Mechanics
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines is an action-RPG featuring an extensive plot, as well as action sequences requiring the player to neutralize enemies in different ways of varying levels of sophistication. Contrary to the predecessing game released four years earlier (it focused mainly on action and killing in a hack-and-slash manner), VTM: Bloodlines concentrates more on the story and moral choices the protagonist has to make. Depending on which of the vampire clans the player has chosen, the protagonist receives a different set of abilities - these have a direct impact on the course of the playthrough and the way the protagonist deals with different matters. The protagonist faces different challenges and the way the player talks to NPCs influences the direction towards which the story develops.
The game stands out with an exceptionally large amount of freedom the player is given as it comes to creating and developing the protagonist. Thanks to the experience points earned, the protagonist is capable of acquiring up to twelve different special abilities, such as invisibility, superhuman speed or mind control. Eliminating the opposition is facilitated also by a variety of conventional weapons, such as a knife, a katana, a submachine gun or a flamethrower. However, it is entirely up to the player to decide about the way the protagonist behaves - they can become a disguised vampire capable of living among ordinary humans or a horrible monster forced to stay hidden and fight the bloodthirst constantly for example.
Technical aspects
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines for PC is the first game created by an external developer, which utilizes the Source engine created by Valve for the sake of production of the legendary Half-Life 2. Interestingly, depending on the player's preferences, the game can be played from the first, or third-person view. An incredibly dark and dense atmosphere of virtual Los Angeles deserves special attention as well. At one hand, the city reveals its charms with colorful, neon lights and tinsel, but on the other, it frightens with widespread corruption and moral decay.
Misc.
Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodlines was originally meant to feature a full-fledged multiplayer mode allowing a group of vampires to fight a team of hunters. Due to some technical issues however, no multiplayer experience was included in the game.
