Review Bloodlines trashed by some morons at ComputerGames

[Vault Dweller]

Tags: Troika Games; Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines

<a href=http://www.computergames.ro>Computer Games</a> has posted a rather negative 5-page long <a href=http://www.computergames.ro/site/p/articles/o/review/lng/en/artid/595>review</a> of <a href=http://www.vampire-bloodlines.com>Bloodlines</a>. Although I was disappointed with Bloodlines myself, the review is filled with assumptions, inaccuracies, and bullshit.
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<blockquote>Some of you might wonder what is Bloodlines worth playing for. The dialogues for one, which are some of the best in the genre, especially when you play as a Malkavian, which have some interesting lines. For the music and voice acting, which are top-notch from start to finish and for some quests that break the typical “go to point A and return with object B” formula (although you will also find these in Bloodlines as well). The characters are well fleshed out, some of them being quite memorable, and the haunted hotel level is just as scary (if not scarier) as Stonebridge Cradle (those of you who’ve played Thief: Deadly Shadows know what I’m talking about). But that’s all there is regarding strong points. The storyline is as dull as it can get: an ancient artifact is found, the signs foretelling the apocalypse (or Gehenna, as it is called in the vampire lore) start popping up everywhere and you are the only one who can save the world from impeding doom. How original is that?</blockquote>
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How about actually finishing a game before writing a review? How original would that be?
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Spotted at: <A HREF="http://www.rpgdot.com">RPG Dot</A>

 

[dojoteef]

Well I found so many things wrong with the review that I don't know where to begin. I think I'll just make it simple though. Here's a quote from the review that really shows the quality we're dealing with:

The bad news is that blunt weapons (sledge hammer, axe, katana etc) are about the only ones with which you can deal some serious damage, since the firearms are incredibly weak.

 

[Volourn]

Ahh.. The Codex. Where Gamers come to cry.

 

[Vault Dweller]

What are you mumbling about?

 

[DarkSign]

Ahh.. The Codex. Where Gamers come to cry.

Nah. More like dissect industry bullshit..be it gameplay, customer relations, or media response.

That quote will be good for someone's sig, though.

 

[Sol Invictus]

Computer Games Romania is incredibly retarded.

 

[Majnun]

Incidentally...it's Shalebridge Cradle, not Stonebridge.

But hey if you're getting the information wrong about the game your're actually reviewing why bother to get it right about the one's you compare it to?

 

[NeutralMilkHotel]

Ahh.. The Codex. Where Gamers come to cry.

Quit whining about other people whining.

 

[Volourn]

"Quit whining about other people whining."

Ah.. Someone wnats to play THAT game. Fine then. :D

Quit whining about me whining about other people whining.

Your turn.

 

[DarkSign]

Is the viablity of this thread still in tact? Lets see.

 

[Bossman]

How about actually finishing a game before writing a review? How original would that be?

For your information, I finished the game despite the Leopold Society bug and I saw all five endings ... so your comment means squat ...

Incidentally...it's Shalebridge Cradle, not Stonebridge.

True, mea culpa here ... I corrected the article accordingly

Computer Games Romania is incredibly retarded.

Wow ... what an intelligent comment ...

If someone has constructive feedback, please feel free to post ... if not, troll somewhere else ...

 

[Major_Blackhart]

You're coming to our turf and telling us what to do? Real smart.

 

[jiujitsu]

Uh oh, someone got offended.

 

[Volourn]

"You're coming to our turf and telling us what to do? Real smart."

I see. Codex can spam their whiney criticism of other sites and their reviews; but if said reviewer dares to come here to defend said review; it's wrong?

R00fles!

 

[jiujitsu]

"I see. Codex can spam their whiney criticism of other sites and their reviews; but if said reviewer dares to come here to defend said review; it's wrong?

It isn't wrong. It just isn't very smart.

 

[Volourn]

"It isn't wrong. It just isn't very smart."

