LONDON (IT BOLTWISE) – After a long development odyssey, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is about to be released. The reviews are divided: While some praise the dark atmosphere and narrative design, others criticize the lack of role-playing depth. The game is considered a spin-off that attempts to reach a wider audience.
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After nearly two decades of waiting and a tumultuous development period, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 is about to be released. Expectations were high, but initial reviews show a mixed picture. While some critics praise the dark atmosphere and narrative design, others hardly find anything good about the game. Everyone only agrees on one point: Bloodlines 2 is not a real sequel, but rather a spin-off with a different direction.
Originally announced in 2019, Bloodlines 2 has had a true odyssey: developer changes, endless postponements and creative changes of direction shaped its development. The Chinese Room game is now about to be released on October 21, 2025 for PC, PS5 and Xbox – and is already causing heated discussions. Some see it as a successful reinterpretation of the cult classic, others simply see it as a misstep.
The reviews vary between enthusiasm and disappointment. PC Gamer is cautiously optimistic: Bloodlines 2 is “good, sometimes even great,” even if it offers little substance as a role-playing game. The atmospheric world and the dark storytelling were convincing, but as an RPG it remains flat. Our British Eurogamer colleagues judge more harshly: Hardly any character development, hardly any loot, four skills per clan – there is nothing more. After a few hours the progress is exhausted and the game seems strangely empty.
IGN also criticizes the lack of progression. The damage in the first fight is the same as in the last, new skills are all unlocked after a few hours. Here too: no real feeling of development. Dexerto, in turn, highlights the political decisions and narrative design – for them, Bloodlines 2 is not a classic RPG, but a complex adventure with moral weight. The atmosphere of Seattle is impressive, but the RPG mechanics “suck the life out of the game” – in the truest sense of the word.
GamesRadar speaks of a “missed opportunity”: immature writing, weak level design, performance problems. “A half-finished action-mystery mix that barely leaves an impression.” GameSpot, on the other hand, thinks: Despite everything, it is “mostly worthwhile”. The test praises the feel of the game, which is reminiscent of the original, including the typical Troika “jankiness”, i.e. slight technical chaos, which seems almost nostalgic. PCGamesN goes further and says that The Chinese Room has actually reinforced the weaknesses of the original – the game is neither a good sequel nor a strong RPG, but has charming characters and some successful moments.
Almost all reviews emphasize the same point: Bloodlines 2 is not a real role-playing game sequel, but rather a modernized, linear action variant. The big difference lies in the demands. Where the original shone in 2004 with complex decisions, role-playing systems and social bite, part two apparently wants to reach a wider audience – and loses a piece of its DNA in the process. This will be disappointing for fans of the original, but may be a more accessible entry point for newcomers.
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