Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines (PC) - Windows

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines is a RPG game released in 2004 for the Windows.

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines

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Rating: 9.5 (1 votes)

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Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Featured Review

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Review by: baileyface544 - 9.5/10

This game sucks....get it? Cause Vampires? Ah, you'll laugh later.
Vampire the political struggle: Bloodlines (yeah, doesn't have the same ring)

Hello again friends! I figured a return to Vizzed wouldn't be complete without a review.
Vampire the Masquerade: Bloodlines (which I will call VTMB from here on out for simplicity) is a computer game released in 2004 based on the White Wolf D10 Table top game called simply Vampire the Masquerade.
This is part of a larger table top game called World of Darkness which includes Werewolf the Forsaken, and Mage the Awakening as well. VTMB is classified as an action RPG. While this fits, it has an open(ish) world, as well as several horror elements (and I'm not talking about the politics this time).

VTMB is a game that I have beaten over and over. Tons of depth, far richer story than you would expect for a Vampire game, branching dialogue and tons of player choice. Choice in how you speak with people, and choice in how you handle situations.
I've heard the game compared to Deus Ex with Vampires and Humor. While there are several difference between VTMB and Deus Ex, I do see where they are coming from. It captures that depressing feel, while poking fun and itself at times as well. This game truly has a lot to offer. A word you will likely read me say a lot is immersion. That's because this game is very immersive from the atmosphere, the fleshed out characters, the well chosen music, and the tons of choices you make throughout the game leading up to one of 5 endings who's availability depend on your actions throughout the game.

Set is Las Angeles county, you start play as one of 7 Vampire Clans, each with different power sets, and typically featuring different personalities.
Some are fairly basic to explain, such as the Bruja. Essentially Violent idealist. Revolutionary types. Others, such as the Malkavians (more in the "depth" section) I could write an entire book on.
Either way, these clans will each offer a different play-style than the others, as each clan has different starting stats and available disciplines (kinda like spells, but with far more varied effects). I could explain the clans and the disciplines in full, however that would take far too long for a simple review. Instead, I thinks it's time to get a bit more focused.

Graphics

Honestly, in 2004 this was an amazing looking game. While less impressive now, it still holds up. Characters are well rendered, animations smooth, and effects interesting without becoming distracting. Graphically though, where this game shines is environment. The starting city of Santa Monica is beautifully rendered and has a melancholic feel to it. While you only get to explore a section, it feels like a place people live (a feeling increased by conversations you can have with npc's, but that's for another section). They have taken care to fully detail out smaller things as well. There is a definite attention to detail that really helps build immersion. This attention to detail also helps make some of the more unsettling parts of this game even worse, such as detail in the abode of one particular Serial Killer (which LA has a few of).

Now if everything was smooth and beautiful this section would have the lowest score of the entire review. In some cut-scenes, some characters necks have this weird instance where their necks will extend greatly. First time I saw it I laughed because another character had just done something crazy, and I felt like it was a loony tunes moment where my character was expressing being freaked out. When it happened a few more times, it wasn't as funny. Also, on a select few armors for the females, the skirts or trench coats would clip improperly, and legs would be appearing through the fabric when you run. Only on a few armor sets however, and none of this is a major issue. It lost a few points, but still gets an 8. Let's move onto to a different sense shall we.

Sound

VTMB boast a great soundtrack. In addition to the quite ambient and occasionally menacing music that plays during missions, or in the HUB areas, there are several clubs scattered throughout LA. In this clubs, you will hear full length songs that really fit the theme of these clubs. Notably the song Isolation in The Asylum is one of the ones I now have on my computer to enjoy. Only problem, there is only one song in each club. While you don't spend a ton of time in these clubs, you spend enough time in some of them to get tired of these songs. Mods all add more songs, however we're reviewing the Vanilla game. Overplaying of songs in some areas lowers this score down to an 8. This aspect is made worse by the fact that,,,

Addictiveness

I have never met anyone who has liked this game, and only beaten it once. In fact, many fans I know who have played it in 2004 are still playing it almost 12 years later (myself included). I just finished a new play through. We use mods at this point to keep it fresh (my most recent play through was with the Final Nights Mod) however even without mods this game as an amazing amount of re-playability. Solid 10. The reason for this amount of re-playability?

Depth

This was an easy 10. This game doesn't just offer a lot of content, but also a lot of choice. Right off the bat, you choice one of 7 clans that will impact your play style in various ways. Most having a unique ability only able to be used by that clan. Some clans are social specialist, while others are combat (either long ranged, or close range). Some are stealth, while others are kind of a Jack of all trades. Then you have your starting level up points, and you further customize you character from there. Want to specialize in Hacking, Seduction, and Guns? Knock yourself out Trinity. Wanna be a stealthy but intimidating person who beats people to death with their fist and is really good at haggling? Weird build, but shine on you crazy Diamond.
The best thing is, the number of ways to approach most situations ensures that any set-up can work. You can hack the cameras off, you can sneak around avoiding them and the gaurds, you can try to convince them you belong there, seduce them into not caring whether or not you belong there, or you can just roll up dishing out punishment to whoever dares try to impede your progress. You get xp by completing missions, not by kills, so whatever method works. Granted, skills like seduction and persuasion won't work on everyone, so it helps to have a back-up plan.

