Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 Should’ve Released 20 Years Ago Because It’s Stuck in the PS2 Era (Review)

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The original *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines*, released in 2004, has gained a dedicated and passionate fanbase. So, when a sequel was announced in 2019, fans were understandably excited. Now, *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* is finally here, launching appropriately in October. After a 24-year wait, this new installment is being developed by The Chinese Room. While *Bloodlines 2* will offer a familiar experience for those who loved the first game, it also introduces significant changes, promising a fresh way to explore the *Vampire: The Masquerade* universe.

I enjoyed a preview of the game earlier this year and was excited to continue the story as Phyre. While the combat was challenging, my first impression left me wanting to explore more of this unique version of Seattle. I had a lot of fun with *Bloodlines 2*, but it felt somewhat outdated, like a game from the PlayStation 2 era. It seemed like *Bloodlines 2* aimed to be a direct sequel to the original *Bloodlines*, rather than embracing modern gaming advancements and mechanics.

Rating: 3 out of 5

Pros Cons
Engaging story that makes you want to keep playing Combat is clunky and difficult to master, even on Easy Mode
Interesting NPCs with compelling backstories and dialogue Several core mechanics and gameplay elements feel dated
Elder vampire powers are just plain fun Some performance issues with stuttering and minor glitches

Bloodlines 2 Tells a Complex and Engaging Story You Won’t See Coming

I read and watch a lot of stories, so it takes a lot to surprise me – I’m usually pretty good at guessing plot twists. But *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2* genuinely kept me guessing, thanks to The Chinese Room and Paradox Interactive. The game is fundamentally a mystery, with a cool, classic noir feel, especially through the character Fabien. It’s a really well-done mystery that makes you want to investigate and find out what’s happening.

Bloodlines 2 tells its story in a unique way. The game centers around Phyre, an ancient vampire who’s just woken up, but they share a mind with Fabien, a vampire detective. This allows players to investigate modern-day Seattle at night and delve into Fabien’s memories of the past, which unfold while Phyre sleeps during the day.

The game’s narrative structure is effective because it reveals the mystery through the eyes of two characters. We gradually uncover clues alongside them, which is engaging, and it’s fun to try and solve the puzzle before they do. Playing as both Fabien and Phyre, who are very different vampires, adds another layer. Fabien, with his mental powers, and Phyre, a powerful Elder, offer distinct gameplay experiences. Switching between them can sometimes feel abrupt – Fabien lacks basic movement abilities that Phyre has – but overall, the dual perspective and timelines greatly enhance the story.

As a fan, I have to say the best thing about *Bloodlines 2* is definitely the story. The characters you meet are really captivating, and their conversations do a fantastic job of fleshing out the intricate world of vampires in Seattle. I had a blast running around and using my vampire powers, but honestly, it was the story that really pulled me in and kept me hooked. I just couldn’t get enough!

While the story is interesting, playing the game feels like stepping back to the PlayStation 2 days. The way characters talk – using menus – and the strangely deserted streets of Seattle are reminiscent of older games. You can hear traffic, but there are hardly any cars visible, and there’s limited interaction with the environment. Most objects don’t respond to you unless specifically designed to, and the people in important areas mostly stand still and remain silent. Modern games have spoiled me with moving cars and more dynamic environments, so this Seattle sometimes felt a little empty and lifeless.

The main storyline was solid, but the side quests felt a little repetitive. There are some nighttime missions you can take from different people around the city, but they mostly involve doing the same few tasks with only minor story variations. While completing these quests improves your standing with the city’s factions and lets you explore using all of Phyre’s abilities, I was hoping for more diverse and engaging side content, especially compared to the richness of the main story.

The Combat in Bloodlines 2 Is Poorly Balanced and Hard to Master

When I test games, I usually play on the standard difficulty to see how well-balanced they are. However, even on normal settings, *Bloodlines 2* feels very challenging at the beginning. You play as an Elder Vampire who’s weakened from a long sleep and needs to regain their powers. The game doesn’t seem to account for this at first, making early fights surprisingly difficult.

The game throws you into intense battles with large groups of enemies from the start, and dealing with them is quite challenging. Simply trying to punch and kick your way through isn’t effective – enemies quickly swarm and overwhelm you. While abilities like telekinesis are meant to offer a stealthy approach, the game’s situations often don’t allow for it. I eventually lowered the difficulty to Easy just to progress the story, but even then, I occasionally got stuck on enemy groups until I discovered a specific trick to win.

The game is definitely action-packed, which is great for this type of RPG. However, the combat can be frustrating at first because it doesn’t always feel fair. It does become more balanced as you progress and unlock new skills, but the early stages can be quite challenging, potentially turning players off before they really get into the game.

The game’s decision to use old-fashioned checkpoints instead of letting players quickly save at important moments is really frustrating. I often found myself repeating the same sections – crawling through air vents and listening to the same conversations – when I got stuck in a tough fight. Being able to save at the end of those sections would have made the game much more enjoyable.

I slowly got better at fighting by focusing on dodging, using clever tactics, and eliminating enemies whenever possible. I even started to have fun with the combat, especially since the game had the over-the-top, bloody visuals you’d expect from a dark RPG. However, I never really felt like I truly mastered the system, and surprisingly, I struggled even on the easiest difficulty setting. If the ‘Easy’ mode isn’t actually easy, that means the game’s difficulty is unbalanced.

There’s actually an even easier difficulty level than ‘Easy’ for players who primarily want to experience the story. If you’re finding the game too challenging, that option can make things simpler. However, overall, the combat in *Bloodlines 2* didn’t quite meet my expectations.

Despite Its Flaws, This Is a Vampire Game Worth Playing

As a big fan of the original *Bloodlines*, playing *Bloodlines 2* felt… familiar. It honestly felt like what a sequel would have been like if it came out just a few years after the first game in 2004. If you’re hoping for a super modern vampire RPG, this might not be it. It really embraces both the good *and* the bad parts of RPGs from the early 2000s. Sometimes that’s a really fun trip down memory lane, but other times it feels like it’s holding the game back from being truly amazing.

The game’s romance system is fairly simple, with clear “flirt” options for characters you’re interested in. While you can figure out what each character likes, it’s not always obvious how much impact your choices have on the story. Also, romances are shown briefly and don’t develop into the deep, emotional connections you might find in games like *Baldur’s Gate 3*.

At $60, the game feels a little expensive considering its older design and some technical problems. I was hoping for a more polished and modern experience for that price, and *Bloodlines 2* didn’t quite deliver. While it’s much more stable than the original *Bloodlines*, I still experienced occasional stuttering or freezing when opening doors or moving around quickly. I only encountered two full crashes and a couple of bugs that required a restart, but I wish the performance was smoother, particularly on a console like the PS5.

Despite a few outdated elements and minor issues, I had a lot of fun playing *Vampire: The Masquerade: Bloodlines 2*. Once I mastered the movement – running across rooftops and scaling buildings – and the combat, the game really captured the immersive vampire experience that originally drew me to the *Vampire: The Masquerade* tabletop RPG. It didn’t fully meet my expectations, but it’s still a worthwhile RPG for anyone looking for a spooky and atmospheric vampire game, especially this October.

The highly anticipated game, *Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2*, comes out on October 21st for PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X|S. We received a PlayStation 5 review code from the game’s publisher.

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2025-10-17 16:39