My anticipation for Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 was immense; it had consumed my thoughts for what felt like an eternity. Yet, as my own review confirms, The Chinese Room’s rendition of the beloved franchise ultimately fell short of expectations. While I, as a long-standing VTM enthusiast, found some enjoyment, the game feels like a mere echo of its potential, further hindered by poor optimization. With its recent launch, I’ve closely monitored its reception on Steam, and the ‘Mixed’ rating, honestly, exceeds what I had anticipated.
An embedded video player was present here.
Sadly, Bloodlines 2 offers little to genuinely admire. Beyond the glaring optimization issues, the narrative struggles to captivate, combat feels clunky and uninspired, and its so-called progression system is hardly deserving of the name. Glimmers of brilliance emerge through its character interactions, particularly with the loquacious Malkavian, Fabien. However, even these engaging moments eventually impede progress as players push toward the game’s conclusion.
My primary grievance with Bloodlines 2, however, lies in its title. Despite The Chinese Room marketing it as a ‘spiritual sequel,’ it completely lacks a cohesive connection to the original game. Scattered lore fragments in various documents and a fleeting appearance by a familiar character feel more like superficial nods than meaningful continuations. In essence, this isn’t a true Bloodlines title; it’s simply another Vampire: The Masquerade experience set in Seattle.
A related YouTube video discussing the game’s aspects was included here.
This perceived disconnect seems to be the core frustration among players. One Steam review aptly states, “This ‘sequel’ is Bloodlines in name only,” while another laments, “If it’s not a true successor to the original, then they shouldn’t have named it as such.” Beyond the narrative, players are also highly critical of the game’s technical performance and the surprising absence of basic in-game options, such as the ability to disable Motion Blur – a personal annoyance of mine.
This sentiment resonates across online communities, including Reddit, where many players decry the absence of fundamental features, such as manual saving, especially considering its premium $60 / £50 price tag. Consequently, Bloodlines 2 currently sits in Steam’s ‘Mixed’ review category, holding a 55% positive rating at the time of publication.
On a more positive note, the game did reach a peak Steam player count exceeding 27,000 on launch day. This statistic, if nothing else, clearly demonstrates the enduring affection fans hold for the franchise and their eagerness to support it, even after two decades.
An image illustrating the Steam player count for Bloodlines 2, reflecting its mixed reception, was included here.
Truthfully, I still found enjoyment in Bloodlines 2 from a dedicated VTM fan perspective. However, unlike the original Bloodlines, where I can effortlessly immerse myself in the grimy alleyways of Santa Monica, I don’t anticipate a quick return to its Seattle setting. My hope is that future patches will resolve its technical issues, and while I’ll likely explore the upcoming DLCs, I genuinely wish the next installment for the World of Darkness brings a more polished experience.
For those venturing into Bloodlines 2’s Seattle, we have detailed guides on the different clans to help you choose your vampiric lineage. Additionally, if you seek a comprehensive overview of the game’s journey, we’ve compiled a complete list of all Bloodlines 2 missions.
Are you currently playing Bloodlines 2? Share your thoughts with us, and perhaps even showcase your Phyre!