Vampires have enjoyed a long period in the spotlight, though not in direct sunlight, of course.
The 1990s and 2000s saw a surge in vampire-themed films and TV series, such as Buffy the Vampire Slayer and the Twilight saga. Yet while the vampire craze has subsided somewhat in recent years, there are still new entries in the genre emerging.
In the gaming world, vampires are making a comeback, but the Vampire: The Masquerade series has consistently delivered compelling narratives within its dark and complex universe. Vampire: The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York is the latest installment in this series.
Reviewing this game presents a challenge due to its niche appeal as a visual novel. To fully appreciate the story and its intricacies, prior experience with the first game, Coteries of New York, and its sequel, Shadows of New York, is highly recommended. Having not played the previous titles, I initially felt lost and disoriented. However, after the first hour, I began to grasp the narrative threads and the diverse cast of characters.
Throughout the game, you play as two distinct characters. The first is a young vampire named Kali, a member of the Ravnos clan, known for their outsider status among the vampire elite. Kali is a smuggler and trickster who has lost her maker. She embodies a millennial vampire archetype, with a gothic aesthetic, witty dialogue, and a rebellious attitude. At the start of the game, Kali faces a trial that could result in her demise. Instead, she’s given a mission to uncover the truth behind her sire’s disappearance, navigating the treacherous world of vampire politics and underworld power struggles.
Upon completing the game, you can replay it from the perspective of Padraic, another intriguing character, gaining a new perspective on the events.
While I initially struggled to follow the story due to my lack of familiarity with the series’ lore, I soon started to find the narrative engaging overall. Some plot points do feel a little underdeveloped, but the diverse cast of characters and the richly detailed vampire universe kept me invested.
As expected from a visual novel, the gameplay is primarily choice-driven. After the initial setup, where you choose whether your vampire needs to feed on blood, the game focuses on making decisions and navigating dialogue trees. You select a discipline – Animalism (communicating with and feeding on animals), Obfuscate (stealth and manipulation), or Presence (influencing others) – which influences your interactions and abilities. You choose which chapters and side quests to pursue on the map of New York, shaping your journey and relationships with other characters.
Occasionally, you’ll encounter skill checks based on your chosen discipline, and if you opt for the blood-feeding option, you’ll need to manage your hunger without being detected.
The visuals of Vampire: The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York are striking, with character designs reminiscent of high-quality graphic novels. The backgrounds are well-drawn, though some are reused a bit too frequently, but overall the art style is excellent, even if the static nature of the visuals can feel limiting at times.Â
The sound design is atmospheric and effective too, but there is a lack of full voice acting. That is something which is hugely noticeable, likely due to budget constraints.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York is a decent visual novel that will likely satisfy fans of the series. However, for newcomers, it can be challenging to jump in at the deep end, without prior knowledge of the world and characters. Do so, and you’ll discover that tThe writing is generally good, though it occasionally feels rushed, and Kali’s personality can be grating at times. It’s good then that the visuals are strong, particularly the character designs and lighting, but the reuse of some assets is noticeable.
Despite some minor shortcomings, Vampire: The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York should well pique your interest in the Vampire: The Masquerade universe. And if you haven’t played the other games, this one will motivate you to explore the previous installments.
Can you Survive the Night in Vampire The Masquerade – Reckoning of New York? – https://www.thexboxhub.com/can-you-survive-the-night-in-vampire-the-masquerade-reckoning-of-new-york/
Buy the game on Xbox – https://www.xbox.com/en-GB/games/store/vampire-the-masquerade-reckoning-of-new-york/9mwqhhn14b2r
