The vampires couldn't withstand the production hell: the role-playing game Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 disappointed critics
Few gamers believed in the success of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2. The sequel to the cult RPG was announced back in 2019 and was planned for an imminent release, but then scandals and layoffs began, the game was postponed four times, its concept was completely rewritten several times, and in 2023 the development was handed over to the British studio The Chinese Room, where it practically started anew. For anyone who doesn't know what the phrase "production hell" means, the story of Bloodlines 2 is a vivid illustration.
Finally, the game is ready for release and now we know what the years of development of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 have led to.
What's known
Critics and bloggers have published their reviews of the new game and, unfortunately for those who were optimistic about Bloodlines 2, there is sad news: the specialized press was dissatisfied.
Most experts agree that the best aspect of the game is the combat: it is spectacular, dynamic, and offers a wide variety of vampiric abilities. The overall atmosphere and the design of gloomy Seattle, where ancient vampires weave their plots, were also praised. However, the open world is described as dull, empty, and monotonous, even though navigating it is fun thanks to the protagonist's supernatural abilities.
There have also been many complaints about the technical execution of the RPG, as even on consoles there are glitches, and performance drops.
Overall, the story and presentation of Bloodlines 2 are at a fairly high level, but after playing it leaves a feeling of disappointment.
Bloodlines 2 cannot be called an outright failure, but it is unlikely to hold the same place in the hearts of fans as the original game.
In the end, Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 received quite low ratings:
- 64 points — Opencritic with only 32% recommendation;
- 67 points — Metacritic, PC version;
- 64 points — Metacritic, PlayStation 5 version.
When to expect
The release of Vampire: The Masquerade — Bloodlines 2 will take place on October 21 for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series.
Source: Opencritic, Metacritic