Even thought i was not expecting a real bloodline game anymore, i still wanted to give this game a chance. So i resigned myself to look at this game as just something within the world of darkness (which i love). My first review was a one start explained by the fact that the game is unplayable on azerty keyboard (keybinding being totally bugged, i had to switch windows on qwerty just to be able to play); The bug is known and a patch is promesssed quickly. To the game itself then : This shouldn't be called Bloodlines 2. There is not much remaining of what made the original a cult classic over the years. First of all this is NOT an RPG, no character stats, no leveling but for abilities. This is just an action focused game with Ok tiers gameplay and a few RPG elements. Clan choice seems just to be a limited personalisation factor, the skill tree being the same for everyclan, it just impacts the cost of purchasing some abilities. Being able to climb building and running from roof to roof is fun (althought limited)... but what for? This could have been a Nosferatu focused gameplay for staying out of sight and finding alternative paths... but no. Just a shiny toy. For the good points now : Characters, even thought caricaturals, seem OK, and there is globally a nice work done on ambiance. A few hours into the game, experience seems enjoyable (note that the very fact of being within the world of darkness is enjoyable to me), even thought i fear the gameplay loop might be a bit repetitive. I like the idea for the dialogue system wich lead you to ignore some option, every line being susceptible to be liked or disliked in some way by the NPC depending on their personnality. This good idea is altered thought by a lack of depth : no stats at all involved, not ability use possible in dialogue.... but again, NOT an RPG.... . Look at this just as a game within the World or Darkness with its own proposition, not at a legacy to VtM Bloodlines. That title is just a marketting thing at this point, and the economic strategy of Paradox seems predatory, but what else to expect? To conclude i really wish this game was not called Bloodlines 2 so we could still cherish the hope of getting a real sequel for VtM Bloodlines some day (i mean a deep and dark RPG), but the game itself seems OK so far (despite the breaking bugs mentionned above). Wrong Title, OK game. 3 Stars for the Chinese Room which came out with a game as good as could be given the conditions of developpement, 1 star for Paradox and a dying industry incapable of changing its ways and giving a go for artistic expression and innovation. Oh and not worth 60 bucks, maybe wait for a discount.
Always a pleasure to come back in the world of darkness
