Vampire®: The Masquerade - Bloodlines™

Once a year or so, I'll play it, use it as inpiration for the tabletop. I can't really say anything about it that hasn't been said When/if the second one ever comes out, even if it's just this again but with schmancy graphics, I'll still like it. That's just how timeless and good the writing is here I think. It's fun. But sometimes the running back and forth can get tedius in the downtown area.

This is a truly fascinating RPG with a wonderful mod community. You can feel how good it is from the first main quest (after the tutorial) and the first side quest. The designers and writers knew how to make a "real" RPG. Sadly, the game was released in a "broken" state 20 years ago. However, with the fan patch, the game is now free of critical bugs. In fact, if you quit and restart the game once per hour, you likely won't meet any notable bugs. Additionally, you don't need knowledge of VtM rules and settings to enjoy this game. However, it can inspire your interest in the VtM world. I bought the V20 rulebook and the ones about True Black Hand after playing the computer game multiple times with different mods. They also brought me lots of fun.

I've played all Troika games. Arcanum, TOEE, VTMB. IMO, Vampire the Masquerade Bloodlines is the best one. Voice acting, vampires' unique abilities, story. Almost everything is perfect. Except, hand-to-hand combat is kinda not good. However, not THAT bad.

This RPG game is one of the best PC releases ever, in any genre. Despite its troubled and buggy start in 2004, it stands today as one of the best , most replayable , intelligently scripted and atmospheric works in the history of PC gaming. Nothing will make you feel more like a creature of the night than this game. Read up on its lore, many MODS and over 20 years of fandom. Hard to beat even with todays better graphics capabilities.

Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines is, without a doubt. one of the best games that I've ever played. Taking into account that the game was rushed out the door that's quite the achivement. Thankfully, the dedication of the developers and the fan community have mitigated this error over the years. So what is the game about? In Bloodlines you assume the role of a fledgling vampire that has been illegaly created, and only politics and the grace of the Prince of the city save your unlife. From there, the world opens up to you little by little, as you meet other vampires and learn about the politics of it all while forming your own opinions and carving your own place in the vampire community. The storyline is nothing short of amazing and well written. While the core plot stays the same you have quite a bit of freedom on how you relate to the other vampires, with a pletora of endings to reflect it. Gameplay-wise we have a mixed bag. You pick one of seven vampire clans (classes) at the beginning, each with their own abilities and better suited to some tasks. In the first 2/3rds of the game you have a lot of freedom on how you approach situations, from persuasion, stealth or going in guns blazing depending on your preference. Evidently not every option is available in every situation but this gives you options in how you build your character. Sadly, the last third of the game the rushed development takes its toll and combat is almost always the only option. While the game makes it clear early on that violence is sometimes inevitable, it ends up becoming the focus, limiting and souring the experience. And the combat itself is nothing amazing. It gets the job done but it's definitely not the game's strong suit. The OST is a masterpiece, plain and simple. If you can overlook it's flaws, Bloodlines is a flawed gem that must be experienced. I think the game has a magic that very rarely appears in videogames, and as close to art as the medium gets.