Don't be I S O L A T E D. Join fellow kindred and support the channel on Patreon: • www.patreon.com/boulderpunch • Get Vampire Bloodlines on GOG (affiliate): bit.ly/bouldergogbloodlines Related Videos: • Deus Ex Human Revolution: th-cam.com/video/GkY1v6je-tc/w-d-xo.html • Deus Ex Mankind Divided: th-cam.com/video/tUY66sRaB5Y/w-d-xo.html • Deus Ex Mankind Divided DLC: th-cam.com/video/brRkEG_oS14/w-d-xo.html • Vampire Bloodlines: Ocean House Hotel Quest Analysis - th-cam.com/video/BtiYiAmk_7Q/w-d-xo.html
In regards to the whole "cab driver is Cain" thing, I personally like the idea. Here's an entire society of pretentious, power hungry vampires constantly at each other's throats, destroying what little good there is in each other and stomping out all attempts at redemption in desperate plays to maintain their power. Then here's their dad just chilling in the background, sucking on blood pops, just doing their own thing separate from the rest as the only truly free vampire. It's actually kinda funny and fits World of Darkness quite well.
@@100KGNattyto me it sounds right since in my native language one would use pronoun "they" to express the highest form of reverence and esteem for one's elders.
I know I'm replying to a comment from 2 years ago, but this is VTMB! I remember staring at the cabbie while using auspex and his aura was black, just like the figure that stood behind Jack at the end. This might've been tweaked in one of the patches since and it's not happening for me anymore, but my mind was completely blown when that happened.
@@themaccave08 Sorry i lacked context but, in the Arkham series, Catwoman is voiced by Grey Delise Griffin and she also voices Jeannette from VTMB (aka the inspiration for Harley's design in Asylum)
@@Nick-mv5kg oh no. I meant "huh" in the "oh that’s interesting" form. I knew Grey voices Catwoman. I just found it interesting she voiced one of the characters here. Also, I think the outfit was a base for Harley's nurse uniform but the face and hair is seen in Arkham City. What else did Rocksteady take inspiration of? Also Arkham City Harley Quinn is honestly my favorite design.
God, the Hollywood theme...I remember one of the most impactful moments I had, the first time I loaded into Hollywood, everything was bugged, no one was there, no music loaded, I roamed around for a bit, and found the house of the baron. When I exited, the music started to slowly come together, the city got lit with life suddenly, people walking the streets, and then, this character, an old friend of my character that hadn't seen him for god knows how long, just asking worriedly where I was. I got into some kind of shock, since I related too much with the situation, and everything surrounding it, I stood, with the Hollywood theme on the background, as I got a masquerade violation, and even more, I got a glimpse of my old life back that shouldn't be there. I was legit 10 minutes there, with such a violent emotional response that I couldn't belive. It cemented the game as one of my favourite games ever, and a masterpiece to me, even with the problems that are there. It also led me to discover Massive Attack, and trip hop as a genre, which also influenced a lot of my life later on, so this game basically changed my life.
Constantine and The Matrix soundtrack had a similar effect on me. This game though blew my mind for immersion and how it could evoke such strong feelings in me
I'll admit, at first, I smirked as well when the trolling commenced. But then it quickly shifted in me to be terrified of the implications that his words came with. Because it was possible, and in the grand scheme of things, when you think about it, you hear something like that on the radio, late at night... it should send chills down your spine in the least. Especially if you are a mortal and you know there are worse things out there than what mortal society believes to be the worst of the worst.
@@SplurtChain It's funny cuz you aint living in that setting ! Imagine if a anonymous dictator would come talking at a radio with plots to start a world war.But I think it's both funny and scary !
I always found that the reason the character models of VtMB still holds up is due to the eyes. They are not dead, flat fisheyes like a lot of more modern-character figures look. It gives them a sense of 'has a soul', if you know what I mean? there's life (well unlife) in the eyes.
