Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines
Tags: neo noir

Plot synopsis:
=== Setting ===
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines takes place in four areas of 21st-century Los Angeles: Santa Monica, Hollywood, downtown Los Angeles, and Chinatown. Set in the World of Darkness, the game depicts a world in which vampires, werewolves, demons, and other creatures shape human history. The vampires are bound by a code to maintain their secrecy (forbidding the use of vampiric abilities in front of humans) and avoid unnecessary killing (to preserve the vampire's last shreds of humanity). The vampires are divided into seven clans of the Camarilla, the vampire government, with distinctive traits and abilities. The Toreadors are the closest to humanity, with a passion for culture; the Ventrue are noble, powerful leaders; the Brujah are idealists who excel at fighting; the Malkavians are cursed with insanity, or blessed with insight; the Gangrel are loners, in sync with their animalistic nature; the secretive, untrustworthy Tremere wield blood magic; and the monstrous Nosferatu are condemned to a life in the shadows to avoid humanity. The clans are loosely united by their belief in the Camarilla's goals and opposition to the Sabbat: vampires who revel in their nature, embracing the beast within. The Anarchs are a faction of idealistic vampires opposed to the Camarilla's political structure, believing that power should be shared by all vampires.
The main character of Bloodlines, whom the player controls, is an unnamed fledgling vampire, transformed at the start of a game and belonging to one of the clans. The fledgling is employed by Sebastian LaCroix (voiced by Andy Milder), prince of Los Angeles' vampires. The fledgling's travels through the vampire world bring them into contact with other undead creatures such as the deformed information broker Bertram Tung, the Anarch Smiling Jack, and the mentally-unstable Voerman sisters, Jeanette and Therese. Chinatown is controlled by the Kuei-Jin, Asian vampires led by Ming-Xiao, who do not require blood and consider themselves superior to the other vampires.
=== Plot ===
The game begins with the player character, an unnamed human, being killed and resurrected as a fledgling vampire. For this unauthorized act, the fledgling and their Sire are brought before the Camarilla. The Sire is executed by order of LaCroix; the fledgling is spared the same fate by the intervention of the Anarch, Nines Rodriguez, and employed by the prince.
LaCroix sends the fledgling to Santa Monica to help his ghoul, Mercurio, destroy a Sabbat warehouse. Following his success the fledgling travels to downtown Los Angeles, meeting separately with Nines, LaCroix, and Jack. LaCroix tasks the player with investigating a docked ship, the Elizabeth Dane, for information about an Ankaran sarcophagus rumored to contain the body of an Antediluvian, one of the oldest and most powerful vampires, whose arrival would herald the vampire apocalypse, Gehenna. The fledgling discovers that the sarcophagus seems to have been opened from within.
Increased Sabbat activity coincides with the disappearance of the Malkavian chief, Alistair Grout. At Grout's mansion, the fledgling sees Nines leaving and discovers Grout's remains in the mansion with vampire hunter Grunfeld Bach, who denies involvement in Grout's death. Learning about Nines' presence at the mansion, LaCroix tells the other chiefs to approve Nines' execution. The fledgling is sent to the Museum of Natural History to recover the sarcophagus, but finds that it has been stolen. Jack later suggests to the fledgling that LaCroix wants the sarcophagus to drink the blood of the ancient within, gaining its power.
Believing that Gary, the Nosferatu chief, has stolen the sarcophagus, the fledgling is sent to Hollywood to find him; after locating a captured Nosferatu for Gary, he reveals that the sarcophagus was stolen by the Giovanni vampire clan. The fledgling infiltrates the Giovanni mansion and finds the sarcophagus guarded by the Kuei-Jin, who claim their leader, Ming-Xiao, has formed an alliance with LaCroix. The locked sarcophagus is returned to LaCroix's tower and Beckett, a vampire historian, tells the fledgling that the only person who can open it has been abducted by Grunfeld to lure LaCroix. The fledgling kills Grunfeld and learns that the sarcophagus' key has been stolen.
