Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 takes another flawed but unique and remarkable bite at the jugular, with plenty to love and loathe alike, but I certainly enjoyed my time as an elder vampire at the very least.

Although Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 isn't particularly ambitious or polished, it makes up for its faults with enthralling gameplay, gorgeous environments, a good story, and even better characters.

The Chinese Room has managed to make something from a box of inherited parts, but this action RPG feels hollow and functional, and is only redeemed by some stellar performances from the characters and cast.

A gripping story full of intrigue and murder that struggles to find its footing as an RPG sequel.

It's impossible to roleplay a narrative that's already set its course.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a shambles. Its best qualities are always short-lived, buried deep beneath the frustrations of non-existent RPG elements, extreme padding, and diabolical technical issues. Beyond the promise of its opening hours, this is a tragic misfire of a game.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is no classic, that's for sure. The game's side content is mediocre at best, and its technical optimization is among the worst seen recently. That said, the setting's atmosphere is intact, the combat is fun, and the main story is well-crafted. I recommend it to fans, but only at a lower price than the launch one.

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 picks up where its predecessor left off, but does it live up to the legacy of the cult classic?

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is a huge disappointment. While I did have fun with the overall gameplay mechanics, and the Neo-Noir narrative is a massive treat, the lack of the dynamic immersive sim features that made its predecessor so special means that it lacks the same sandbox and freedom that the immersive sim genre is known for. Unlike other entries in the genre, I sadly have no desire to replay the game any time soon.

Uncreative and extremely boring, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is a huge disrespect to one of the most important RPG franchises.