You ought to get the eye replacement mod, it doesn't change anything except giving the eyes the reflection they have in real life, it just makes the eyes much better looking much more alive
As a Gen X who grew up in the Goth scene and trolled the clubs for many years late 90's to the 2010's, I have to say this game captured the essence of the time so very well. Even though that wasn't the primary purpose and yes, Brian is definitely from that scene and influences the writing - the visuals and soundtrack are also highly influenced. To the point of even using real band posters. And if anyone who's from the scene, you likely know how much we love to make fun of our tropes and that's played to very well in the game also. The Downtown and Hollywood hubs actually give an associative vibe to what it was like at the time. I can't put into words how they did it and even with "old technology", but they made this world feel lived in and representative. It makes my heart glow to know how much love this game continues to get. Like many cult classics, it proves you don't need the latest and greatest to make a great game. People should know that technology has little to do with immersion in both story and universe. Nowadays, games are relatively dumbed down because developers choose to reach the "wider audience", aka the lowest common denominator (that's not said as an insult, this is just marketing and sales).
Heck, im not even a Goth, way over here in the Nordic region and never sat a foot in many nightclubs but it just symbolizes an bygone age. Makes me nostalgic. Bloodlines to me is so symbolic of that era of the 90's dying, the millenia of 2000 coming around and the 1900's leaving. We had a lot of tech but not that whole "always online" like now. The last death rattle of the Gen X age/era. And as I said, im not eve a goth or punk or any of those subcultures. Im born in the second half of the 80's and could never see all of that but damn, that Goth stuff suits so well and makes it so different and interesting. A PERFECT theme for Anarchs too!
yeah that game really has that years feel when it takes place..well I mean, it's not that hard when it takes place around the same time it is created in the real world.
@@chillhour6155 Sewers? I was so irritated by the place I just noclip pretty much the whole way through everytime. Couldn’t figure out how to get the skip to work on the patch version.
@@deejaythedj313 yep, the one and only dark stain on this unfinished masterpiece, unofficial patch+clan mod I'd reccomend using if you're giving the game another go If you're going to do it legit you will have to do that one swim puzzle where you have turn of the big fan that pushes you back when you're swimming underwater, you have to swim down the tunnel and turn left before the fAn switches back on then the water pressure will shoot you through a water pipe to a tedious are full of those limb bosses before being able to get a key card to go down a big latched hole into the Nosferatu base, I always used the -noclip cheat console command back in the day before the mod was released to skip all this tedious nonsense Also now that I think about it,maybe auspex if you have it could give you some extra time and make that puzzle a bit easier
If you play a Malkavian you 'know' much of the games plot twists from the moment you stumble upon them, provided you as a player can decipher your character's crazed ramblings.
And while I do love the Kuei Jin, hence my NAME, there's a very important reason why you shouldn't side with them. You may think your Kine as brutal for the most part, but even the Sabbat have rules. The Kuei-Jin? They will cut your tendons with a poisoned knife, then keep you at the brink of death so they can extract information from you. They literally provide the worst of fates in the game.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 They were handed the world on a silver platter. All anyone had to do was not accept slave labor as a source of cheap product, especially because the Chinese include in their contracts that they're allowed to steal your product after a set time. So for a few years of cheap labor you then have them undercutting you on price and no longer manufacturing your product. And all of this is because the international bankers and shareholders profit from China and have a stake in undermining the west, so they encourage businesses to work with China and, whether greedy or earnestly naive, the businesses follow their advice.
We all wish Troika got a shot at a full horror game. When you said you'd like to see Troika get a crack at horror for a moment I forgot they went defunct 15 years ago =(
15:54 Fun fact about mid 2000s EA/Activision, Most of their games had great soundtracks because they bought music licenses(mostly for Guitar hero and Rockband) to use in many games.
@@Dmitry_Medvedev not the serial killer, when you enter the cabin in the junkyard the Lasombra appears in front of you for a few seconds before vanishing
Everyone keep saying every damn time YOU REINSTALL IT IF SOMEONE MENTION it. But jokes on you i haven't uninstall this game since my first playthrough in 2019. And boy it was a blast. Proboboly the last game that i replayed so many times in a row.
Yeah I never uninstall it either, the only time I re-install is when I have to get a fresh pc install and it’s one of the first games I will always install. I played it first back around 2005. Still have my physical copy.
@@oliviawilliams6204 I still have my physical copy from 2005 as well. Went on a day long quest to find the Bradygames guide, to try and work out how to get past the whirling blades in Fu Syndicate. A day roaming around London, trying to find it. Failed, but found someone who told me how to do it. And I never uninstall it.and love that the game has never died away, but is as strong as ever.
