Vampire
The first, new gameplay for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 is finally here so we can see how our Vampire will function out there
Just in time to keep with the promise of getting some gameplay out there, The Chinese Room delivers and we now have some of the new gameplay for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2. We are still in January, so it counts. That all said, now we get to see just how they have changed the game up after all of the other hurdles that Paradox Interactive has had to go through to get this thing in the works in the first place. Not only that, but to see how far along they are in making sure we get to embrace that Vampire fun on the PS5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC this year. All of which feels as if we might be seeing a little push or a very late-in-the-year release for this one…
We will start off with a little sampler of gameplay for Bloodlines 2 first so you can get a feel for a little of how our vampire Phyre will function in the game. This version of the character is a Brujah and is on a quest to track down a Nosferatu who is holding some information. In the mix, we get to see how Phyre will use some of the vampire disciplines (superpowers) to infiltrate and fight the enemies in the building. All while leading up and slightly explaining why Phyre is missing some of the power they had before. All of this takes place a little bit into the game and not from the start. You have been warned if you are trying to not get any story spoilers.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 — Gameplay
Join us in Seattle for the long-awaited Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 in this gameplay trailer!
Kindred Key Features Include:
- Feeding For Power: Feeding is a critical element of strengthening Phyre’s abilities and reflects the nature of the clan selected.
- Telekinesis: Distract enemies by lifting and throwing objects or pulling foes closer to deliver the final punch.
- Heightened Senses: See things others can’t see or hear. Focus from great distances and see what mere humans would miss in each mission and puzzle.
- Fabien’s Judgement: While all major characters in Seattle build opinions of Phyre based on their interactions with the world, Fabien sees and hears all.
So, some of that was a little rough to watch here for Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2. Things like the character animations for the NPCs or Ghouls were very rough and unpolished here. There is still time to fix all of that, but for the first big gameplay reveal, it is weird to see characters floating and gliding when they should be running or walking. There is a slight pass on the look of the characters when compared to the others, though. In the lore of Vampire: The Masquerade, the Ghouls of the Nosferatu do start to look off. So take note of that before judging. That and in the following Extended Gameplay, there is actually a better explanation as the whole scene may or may not have been an illusion and in Phyre's head.
Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 — Extended Gameplay
Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room released two gameplay videos for the upcoming first-person action RPG Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2. The Chinese Room’s Creative Director, Alex Skidmore, was joined by TCR Community Manager Joshua Matthews to deep-dive into the game’s mechanics and setting while exploring Seattle as a Brujah Kindred. Additional gameplay videos detailing the Brujah and other clans in Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 will be released in the coming months.
Matthews and Skidmore highlight an early-game mission, discussing why the player character, Phyre, infiltrates an abandoned warehouse to uncover clues about the mysterious mark on their hand. Players must choose their actions wisely, whether confronting the court’s secret keeper like Willem or meeting unruly ghouls and illusions that cloud the environment. Acting as “The Sheriff” of the Court, Phyre’s choices impact how the world perceives them and bring them closer to uncovering Seattle’s secrets.
Each clan has its own playstyle and Disciplines, creating different ways to explore. Whether it’s the Brujah’s brute force, Banu Haqim’s cloak-and-dagger approach, Ventrue’s cutthroat manipulation, or Tremere’s blood magic, players have a wide range of options. Details on each clan’s respective Disciplines will be available this year.
The above extended look at Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 does put a few things to ease when it comes to Phyre having powers they should not have. A Brujah does not normally get the heightened sense or telekinesis, but it would seem the magical mark that removes many of the Elder powers they should have, so these get a pass as in the lore it would be likely Phyre could have something stronger. The part I wish they would have explained in the shorter gameplay is all of the illusion and mental traps that we see here. It is something that does happen in Vampire: The Masquerade and I am very interested in how the team is approaching it in the video game. It actually makes a lot more sense for visuals and other mechanics knowing all of this. Not to mention the fact that we are going to get to build our backstory during the game by the voice in Phyre's head being judgy and us leaning into or ignoring the rumors of our past.
How are you feeling about everything for the game after seeing our vampire in motion and a little bit of the reason behind it all? Do you think that the weird animations are a choice of the illusion or a sign that the game is still in a very unpolished state? Do you like the way that the mental traps and powers are on display here and will it only get crazier as we dive into more of the madness the game has to offer up? Sneak on down to the comment section to discuss all of this and everything else that we have to share with you on the topic. We are keeping a close eye on Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2, so you know we will have all of those updates on the site for you as fast as we can. All you have to do is keep on coming back to see and hear about it all.