They return to LaCroix, learning that the Sabbat tried to steal the sarcophagus to destroy it and prevent Gehenna, and kill the Sabbat leader to disperse his followers. The fledgling is met by Ming-Xiao, who offers to form an alliance. Ming-Xiao reveals that she has the key, and LaCroix killed Grout to prevent his powerful insight from unveiling LaCroix's plans; Ming-Xiao changed into Nines at the mansion to frame him. Denying Ming-Xiao's claims, LaCroix rescinds the blood hunt on Nines and entrusts the fledgling with recruiting the Anarchs to punish the Kuei-Jin for murdering Grout. The fledgling finds Nines hiding in the forest, and they are then attacked by a werewolf and Nines is badly injured. The fledgling escapes with Jack, who reveals that LaCroix has issued an execution order on the fledgling for framing Nines on orders from Ming-Xiao.
The end varies, depending on whom, if anyone, the fledgling allies with. If the fledgling supports LaCroix or Ming-Xiao, each sends the fledgling to kill the other. LaCroix opens the sarcophagus, to be killed with the fledgling by hidden explosives; Ming-Xiao betrays the fledgling, chaining them to the sarcophagus and sinking it in the ocean. Supporting the Anarchs or no one makes the fledgling kill Ming-Xiao and maim LaCroix, who is killed after he opens the sarcophagus. If the fledgling opens the sarcophagus, they die in the explosion. If the fledgling is a Tremere, they kill Ming-Xiao; LaCroix is replaced by Tremere leader Maximillian Strauss, and the sarcophagus is stored. Each ending has Jack watching from afar with the mummy taken from the coffin and the enigmatic taxi driver who transports the fledgling between locations, who says "The blood of Caine controls our fate ... Farewell, vampire."

Review: Buy this game..
This is, without a doubt, one of the best games I have ever played.
The plot line is engaging and fast-paced, the sub-quests are fun, the character development is superior to that of most novels, the graphics are great, the dialogue is better than most of what comes out of Hollywood.
This game is addictive.
The entire game changes depending upon what choices you make, from the smallest to the largest.
You can play through the game over and over without being bored, and you discover little tidbits every time you do so.It was developed by Troika, probably best known for Arcanum, RPG of the Year recently.
This development house is top-notch, refusing to settle for inferior product in any aspect.
They really outdid themselves this time.
Yes, all their games have bugs...
a small price to pay, and most are fixed through patches.The game changes depending upon which of the seven Clans you choose, and even whether or not you are male or female.
You can develop your character into a smooth-talker, and finesse your way past obstacles...
or, become stealthy and sneak around them...
or, make yourself into a weapon and plow through them.Thus far, I have played through the game four times and I have not become bored yet.
This game is the best of 2004, in my opinion.I can not recommend it highly enough.Edited-- Make sure to download the official patch!
It fixes some of the minor graphical glitches.
Also, there's a TON of fan support for this game.
I believe they're up to patch 3.3 now..
An ancient, organized conclave of vampires invades Hollywood.
But you already knew that....
First thing first- this game chugs on most machines like you wouldn't believe.
We're talking Rambo pulling an army helicopter on a chain- it would obviously still go (hey it's Rambo) but it would really slow...That being said; the story, the art, the style, the fighting and the gameplay are all superb.
The game has multiple endings and several different ways to complete the game.You start off choosing a race, much like an MMORPG.
Race affects your starting abilities, as well as how you play the game.
Some races are good with firearms and fist fighting, some are stealthy, some wield magic very well, and others have a silver tongue for smooth diplomacy.
And, I don't mean the boring diplomacy where you roll a dice and hope your saving throw works- I mean a choose what to say in a dialogue based on your playing style and charisma and affect how the NPCs respond.Because there are different playing styles and a horde of abilities, one can redo missions over and over with different results each time.
However, that isn't so far as to say that each outcome is different.
Let's face it, there are a hundred ways to skin a cat, but each time you are left with a sticky pile of fur.The game is dark and yet romantic, stylized at it's very core.
Sometimes it feels more like a Detective NOIR or a mob story then a typical Vampire.Vampire: The Masquerade II: Bloodlines is really 50% First Person Shooter, 50% RPG, and 10% Adventure.
Yes, the developer's gave this game 110% of effort.
Best RPG of 2004?.