The Massive Attack soundalike song was actually written by Al Jourgensen, frontman and head of industrial metal legends Ministry. I think Ministry are also the ones performing the song. _Bloodlines_ is another Ministry song written specifically for the game's soundtrack. Funny coincidence because the album cover of Ministry's _With Sympathy_ from 1981 seemed to be a major inspiration for the book covers of the original Vampire: The Masquerade rule book and (even more so for) the Vampire: The Dark Ages rule book. It's like poetry so that it rhymes. ^^
Malkavians laugh at your boomsticks! I played Malkavian first and any other clan was just too boring after that. Then I replayed it many times as a malkavian, it is such a nice warm feeling when you start to understand what voices in your head have been telling you all the time :-D I love the same concept in Hellblade too.
I'm so glad I didn't play Malkavian first because you're so right. Any other clan would just be too boring after that. It's also especially hilarious to be a flirty Malk, though most dialogue options are just so much fun already, really. "TV Man?"
This one actually came together really quickly, length aside. I go on lots of walks and started to use speech to text to get some ideas down and go from there.
@@BoulderPunch That's a very good tip for any creative out there. Hell, I bet this is a good tip for health care professionals when they're dealing with a difficult case!
I was watching Cyberpunk's lead quest guy's stream and he often mentions that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines was Cyberpunk's main influence. I'm a big V:TM-B fan and have like 400 hours in Cyberpunk but only after this video and your Ocean House Hotel one did I realize the similarities. Thanks for the great vid!
@@DontJinxItYet Almost all of my favourite games somehow have disasterous launches, so I'm okay with it. The game is fine to me but at least CDPR will keep putting in work until they're/everyone's satisfied with it :)
Man, they really took the inspiration to heart, down to having great writing coupled with a buggy as hell game I mean I really loved both games but without some serious patch work they are quite messy on a technical level
@@NEON-XMV I haven’t had any insane glitches since release day, but I play on PC so I do feel bad for the console players. Shoulda never been released on a console that can’t handle the insanely large and complicated game 🥺
@@_yikesforever You obviously don't know full story, huh... Point is you're making excuses of glitches and bugs but there's bigger issue than that. The game felt bland and boring. There's big comparison all over YT that was promised to dominate RDR2 immersion. Yet they failed. It's Fallout 4 2.0 with cars and garbage boring quests with little difference of endings. If you want big difference on endings, take a look on Mass Effect 2. It is praised by many. How come CP77 that is worked for 4 years is being dominated by many old games? Mass Effect 2 was worked for less and yet it has no issues with the world, story and characters. lol
lmaoooo my first playthrough was as a Malkavian it was wild: my character knew shit that neither me nor the NPCs knew and arguing with the tv man😂😂😂 the funniest thing I've ever experienced in a game
This game just had this memorable atmosphere, that almost cartoonish edgy goth thing, it's not my thing but it just fit the game perfectly. This, combined with the voice acting, setting, plot and the character customization made it a real rpg. And the gameplay wasn't half bad either, say whatever you want about the janky animations, few things are cooler than dodging bullets while ripping an entire death squad apart. And the soundtrack, Jesus, a thing of genius.
As I mentioned in another comment here, I just had the privilege of meeting Gangrel about a week ago and he is one of the absolute nicest people you could ever come across!
(See another bloodline video that pops up every 3-6 months) “can I really learn anything new after watching 20 of these?” (Sighs and watch’s to support)
Ah yes, the Hollywood theme. Stated by the author to be the piece he wrote while in the lowest point of his life. The transient hint of death, abyss, melancholy, anxiety, and hopelessness weaved throughout somehow continuing to exist in spite of everything screaming at you not to. It my go to track for reading, writing and having existential crises.
Hey, fun piece of info; kindred "corpses" are basically in whatever state a human corpse would be in in the amount of time that has transpired since they turned. Most of them aren't actually old enough to turn into dust upon final death, which is kind of a massive misconception in the community because *all* kindred enemies you kill turn to dust in Bloodlines. This is just an easy design choice for fairly obvious reasons, and it *sort of* fits the lore. Seeing as Grout was embraced in 1925, and met his final death in 2004, he'd probably leave behind some remnants, but not a whole ass skeleton.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 you said we have skeletons older than that; those skeletons are preserved, thus not exactly a good representation of what natural remains would look like.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 under the proper conditions, a corpse buried in fertile soil can decompose almost completely in about 20 years. I wouldn't think that "being a cursed corpse" would be ideal conditions for decomposition, but it wouldn't exactly be preserved completely, either.
