World of Darkness Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 from Hardsuit Labs

[rusty_shackleford]

A videogame with a political agenda cannot be an RPG, it becomes either an action-adventure game, a visual novel, or a blend between the two.
Simply by restricting the user to a specific set of paths that are only deemed acceptable by the developers they take away any form of agency from the player and undermine the entire concept of being a (western) RPG.

There is zero difference between restricting a player to the "right side of history"(as understood by the designers) and this:

Spoiler

One may be more dressed up to pretend to be what it isn't, but they are the same exact thing.

 

[Space Satan]

I see no problem with backgrounds because, well, Arcanum FFS.
On the other side, progressiveness means that NoSFERATU NO LONGER HAVE TO HIDE IN SEWERS, becuase, well, trannies and other progressive people, especially due to closenessto San Francisco means people got used to ugliness.

 

[Sykar]

That music sure was annoying.

 

[Murk]

RIP whatever expectations.

Also, fuck off, leave my goddamn memories alone you bastards.

 

[hexer]

HOLY SHIT!
I'm rewatching Paradox Twitch stream and main developers are hardcore tabletop RPG players.
They're looking forward to seeing how many diverse stories players can come up with during their playthroughs.

 

[True Ukrainian]

I see no problem with backgrounds because, well, Arcanum FFS.
On the other side, progressiveness means that NoSFERATU NO LONGER HAVE TO HIDE IN SEWERS, becuase, well, trannies and other progressive people, especially due to closenessto San Francisco means people got used to ugliness.

Getting around by sewer as a Nosferatu in Bloodlines was a real pain in the ass anyway.

 

[unfairlight]

It's gonna be shit just like the first one.

 

[Morgoth]

Guise, this sucker will be on Steam!

 

[Saerain]

On the other side, progressiveness means that NoSFERATU NO LONGER HAVE TO HIDE IN SEWERS, becuase, well, trannies and other progressive people, especially due to closenessto San Francisco means people got used to ugliness.

Can't wait to talk down to horrified kine about how grossly their expressions bodyshame me.

 

[rusty_shackleford]

Guise, this sucker will be on Steam!

So was the Metro game.
Notice at the end of the trailer it just says "PC" — no Steam logo.

 

[Cross]

Fifteen years later, the vampires are still at each other’s throats.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 begins as the previous game did way back in 2004. You’re a newborn vampire, confused, taunted and about to be executed. You stand in a kangaroo court, with various bickering vampire clans prodding you for information that you just don’t know or understand.

And then it’s a flashback to when you were human and the night of your turning, as a swarm of vampires descend on humans in a chaotic slaughter for food. You wake later, with new talents and vague objectives. Stay alive, creep through the shadows, use your newfound abilities. This is an action RPG, but it also feels like an immersive sim in the vein of Dishonored.

“You could call it retroactive borrowing, ” says Martin Ka’ai Clooney, creative director developer Hardsuit Labs. “A lot of those immersive sims took a lot of their ideas and systems from games like Bloodlines. You play it now and it doesn’t really play as an immersive sim but there were a lot of those concepts that informed them.

“Bloodlines at the time was very much an RPG. It’s influence on immersive sims was important but it didn’t change the fact that at its core it was an action RPG. We loaned it out for a bit now we’re stealing it back.”

Pretty impressive that Bloodlines, a game from 2004, inspired the design of games like Thief (1998), Deus Ex (2000) and Arx Fatalis (2002).

 

[Sukhāvatī]

Guise, this sucker will be on Steam!

So was the Metro game.
Notice at the end of the trailer it just says "PC" — no Steam logo.

Probably because GOG's also getting in on it.

https://www.gog.com/game/vampire_the_masquerade_bloodlines_2

 

[Arulan]

I see no problem with backgrounds because, well, Arcanum FFS.
On the other side, progressiveness means that NoSFERATU NO LONGER HAVE TO HIDE IN SEWERS, becuase, well, trannies and other progressive people, especially due to closenessto San Francisco means people got used to ugliness.

Getting around by sewer as a Nosferatu in Bloodlines was a real pain in the ass anyway.

They mocked the sewers during one of the interviews. They seem pretty aware of Bloodlines' shortcomings. They talked about combat quite a bit too. I don't know whether sewers are going to be a thing though, but you will be able to climb buildings to stay out-of-sight.

 

[Saerain]

Fifteen years later, the vampires are still at each other’s throats.

Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 begins as the previous game did way back in 2004. You’re a newborn vampire, confused, taunted and about to be executed. You stand in a kangaroo court, with various bickering vampire clans prodding you for information that you just don’t know or understand.

And then it’s a flashback to when you were human and the night of your turning, as a swarm of vampires descend on humans in a chaotic slaughter for food. You wake later, with new talents and vague objectives. Stay alive, creep through the shadows, use your newfound abilities. This is an action RPG, but it also feels like an immersive sim in the vein of Dishonored.

“You could call it retroactive borrowing, ” says Martin Ka’ai Clooney, creative director developer Hardsuit Labs. “A lot of those immersive sims took a lot of their ideas and systems from games like Bloodlines. You play it now and it doesn’t really play as an immersive sim but there were a lot of those concepts that informed them.

“Bloodlines at the time was very much an RPG. It’s influence on immersive sims was important but it didn’t change the fact that at its core it was an action RPG. We loaned it out for a bit now we’re stealing it back.”

Pretty impressive that Bloodlines, a game from 2004, inspired the design of games like Thief (1998), Deus Ex (2000) and Arx Fatalis (2002).

Meh, "a lot of", "from games like".

 

[Grunker]

Dafuq. Also: worst trailer

 

[Tavernking]

I'm using this post on the first page for advertising

BUY MY GAME

 

[Taxnomore]

I want to be able to identify as a Stop! sign.

 

[Child of Malkav]

Will it be moddable?

 

[Background Character]

I wish I was dead

 

[ItsChon]

Trailer really wasn't that bad, not sure what people are expecting...

 

[ZeniBot]

Ok sure lets just add a number to the games title then. That totally won't be confusing.

CALL THE FUCKING GAME WORLD OF DARKNESS FOR FUCKS SAKE. REEEE

 

[Durandal]

"Not Actual Gameplay"
Only one year until release and they can't even show any in-game footage? Are they sure they are on schedule?

Also, the most I know about this game are about its pre-order options instead of you know, the game itself? Stop doing that shit, Paradox.

Verstuurd vanaf mijn GT-I9301I met Tapatalk

 

[ZeniBot]

I want to be able to identify as a Stop! sign.

No you stop.

 

[Sukhāvatī]

"Not Actual Gameplay"
Only one year until release and they can't even show any in-game footage? Are they sure they are on schedule?

There's a closed doors 30 minutes demo according to PCGamer.

https://www.pcgamer.com/vampire-the-masquerade-bloodlines-2-preview/

 

[Grauken]

I want to be able to identify as a Stop! sign.

We will honor your wish and think of you as such