were essential for survival.

However, Phyre has another trick in his coffin. Pressing R2 activates his telekinesis ability, which can be used to levitate objects from a distance, steal weapons from enemies, or even throw their bodies. This let me lure people into shadows so that Phyre could feed, but also, in one instance, allowed me to provoke the police to attack a demon gang, letting me find a safe spot to see them destroy each other.

A clash of clans

Of course, there are also other ways to fight. The clan you choose at the start of the game determines your skills tree progression and unlockable abilities. I bit the Ventrue clan, which specializes in mental dominance advantages, like possessing or temporarily charming enemies, and passive resistance to attacks.

Other clans offer different talents, like the Brujah fighter with abilities like Earthshock, a rumbles-like attack. The Tremere clan specializes in long-range blood magic attacks, the Banu Haqim focuses on stealth advantages, including the ability to prevent an enemy from calling for help, the Lasombra clan leverages shadows, allowing abilities designed to trap or scare opponents, and the Toreador dedicate to manipulating weak-willed individuals at short range. Conveniently, you can also unlock abilities outside of your chosen clan by feeding on people with specific blood types.

Adding another layer to all of this is Fabien, the vampire detective, unexpectedly trapped in Phyre’s mind. During brief interludes, I was transported into Fabien’s past, linking an earlier case with the current mystery of his psychic entanglement, granting access to new abilities, like reading emotions to get information from those who keep their lips sealed.

Choose your words carefully

In situations where fists don’t fly, the branching dialogue system changes the pace nicely. When engaging in a conversation, you’re often given different ways to respond, and Fabien sometimes hints at the personality you’re facing. It’s crucial to know when to use praise, discretion, frankness, or intimidation to get the best outcomes, since your replies can affect these relationships and how others perceive you as the story progresses, plus the influence of your clan affiliation.

Test your vampire powers when Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 launches on October 21.