I played the Malkavian on my first playthrough of this game. I actually did pretty good. But I can see why people advise newbs to not play this character first. Thanks for the video. Always like to hear insights into one of my favorite games.
I would say that the only downside of making Malks the first playthrough is that because of their seer abilities, the Malkavian PC ends up spoiling a ton of the plot twists in the game.
@@Magnanimoose Hah, I was just going to comment this same sentiment. =D I played Malk first and regret nothing! That dialogue made me fall so hard in love with the clan. As for the awesome voices you hear, I could never understand what they said, so nothing was spoiled.
Going Malk is one of the best second playthrough experiences I've ever had. Not a big fan of the game's version of Dementation (feels like a watered down take on Dominate), but the new quirks and dialogues are just wonderfully funny.
I can’t seem to stop watching 30minue to hour long video on this game because I fucking love it. It introduce me to the vampire the masquerade role playing system.
I was one of the dozen people who bought this game when it released, before Troika went bankrupt. I never beat it though until fan patches came out. I got to Giovanni mansion and a game breaking bug would just shut down my playthrough.
Same here, bought it on day 1 and just powered through the jankiness, I replayed it 9 times over the next few months with all the different clans and is one of my all time favorites games, I finished it every single time, I even stopped GTA San Andreas which was already out on ps2 to play this on my PC.
the first time i played this game i almost stopped playing mid-way during the mission where you have to blow up a warehouse because after it blew up i thought my game was softlocked because i couldnt get out of the bent train door but it turned out you just have to slam into it over and over until it suddenly decides to squeeze you out lol
When I played this game back in the days, it made me feel the same atmosphere that I experienced in the end of the 90s when I was driving early in the evening headed to the VHS rental store. It happened usually when days became shorter, from autumn to early spring. The rainy and rusty autumn days. That's why I always thought that this game truly represented the time when it came out, catching and buliding up the atmosphere and the dark tone of the music/fashion subculture from the end of the 90s throughout the mid 00'.
Ohh, Just now I realised what has been missing among your videos! Jesus, I absolutely love this game, finished it fullly more than a dozen times and it's always just a matter of time before it goes back on my hard drive. As soon as the main menu appears and that famous tune starts, I can't help but smile each and every time
Great video as always, man. I love this game with all my heart, but every time I play it, I like it a little bit less. The last time I played it (around March 2020, I also made a video about it) I found the Malkavian mansion an absolute torture to navigate, with its labyrinthian layout and numerous combat encounters. Also, that creepy song that plays in certain mission areas (the crackhouse in Downtown LA, the Malkavian Mansion, Andrei’s Villa, the internet Cafe, etc) I always found it grating, idk why. It’s not a bad song, just overused. But the good moments... man, they’re really good. Like you said in the video, they did a great job making characters feel like a part the world, that their (un)lives don’t revolve around you. My favourite character by far is Isaac Abrams, the Toreador movie producer on whose watch Hollywood went from a fledgeling industry to a multi-billion dollar industry (love how he name drops Scorsese, Brando, and other Hollywood legends he’d worked with). Another thing that I liked is how they approached vampire politics. It’s kind of funny how these powerful creatures chose to spend their immortality on petty squabbles and politics instead of, you know, doing something more productive with their time, like trying to legitimize themselves in the “real world”, so to speak. It’s like they’re bored out of their minds and they have nothing better to do than scheme against each other and cook up millennia-spanning plots. Oh, and on the subject of the woman you meet in Hollywood - I have a sneaking suspicion she was supposed to play a bigger role in the main story, but it got cut for time. She has a unique character model, so I doubt they would have spent so many resources on a one-off character - though, to be fair, given how badly this project was mismanaged, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case after all
I know this is a very late reply but I like the idea of samantha showing up later in the story. that said, it might be a second "back off before someone else kills you" very similar to keeping your ghoul from showing up in the hotel
41:40 One thing to keep in mind for the release Date being November 2004 was that Activision probably also tried to cash in on the hype that was generated about the third "Blade" movie which was being released in December 2004 as well. Even some of the ingame graphics might have been inspired by the Blade movies (for example the Vampires dying in a similar fashion to the movie effects)
Fucking hell I'm the one that made that Grout theory image, I did it in Microsoft paint one day to prove my point to some random person I was arguing with I posted it one time on 4chan's /v/ board, and then let it be, I was trying to win an argument. Haven't played Bloodlines in 10 years, just reinstalled it, and I'm watching some videos on it. The fact it's been passed around for almost a decade? Oh my god I'm still convinced with the werewolf bullshit at the observatory and my theory he prophesied that LaCroix sent you and Ming Xiao independantly to the mansion at the same time, and Grout called Bach to burn everything down. Still standing by it
The closest thing I've seen to the 'Bloodlines dance' is those cyberpunks dancing in that video with the Thomas The Tank Engine theme tune dubbed over the top.