I think so.This has to be one of the best, most exciting RPG's that I had the pleasure of playing.right after KoTOR and before KoTOR II.the plot is awesome and the characters are great.
some funny, some evil.
some are just plain weird.this game makes being one of the children of the night fun as hell.now a short review of the plot.in the game, you play a person who spent the night with a vampire, and against his will was embraced.since the laws of the camarilla prevents embracing without permission, you are about to be executed.but I guess fate has other plans for you...in your journey into "The World Of Darkness", you will see all kinds of weird stuff.some are hideous, and some are funny.
you will meet interesting characters, and slowly learn the truth behind it all.the quests are great and fun(some are spooky).I completed the game 3 times already(3 times as a tremere) and i'm going to start another game but this time as a gangrel :D.i'm not gonna give you any info on the clans or their history, since i'm not the most educated person when it comes to the WOD(World Of Darkness).i'm sure that you will find other people who can answer you'r questions.so the bottom line is:if you love RPG's.
and you love a great plot with cool twists and fun quests.GET THIS GAME!10/10.
The Crown Jewel of RPG.
The first time I HEARD of Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines was while searching for a new game to play after Neverwinter Nights 2.
I watched Gopher's Let's play of Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines and after seeing the first (2) episodes, I stopped watching because I said I HAVE TO PLAY THIS!
This game has the most creative NPC (Non Player Characters) that interact with you an a way that is authentic, organic and very creative.
The back story and Lore of World of Darkness by White Wolf in which Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines takes place in is one of treachery, plots within plots and the never-ending hunger (Called "The Beast") to feed on blood.You have different choices that you can make, which have a DIRECT impact on your progression and interactions in the game.You have the choice of playing from one of (8) clans as a Male or Female and each clan has their own individual powers, motivations, horrors and quests.I started of playing the INCREDIBLE Clan Malkavian and had NUMEROUS humorous moments from the confusion on the individual faces because of the insanity that runs in this clans and their dialog choices.I cannot recommend this game enough to anyone that's wants to experience a TRULY unique RPG video game.
Be sure to obtain and install the Official patch, found here: http://planet-vampire.net2and then the Unofficial Patch, found here: http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch and Enjoy!!.
Wow...seriously.
I played this game straight through the first time and thoroughly enjoyed it.
When the credits rolled 'Boyarski...Anderson...Caine', my jaw dropped on the ground.
My memory is pretty crappy for most things but it didn't miss a beat summoning up the reference; "Those are the creators of the original Fallout" - another excellent RPG series from a time before.It's a shame that, at the time, 'Vampire' culture had its own following with a definite image problem.
Ironically, the game itself makes fun of this 'culture' on the in-game radio show called 'The Deb of Night'.
In 2004 Doom 3 was out...Half life 2 was a big hit.
Fashioning a game of this amazing calibre under the wrappings of a known live-action RPG and culture of sorts limited the appeal to those beyond.
Metaphorically; they put a gold bar in a plain brown wrapper.
I didn't find out about it until recently when the raves of greatness came from the voices hovering around the discount bin at Steam.
A 7 year old game and I'm playing (and enjoying it) more than Deus Ex - Human Revolution - though that's a pretty good game in itself..
The GREATEST RPG of All-Time.
Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines Buy it on GoG or Steam and be sure to use latest Unofficial Patch from here http://www.patches-scrolls.de/patch/4647/7Most amazing dialogue options in any RPG, Period!Perfect music in every settingThe NPC voice acting and facial animation are the BEST and most creative interactions I have ever experience.There are SEVEN Clans you can play and All offer unique playing experiences and stylesMalkavians (Watch a play-through and you'll know why, too funny for words!)The Awesome and ongoing Unofficial Patch development by Wesp5, The Clan Quest Mod (That adds a fully voiced additional quest for all Seven of the Clans), The Finals Nights Mod and the Antitrubu Mods that both allow you to play more exotic clans.Re-playability.
I am on my Fourth Play-through and just being able to play each character differently and the layers of the Onion that you keep peeling away on this Masterpiece are amazing!!Lore!
White Wolf/Paradox World of Darkness in which VTMB is set is just an unbelievably rich world and setting.Choices and Consequence.
4 Different Endings that you make through your on own personal choices as you play.
Also, Consequences as you play through the game (I won't spoil it, You just have to play it and you'll see what I mean) Vampire the Masquerade:Bloodlines REMAINS The King of RPG'S and now you know why..