Hacking is another skill that adds a lot of depth. Not only does it allow you to get through many challenges, but it fleshes out the game world as well. While any computer can be hacked, most computers aren't relevant to any mission or goal. You can learn a lot about NPC's and their lives by sifting through their E-mails and other reports they have on their computer. It really fleshes out the world.

Another thing that fleshes the world out? News caster reports. Turn on a TV and the news will report on various things. Some about events that have nothing to do with your character, some local events that may tie into a mission later (or may not) and some things that you've done. It really helps immersion when you can turn on the news and hear about that warehouse you just blew up. Or those drug dealers in that beach house you snacked on.

It's entirely possible to play this game and have a different experience every time. Which brings me to the Malkavian. I recommend avoiding the Malkavian for your first play through, and choosing them for your second. The reason for this is dialogue, news reports, and a ton of other things change when you play as a Malkavian. To explain why, let me give a brief explanation of what they are. It is said at the moment of embrace (when a human is turned) those who are turned with the blood of a Malkavian are shown all of existence. Within that single moments, everything is revealed, and everything is understand. This moment, shatters the mind. While Malkavians do have a strange insight, every single one is irreversibly insane. This is reflected in the game. You will have hallucinations. Dialogue options will be completely different, and half the time NPC's will have no idea what you're talking about (though a social character is still viable to play) and your character will say things that will make no sense...until you see a later scene. Yes, Malkavians come sometimes see the future. It's fragmented by their insane minds. There are so many other little easter eggs only available with this class that just by picking them, you greatly change the game. The story behind them is also very rich and detailed if you care to dig into it. Speaking of which

Story

You play as a fledgling, a new vampire. The opening scene starts with your embrace in a run down motel in Santa Monica. Shortly after, people bust in putting a stake in the heart of you and your sire who turned you (stakes don't kill in this universe, they just paralyze vampires). You awaken when the stake is removed to find yourself on a stage with several Vampires, you and your Sires hands bound, a gorilla looking man with a sword that would make Cloud feel impotent, and a large group of onlookers. A weasel looking man in a suit then explains that the laws dictate that when turning someone, you have to get permission from the Prince (who is revealed to be this dude, and is basically a vampire governor) which this guy apparently never asked for. After cutting off his head (oh yeah, death penalty is a big thing in Vampire government) he proceeds to start a sentence that will certainly end up in your head being detached as well. Except he doesn't finish that sentence (thankfully...would be a short game otherwise) because before he does a tough looking man sands up and yells "This is BullS#%*" and this man is followed by several other people standing up. The weasel then obviously makes a calculated decision. "If Mr.Rodriguez would allow me to finish....I have decided to let this kindred...live".
I wasn't worried. Did I look worried? Na, not me.

Basically, you discover the the weasel is named Sebastian LaCroix, a high ranking member of the Camarilla which is basically vampire government. He later explains in much smoother wording that he let you live, but now he owns you. "Same bs politics from when you were alive."
The beautiful, and kind, and intelligent, and wonderful man who saved your life? That's Nines Rodriguez. Leader of the Anarchs. A group that rejects Camarilla control in favor of ruling themselves. They're not evil or anything, they just don't believe in big government. Most do believe in leather jackets however. Oh, and then the Sabbat show up. Mindless idiots who don't care about anyone, and believe Vampires should rule everything blah blah balh evil.

Essentially, you've shown up at a strange time. LA was an Anarch area until recently. Now other groups have started moving in, and there is tension everywhere. It gets better. A sarcophagus has been found that is believed to hold an ancient vampire. If this is true, it's bad for a lot of complicated, world ending reasons. And everyone wants to get their hands on this thing (cept for the Anarchs. They don't care)

The stakes are high, the tension is well put together, the characters are all interesting (or annoying, but only the ones that are supposed to be annoying...looking at you Chunk) and once you get a better scope of everything that's going on, you can start making informed decisions. Vampires are very social creatures, and no one is to be trusted. Lies, deceit, manipulation..these are qualities you'll find among the most gentle and kind Kindred.
Apart from the main story, through side quest and exploration you will get a change to see a lot of smaller stories unfold all across Santa Monica, Hollywood, Downtown LA, Chinatown, and more. Your choices will have huge impacts on their lives.

Story gets a 10, and if I could rate higher I would.

I have decided to let this kindred...live

This review as already run longer than I intended, so let me keep this brief. Combat is fun, player choice is a huge part of this game, it's deep enough you can get lost, and you'll likely discover something new and every play through for some time. I've played this game so many times, and I still am not bored with it. The story is rich, and the game is very immersive. There are so many little details that draw you in. It's funny, it's scary, and it's clever. This is a mature game, and I would highly recommend it to anyone that meets that criteria. This is one of my top 10 games of all time. Even better, the rights have been purchased by a gaming company, so we will likely see more games coming out soon set in the World of Darkness. Get a head start, and play VTMB.
Graphics 8 Sound 8 Addictive 10 Depth 10 Story 10

Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines Reviews

Overall 9.5 Graphics 8 Sound 8 Addictive 10 Story 10 Depth 10

9.5

This game sucks....get it? Cause Vampires? Ah, you'll laugh later. baileyface544
Vampire the political struggle: Bloodlines (yeah, doesn't have the same ring) Hello again friends! ...
Graphics 8 Sound 8 Addictive 10 Story 10 Depth 10
Review Rating: 5/5 Submitted: 12-10-15 Updated: 12-10-15 Review Replies: 6

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Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines (PC) - Windows