LOL That depends if he's willing to take the abuse that is surely to come his way. If he can take it like he dishes it out then it just adds another punk we all can gang rape.

That is all. :twisted:

 

[Vault Dweller]

How about actually finishing a game before writing a review? How original would that be?

For your information, I finished the game despite the Leopold Society bug and I saw all five endings ... so your comment means squat ...

Yeah, just like your review. Anyway, if you finished the game, how come you make statements like firearms are weak and the plot is about you saving the world?

 

[Bossman]

Yeah, just like your review. Anyway, if you finished the game, how come you make statements like firearms are weak and the plot is about you saving the word?

Because firearms are weak ... maybe they're good against humans, but against vampires ... come on ...

As for the story ... it's about you making decisions that will affect the entire world ... judging by how the game develops, you are lead to believe that in the end the sarcophagus will be opened, a terrible evil will be released and you will have to defeat in order to save everyone, since all the people you meet tell you that the sarcophagus must not be opened, that it contains an ancient evil etc etc etc ... and the little "twists", like the Prince betraying you and such are utterly predictable ...

 

[Volourn]

"how come you make statements like firearms are weak "

Because they are compared to melee weapons... unless you have a 10 rating (or so I heard) and in those situations were you are FORCED to use them to proceed.


"the plot is about you saving the world?"

That pretty much is the plot. Gehenna anyone? Even if it was one of those fake ones that basically is the plot in a nutshell. though it's not exactly 'safe the world'; but save the vampire legions.

 

[Vault Dweller]

Yeah, just like your review. Anyway, if you finished the game, how come you make statements like firearms are weak and the plot is about you saving the word?

Because firearms are weak ... maybe they're good against humans, but against vampires ... come on ...

I played the game several times, twice using ranged characters. Colt Anaconda and Killmatic literally destroy things in seconds. It takes 3-4 shots to kill a vampire . I used Killmatic on everything else: Ming, the Sheriff, that Tzimisce guy, etc. The sniper rifle deals 200+ damage per shot, it took several shots to take out Bach. Well, needles to say, I put some points into firearms. If you didn't, that's your fault, not the game's

As for the story ... it's about you making decisions that will affect the entire world ... judging by how the game develops, you are lead to believe that in the end the sarcophagus will be opened, a terrible evil will be released and you will have to defeat in order to save everyone ... and the little "twists", like the Prince betraying you and such are utterly predictable ...

What you *expected* is irrelevant. In the game you are a pawn, not a savior, and while the plot does deserve some criticism, let's keep the imaginary stuff out of it, ok?

 

[Vault Dweller]

"how come you make statements like firearms are weak "

Because they are compared to melee weapons... unless you have a 10 rating (or so I heard) and in those situations were you are FORCED to use them to proceed.

Did you actually play a ranged character, Volourn? No, you don't have to have 10, 6-8 will do as well. I didn't try that at 2-3, because what would be the fucking point?

"the plot is about you saving the world?"

That pretty much is the plot. Gehenna anyone? Even if it was one of those fake ones that basically is the plot in a nutshell. though it's not exactly 'safe the world'; but save the vampire legions.

Please. Whom did you save? What legions?
That's why pot shouldn't be legal.

 

[Bossman]

It's not about "expecting" anything ... it's about you as a newcomer to the vampire world and the newly discovered sarcophagus (gee, what a coicidence), which everyone tells you that if it is opened, will seal the fate of both vampires and humans ... anyway, the opinions regarding the storyline are in the end subjective, so we can go on like this forever ...