This game is GREAT.
The only reason I gave it a 9 instead of a 10, it's because of the bugs and how the ending part is obviously unfinished work, this is one of the best, if not the best RPG that I've played as a video game.
Unfortunately didn't have enough time to be developed and it wasn't popular enough to save the company that made it so they went out without even making patches.
If RPGs took this game as a model we could have much more quality games on the market..
You've made a powerful enemy today, sign.
Bloodlines is an ambitious game, for several reasons.First, it's an action/RPG in which quests often have multiple solutions, allowing players to choose between combat, stealth and diplomacy.
Second, it features an original setting, a seedy Los Angeles of the World of Darkness tabletop games, where vampires and other supernatural creatures hide among humans.
I love Tolkien as much as the next ninth-level ranger, but it's always refreshing to see a RPG which isn't about orcs and elves in a medieval-like world.
Third, the player can choose between one of seven different clans, and the choice is not just cosmetic: if you pick an aristocratic Ventrue focused on diplomacy or a seductive Toreador, you'll be playing a completely different game from the player who chooses a monstrous Nosferatu, always lurking in the shadows.
To say nothing of the hilariously insane Malkavians.
There is an abundance of great ideas: multiple endings, some of which only available if you made specific choices earlier the game; the necessity to balance the need between feeding with blood and not losing your humanity, while also keeping a low profile (the "Masquerade"); apparently minor choices developing into neat subplots.What further elevates the game is the writing: wonderfully charismatic characters, with superb voice acting and expressive facial animations, and a creepy story featuring plenty of horror and black humour.Flaws?
Well, even after loads of official and unofficial patches (some remarkable work by fans), the game is still somewhat buggy (although now bugs are not game-breaking anymore).
Also, the last act drops the RPG elements and focuses almost exclusively on fights, penalizing non combat-oriented characters - a cop-out for a game which, for most of its course, is so flexible.There are also a few puzzling bits - a sewer section so drab and unimaginative compared to what precedes and follows it, you wonder what the developers were thinking - but overall this is a must-play classic..
Seriously overrated crap-wagon.
The game blows.
Took me four hours to make it run and then I discovered how can one screw up a good engine that Source is.
Indestructible bottles, goth chicks in red tights (look at them - their faces lack any details!
They're just dancing mannequins with flat, low-res masks!) and no reason for using the physics system - remember where you had to put a stack of bricks on a plank to go further in HL2?
And how can one screw up a good pen&paper roleplaying system that VtM is.
Overly clichéd characters (a Prince with a three feet long stick up his a**, eight-foot tall Sheriff from nowhere, two Malkavians in one body, a Thinblood prophet - probably some Malkavian reject), equally clichéd scenario (couldn't that damn sarcophagus do anything else than go BOOM?
I'd expect an Antediluvian or some Inconnu emerging and whacking everyone about!), not mentioning completely stupid way some of the Disciplines (mostly Domination, Auspex and Thaumaturgy) are designed and, what hurt me most, robbing your beginner character of half the dots a beginner character should have (yes, my Brujah made accordingly with VtM Rulebook has 3 Str, 4 Dex and 3 Sta while in Bloodlines I have lame-ass 1 Str, 3 Dex and 2 Sta - WTF is that?
Am I Steven Hawking or something?!).
To be quite honest, with my "rulebook beginner" stats the game is nothing more than an action/adventure game (I don't spend experience points I gain - no need for that).
I just go here, whack one crazy sucker, go there, whack another one...
The game was released done in maybe 1/3: screwed beta version of Source engine resulting in bulletproof glass and near-lack of using the physics system, flat-faced clubbers (take note of the girls with Sailor Moon hairdo and red tights - their faces lack any details), some weird teleportation magic going on in the chantry (no matter where you go, you'll get to Regent's room - the 'click' is noticeable, if not, try leaving an item on the last turn before Regent's room (glowing corridor), then turn back and walk into the other corridor - you'll pop almost right where you dropped the item!) and simply turning most NPCs into snacks on two legs makes this game to be stamped with a huge red "SUCKS" stamp.
Bloodlines are boring and overrated.
Some cool moments (haunted hotel and house of the dead) can't save it.
Sorry, you're flushed.