The Chinese Room studio has recently released an exciting new development diary for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, packed with fresh gameplay footage. In this update, the developers showcased how players will engage in the thrilling act of hunting as a vampire within the game's immersive world.
In the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, vampires adhere to the Masquerade, a strict code designed to conceal their true nature from the unsuspecting human population. This core concept is intricately woven into Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 through the introduction of a Masquerade meter. This meter serves as a crucial indicator, alerting players to actions that could jeopardize the secrecy of their vampiric existence.
Should a player breach the Masquerade, they will encounter three distinct levels of severity, each represented by a color-coded eye icon at the top of the screen:
- Green: Indicates a minor violation. Simply hiding from view is sufficient to mitigate the risk.
- Yellow: Signals that the player has committed multiple infractions, fed on humans, or used aggressive powers. At this stage, players must either deal with witnesses or take measures to avoid drawing excessive attention from law enforcement.
- Red: Represents a full breach of the Masquerade, triggering a police chase. The best course of action is to flee and find a safe place to hide. If the meter reaches its maximum, the Camarilla, the governing body of vampires, will intervene, as demonstrated in the gameplay clip below:
To manage their "infamy" and reduce the risk of exposure, players have several strategies at their disposal. They can manipulate witnesses to forget what they've seen or, in more dire circumstances, eliminate them entirely. If the police become involved, the most straightforward solution is to hide and wait for the situation to de-escalate.
The developers have assured fans that the challenge of maintaining the Masquerade will intensify as the game progresses. Players will need to act swiftly and decisively to uphold the secrecy of the vampire world, adding a layer of strategic depth to the gameplay experience.