As for the firearms ... I for one don't like the idea of having to spend almost all of my hard earned experience points just to use them to increase one feat ... and btw, I'm not the only complaining about this:

The problem is that firearms in Bloodlines are severely underpowered and they only allow you to attack one opponent at a time. By using a melee weapon you can attack multiple enemies at once. More importantly, you can even knock them down, which buys you precious time to concentrate on a single foe. The only time firearms seem more useful than melee weapons is when you want to attack larger monsters from a distance. Otherwise, you're going to find yourself at a disadvantage most of the time when using a gun.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/vtmb/review-2.html

 

[Volourn]

"Did you actually play a ranged character, Volourn? No, you don't have to have 10, 6-8 will do as well. I didn't try that at 2-3, because what would be the fucking point?"

Yes, I did. I had 7 or 8 as a ranged score by the end of the game. It pretty much sucked. And, I sure as heck didn't use the spray option for the guns that had it 'cause after the first shot my weapon would just spray all over the place and miss the target menaing I'd do 30 or so damage period.

Guns were underpowered except in situations where you pretty much needed them (ie. Sherriff's second form). Like i said, I cna believe 10 will make a difference; but 8 sure as heck doesn't.


"Please. Whom did you save? What legions?
That's why pot shouldn't be legal."

You miss the point. The push of the story is 'safe the world or protect the va,pires from Gehenna'. That's the push of it. That is the story even if it lande dup being a hoax. You don't make a 40-50 hour (30 hours not counting load times R00fles!) where that's the story and then pull a 'HAHA! We faked ya out (but, I saw it a mile away since you pulled the same shit 2 games ago R00fles!).

Sorry; but the story was an 'Epic Save The Big Group' type. Period.

 

[Vault Dweller]

It's not about "expecting" anything ... it's about you as a newcomer to the vampire world and the newly discovered sarcophagus (gee, what a coicidence), which everyone tells you that if it is opened, will seal the fate of both vampires and humans ...

Who tells you that? Nobody knows for sure what's or who's inside. Those who believe that an ancient vampire is inside want to drink his blood to increase their powers (the Prince, the Sabbat, etc). Beckett, the only guy who actually knows something, doesn't believe that the sarcophagus belongs to a vampire.

anyway, the opinions regarding the storyline are in the end subjective, so we can go on like this forever ...

This is not a discussion about opinions on the storyline. I think it sucked, someone likes it, whatever. We are talking about what the storyline was about, and it was definitely not about you saving the word.

As for the firearms ... I for one don't like the idea of having to spend almost all of my hard earned experience points just to use them to increase one feat ...

I see. You are one of those people who just can't admit that they are wrong. Whatever works for you, but in regard to your "argument". You have a truckload of XPs in the game, so its not like you have to spend "almost all" points on one skill. There are 3 firearms books and a teacher, btw, but even if you have to spend every point yourself, it's about 30% of all XPs you can earn in the game.

Besides, Perception increases Inspection, which is a very useful skill, so you are not using all the points on one skill.

... and btw, I'm not the only complaining about this:

The problem is that firearms in Bloodlines are severely underpowered and they only allow you to attack one opponent at a time. By using a melee weapon you can attack multiple enemies at once. More importantly, you can even knock them down, which buys you precious time to concentrate on a single foe. The only time firearms seem more useful than melee weapons is when you want to attack larger monsters from a distance. Otherwise, you're going to find yourself at a disadvantage most of the time when using a gun.

http://www.gamespot.com/pc/rpg/vtmb/review-2.html

Great argument. What, you thought that you are the only one who writes half-assed reviews these days. Get in line.

 

[Country_Gravy]

"You're coming to our turf and telling us what to do? Real smart."

I see. Codex can spam their whiney criticism of other sites and their reviews; but if said reviewer dares to come here to defend said review; it's wrong?

R00fles!

I think that was refering to him saying "troll somewhere else" when he is posting on the Codex. WTF? Isn't he trolling these boards. Just because your review sucked and someone called you on it doesn't mean you can come here and tell people that their opinion is wrong and they can't post. If my opinion is that you are a total retard that has his head shoved so far up his ass that he can't see daylight, then so be it. But don't tell me that I can't post. That seems like a great way to get spanked right off the boards.