When I look at the current userscores for this game, I have to give a fair warning: This review is about as biased as a review from a Vampire: The Masquerade storyteller who loves the World of Darkness can be.
About 30 hours later, I’ve just finished Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. My opinion on this game is like that ugly puppy: it poops everywhere, needs a vet every other day, has only three legs—but you love it anyway, because it’s your dog, and it’s the best good boy there ever will be.
Bloodlines 2 is full of repetitive side quests, buggy enough to need a doctor, and offers little actual roleplay (dialog choices based on stats and so on). And yet—I love it. What saves this game is its main storyline, the excellent voice acting, the awesome NPCs, and the incredibly dense atmosphere of the small-scale Seattle setting and all its locations.
Last but not least, the “Oscar for Best NPC” goes to Fabien, your ever-present noir detective and resident voice in your head.
Final verdict: 8 out of 10 bloodbags. Will play again.