As promised a while ago, today Paradox Interactive and The Chinese Room revealed the first full-fledged gameplay of the upcoming action RPG Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2.
Presented by creative director Alex Skidmore, the footage showcases a part of the game that we have glimpsed before, but this time around we get to see all the gameplay sandwiching the story snippets that were previously showcased.
A relevant detail is that this time around the game is played as a Brujah kindred. There are three more clans available (the Tremere, the Banu Haqim, and the Ventrue) and they change things quite a bit, but they will be showcased at a later time.
The mission showcased in this footage is from the early game, as our customizable protagonist Phyre infiltrates a warehouse to find out about the mark on their hand. We also get to meet our "companion" Johnny Silverh... ahem... Fabien, who appears to be stuck in Phyre's mind somehow.
Below you can check out a short version of the gameplay, relatively cleansed from spoilers.
A second video, much more extensive, includes all the developer commentary, more gameplay, more story, and more spoilers. You can check it out below at your own risk.
If you want to play the game blind, you may want to at least skip the part in the middle, which is pretty heavy on the spoilers.
We get to see the ability to feed on enemies to gain power to use in combat, telekinesis to distract enemies or yank them around, Phyre's heightened senses that let them perceive details from far away or invisible to normal humans, and Fabian's judgment of phyre's actions.
The accompanying press release includes a statement from Skidmore himself.
The gameplay and action of Bloodlines 2 is a sort of dance. As players explore the world, soak in the atmosphere, and make strategic choices, they affect their relationships with the characters around them.
Players can choose their legend, but the world is dynamic, and characters will remember how you treat them. Think carefully, and trust no one.
Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 will be released in the fall of 2024 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X|S.
The game had a bit of a troubled history. Paradox removed the original studio Hardsuit Labs from development in 2021, indefinitely delaying the release.
After a long time under the radar, last year we got the reveal that The Chinese Room took over development, and here we are.
