My MMO editor Jasmin Beverungen was able to play Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 a few years ago. Now she had the chance to dive into the dark action RPG again and is thrilled about the grand transformation the game has undergone.
I have been following the development of Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 for several years. The title has been delayed several times since March 2020, and there are several reasons for this:
- In February 2021, the developer team at Hardsuit Labs had the project taken away from them by publisher Paradox Interactive and handed over to The Chinese Room.
- Even before the developer switch, there were layoffs of the lead writer and the creative director. Later, the senior narrative designer followed.
- The layoffs led to a creative realignment, including a new main character.
Years ago, I got to play Vampire: Bloodlines 2 and understood the criticism from colleagues. The combat system didn’t feel smooth and I wasn’t interested in the story at all.
Now I was able to take a look at the current version of the RPG for about an hour. I will tell you why waiting until now has been worth it and why the title was my highlight of gamescom 2025.
Grumpy Vampire with a Huge Thirst
The demo showcased the beginning of the game. I awakened in the body of Phyre, whose gender and appearance I could choose. Phyre has been asleep for about 100 years and must first come to terms with the American metropolis in which the vampire awakens.
During this, Phyre notices that there is a mysterious voice in his head. It is important to uncover the identity of this voice. We navigate through several buildings and the alleys of the metropolis, which exhibit a truly impressive atmosphere.
Inside the buildings, the light is dim, and everywhere there are broken walls or graffiti. Here I had to squeeze through halls, hide from enemies, and find exits. Inside the buildings, the atmosphere felt threatening to me as I had the impression that danger could lurk around any corner. The interplay of light and shadow added to this, as there were only isolated light sources.
In contrast, while crossing the city many people were present on the streets, giving me the feeling that I was living in a truly bustling city. Here I felt comfortable, even as a vampire among humans. The atmosphere, while not as menacing as in part 1, is livelier.
I found this mood change pleasant while gaming, as it provided not only hours of concentrated and tense gameplay but also some quieter moments.
Phyre himself and the voice in his head also create a contrast between a rough vampire nature and humorous interludes, which I particularly liked. It’s not just about death, doom, and blood, but also about the living.
The game, however, never loses sight of the fact that I am still a vampire living among humans. There is a mask at the top of the screen that functions similarly to the star system in GTA:
- If the mask is green, none of the humans suspect me as a vampire.
- If I use vampire powers like blood-sucking or levitating, the mask turns yellow and cracks appear. I should proceed with caution now.
- If I overdo it, the mask turns red, breaks, and the police chase me.
This makes one feel part of the lively world, but still as a supernatural being that must hide among humans. And this situation impressed me so much that Vampire Bloodlines 2 has become my highlight. But there is another reason for this.
Bloodlines 2 Has Significantly Overhauled Its Combat System
The combat system of Bloodlines 2 has improved significantly compared to before. I no longer felt that the controls were clunky and that some actions were difficult to execute. Phyre did what I told him and used various combat abilities, including sucking the blood of opponents.
Depending on the clan, different active abilities are used and different passive skills are acquired. In the demo, I chose the Tremere clan, as they focus a lot on blood magic and mind control. That’s how I imagine a real vampire.
The abilities fit well into combat, and even the normal attacks are easy to execute. I had great fun slicing through enemies and sucking their blood to trigger even stronger attacks.
However, anyone with a weak stomach should enjoy the game with caution. The attacks are very … bloody. In addition to slashing and kicking, during which blood occasionally splatters, there are also attacks where opponents are literally ripped apart, and a fountain of blood coats the sky.
I am not aware of any option that allows you to turn off the bloody effects, but be warned that the game does not hold back on brutality.
All in all: The additional 5 years of development time have done the game good. Therefore, I am confident that the release targeted for 2025 could finally be met.
The release of Bloodlines 2 is, however, under criticism. Some clans that have special abilities are behind a paywall. Players are not pleased with this: “8 years of hype for nothing” – Players have been waiting for years for a vampire game on Steam, and are already disappointed before the release
