Vampire®: The Masquerade - Bloodlines™

I have heard a lot of people talk about how good this game is. I have been diving into VTM the past few years, with Bloodhunt and looking into the lore and the table top game. With VTBM2 coming out in a few months I figured I would finally give this game a try. I am so glad I did. I am usually not the biggest fan of these types of games (slow pace, going back and forth, etc.), but there is something about this game that just hits different. Buy on a sale, as it goes on sale pretty often. Also, pick this version over steam, because this version has the fan made hotfixes already applied.

Finished an actual playthrough where I didnt get stuck and on my 1st try too. Long story short, there is a quest in the game where I think you can get soft lock if you don't have enough money on you. Happened to me in my 1st 2 playthroughs. Ignoring that, I enjoy the game. The characters are all memorable thx to incredible performance of their voice actors. The story is simple to follow but very nuance if you explore the environment and talk to all NPCs which I highly recommend to get immerse with this game's world. Gameplay, it is janky but not hard to master once you understand how it works. You can even cheat some fights including boss battles if you know which stats to buff. Speaking of, I love how much customization you have not only for your character's looks but also their stats and abilities depending on which clan you want to be a part of. Makes the game replayable. Also, I have to comment on the maturity and adult content. I was surprised how much the game got away with just a M rating instead of an A rating. Lastly, the ending may feel lackluster but if you pay attention to the clues litter throught the game, it all clicks. For me, I had to look it up because I missed a few crucial details that I would probably pick up in my next playtrough which I intend to do some time next year.. TDLR: The game is amazing with its cast, setting, themes, maturity, and story. Gameplay times some getting use to but worth it once you do. Ending may be a miss but a keen eye will make the ending satisfyiing even more so depending which one you decide to purse.

So glad GOG got this running without needing to install any patches or anything. I just got back into PC gaming after being out for 25 years so I'm catching up on a bunch of great games I missed. So great to play a game where the story and exploration is at the forefront cool characters just great world building. Love it.

I played this back on release nov 2004 , i play it over Haloween with the wesp patch. Which has improved the game a great deal. If you have never played this game , i envy you ! Play it , explore the maps , try and play some of the side-quests : talk to All the npc`s , as a Malkavian i once had a conversation with a roadsign ! because games like this are so very rare to find ...

Bottom line: Definitely recommend - A very good game that lets you role play as a vampire in LA w/ great sound, great story, and great characters. Good: Some of the best voice acting EVER. Seriously. Superb ambient sounds and background music that fits the environment. Dialog is also top notch, as is the story line, with multiple ways to solve each mission, as well as multiple endings. A few of the main characters are true works of art, both visually and w/ their voice overs. Graphics in some areas are extremely good for an older game, and a few of the 3D models are superb. Clan and character choice in the beginning has a huge impact on how you play – it isn’t just a different esthetic. Try Malkavians for some truly hilarious dialog or special options where you can impart your craziness to other characters to help solve a mission. Try the Nosferatu if you like sneaking through alleyways and sewers, but are willing to forgo seduction dialog options. Impact on game play is amazing. Wide variety of missions, and each mission often has multiple ways to finish it. Bad: The game seems “uneven”. While some aspects of the game are excellent, there are other aspects that are kind of blah. For example, while the main characters are absolutely excellent, there are only a handful of “population” type characters, w/ very few 3D models. The result is that you see lots of copies of the same people everywhere. Same for level design. A few buildings and levels are off the chart excellent, and some of the others are bland, empty rooms. Combat can be annoying at times, and there are sometimes clipping issues. Occasionally there are bugs that can cause you to have to revert to an earlier save in order to progress. I recommend saving your game OFTEN. “Gore” and language by today’s standards is pretty tame, but there are some adult themes, w/ sexuality being high on that list. I thought it actually added to the game, but I’m sure some may take issue with it