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submitted 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago) by axont@hexbear.net to c/games@hexbear.net

It looks a little different than it did a few years ago? There's been radio silence since Paradox started over with the new devs. This game has had a really troubled production, I think Paradox has been trying to get it off the ground since 2015. Now it's being done by The Chinese Room, most known for Dear Esther and Amnesia: A Machine for Pigs.

Bloodlines is one of my favorite games of all time, so I'm trying to stay optimistic that the devs also hold it in high regard and will try to make a worthwhile sequel. The gameplay from this new trailer looks a little clunky and weird, but maybe that's ok. VTMB never had great combat in the first place. The dialogue, writing, and vibes are where it's at. Looks like there will be gliding around and parkour stuff? Might be cool.

Anyone looking forward to this game? There's even a release window, Fall of 2024, but this game was supposed to originally release in March of 2020, so don't hold your breath.

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[-] thisonethatone@hexbear.net 13 points 2 years ago

I know someone who worked on this before the project was overhauled for the umpteenth time. They told me that one of the leads from the og game was fired for his bizarre fixation about his ex wife, and slipping 2000's Era jokes and boomer anti-ex wife jokes into his script.

Also, the game just wasn't fun.

[-] axont@hexbear.net 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Wait, was the og you're talking about Brian Mitsoda? He was the lead narrative designer and (as far as I know) the only veteran from the first game who worked on the sequel. He got fired around 2020, also apparently has a thing with his ex-wife.

Didn't realize he was an asshat, but it makes sense. There's sometimes a creepy dudebro vibe in the first game.

[-] thisonethatone@hexbear.net 9 points 2 years ago

👃 👈

The man has a problem with women, especially his ex wife.

Bloodlines is an incredibly hard game to get right. Everyone on the team is passionate, but the priorities are split. Younger writers trying to collaborate with Gen X gamer veterans.

[-] HiImThomasPynchon@hexbear.net 11 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Asian vampire lady featured prominently in the trailer

West Coast city divided against itself

This is just gonna be European Vampires vs Kuei-Jin yellow peril bullshit from the last game isn't it?

[-] axont@hexbear.net 15 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

Yeah, as much as I love the first game, I can't deny two things: It's racist and it's too horny. Despite taking place in Los Angeles, there's only one Latino character with a name: Nines Rodriguez. And the last third of the game is a literal yellow peril plot with scary Asian vampires who can't be trusted by anyone. And they all talk with racist stereotypical accents. Allying with the Kuei-jin is one of the worst endings too.

spoilerThe Anarchs and Camarilla will all attack you on sight if you ally with the Kuei-jin, and then you're betrayed anyway and you're thrown into the ocean.

[-] HiImThomasPynchon@hexbear.net 8 points 2 years ago

spoilero7 to Comrade Smilin Jack, amirite?

[-] AssortedBiscuits@hexbear.net 9 points 2 years ago

This game is going to either suck horribly or be so far from what the first game was about that it would be a sequel in name only. Decent chance it will both suck horribly and be so far from what the first game was about that it would be a sequel in name only.

[-] absentthereaper@lemmygrad.ml 9 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I lost my hope for Bloodlines 2 with the new devs coming in. Zero faith it'd have any of what drew me to Bloodlines in the first place

[-] axont@hexbear.net 10 points 2 years ago* (last edited 2 years ago)

I don't know what the full game will be like, but the trailer definitely doesn't have that same whimsical nihilistic vibe as VtMB 1. I know it's a trailer meant to get you hyped, but most of it's just combat or exploration. The meat of VtMB 1 was the dialogue and the decisions you could make along the storyline. Also a hallmark of a good game's writing is moral ambiguity. The Anarchs aren't the good guys, the Camarilla aren't the good guys, because vampires aren't good guys. You're a weird monster barely trying to maintain the guise of being human, but this trailer for Bloodlines 2 is like slow motion punching and slamming guys against walls. That looks awesome. But it's too awesome. I wanna play a Vampire game to feel like shit and hate myself. (being sincere here )

[-] GenderIsOpSec@hexbear.net 8 points 2 years ago

If I had a nickel for every time I watched a bloodlines 2 trailer for the first time and was promised it would come out in a year I would have two nickels, which isn't a lot but its weird that its happened twice.

[-] viva_la_juche@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago

Im hoping to be pleasantly surprised but it has had an extremely troubled development. Hope they stick the landing but I’m not banking on it or anything

[-] axont@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago

Brian Mitsoda was a narrative designer on the previous dev team, he was the lead writer of the first game. But who knows how much of his work is left over in this new iteration.

This is something I desperately want to be good. I love the WoD setting and I don't think it's been given much of a fair shake in games.

[-] viva_la_juche@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago

Yeah I remember there was some issues between him and whoever calls the shots I guess so I’m kind of expecting a lot of his work to be redone but I suppose we’ll see

I’m right there with you, the og is one of my fav games and vtm was the first ttrpgs I ever played. Fingers crossed but usually games that have been in development hell come out kinda half baked. I’m cautiously optimistic tho

[-] Dolores@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago

first person bad i want to see my hot vampire ass going feral on cops

[-] axont@hexbear.net 6 points 2 years ago

If it's like the first game it'll be both first-person and third-person

[-] Dolores@hexbear.net 7 points 2 years ago

i don't assume it till i see it anymore, fuking cyberpunk & outer worlds both did that "game you'd completely expect to have 3rd person but didn't"

[-] axont@hexbear.net 4 points 2 years ago

Yeah third person is also better for people who get motion sickness. Should be an option in most games where it's feasible

[-] Tychoxii@hexbear.net 3 points 2 years ago

yeah The Chinese Room may be a good fit but who knows. there's a minuscule ray of hope but its a very difficult act to follow under the best of circumtances... and development has not been under the best circumstances

now im kinda confident the game will at least be released.

this post was submitted on 02 Sep 2023
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