This game is such a gem. I played this game for the first time last year and I’m addicted to this games atmosphere and world. Makes me mad that the devs were rushed game could’ve been way better but I’m just happy we got this game in general. Thanks for making the video always love revisiting such a great game
One of the greatest sins off the AAA video game industry is its failing of the VTM:B franchise. The original game is STILL a masterpiece despite Activision's best efforts to completely fuck it up for everyone involved and it deserved better than what it got by a wide margin. And VTM:B2 was one of the shining lights of hope that RPG fans have been starving for for over a decade. To fuck such a monumental pillar of potential takes a special kind of evil. We truly live in the darkest timeline.
I've been on the Bloodlines video binge because I found out somebody basically recreated the entire world map of the game in vrchat I'm literally sitting in the starter apartment right now watching this on my VR overlay lol
Although I was very hyped by the announcement of 2, I recall thinking 'they could just finish the first game. Remaster/remake/overhaul patch, with restored content and improved gameplay. 🤷♂️ Great video, you managed to add something new to the discussion (for me at least) which is mighty impressive considering just how much coverage this game gets on YT.
Bloodlines came out at the perfect time, that being during the height of the goth-emo-nu metal surge of the early 2000's which myself and so many of my other fellow highschool students were mixed up in. I adore this game, it's just too bad it's so freaking janky. Even with fan patches, this game runs about as well as a 30 year old diesel engine.
I'm surprised there wasn't a mention of Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption at the end of the video. It's by no means an amazing game, but the music and atmosphere was good and I really liked the lore growing up. That game was what got me into the Vampire franchise altogether.
Huh, Cain aging us, or making us more powerful makes a LOT more sense than our sire being a 7th generation, and being decapitated like a scrub at the start...
Haven't really got into it, but the 2 things I hate about it, I really hate. Second Inquisition is too wildly successful. The Vienna Chantry just gone like that?? If it was that easy, the Technocracy would have done it ages ago, so would the Order of Hermes. The other part was the hunger and generation. I get that they are trying to make unlife more of a curse, the feel more visceral, but the actual logistic to make the Masquerade function would be so taxing that Vampire society simply wouldn't last to modern day.
@@biocapsule7311 I disagree on all three points. :) Hunters in older editions were laughably incapable. The first Inquisition did untold harm, but a new Inquisition, with modern advancements/tools, is just a joke? No, I'm glad they gave the 2nd Inquisition some actual teeth. Hunger, in older editions, was never more than an afterthought at best, and nothing more than a power-tracker at worst. Like a mana pool that you never cared about narratively. Are you out of blood points? Better get some more, so you can use your powers. Oh, and hunger too, I guess, kinda? And the combination of blood potency and generation is just much better than the Generation of old. Used to be, there were very few successful strategies to use against Elders, and Methuselah were completely untouchable; they dominated the game and took the spotlight off of the players. Now, your elders can still be much more powerful than you, and generation is still a good limit for those power ceilings, but they're not unstoppable gods, and the players can keep the spotlight. So agree to disagree. :)
@@schwann145 The first inquisition did untold harm because it's actually in the open. It use the most powerful factor the mundanes have, which is numbers. The enormous amount of ambient faith where the church has significant power. The new inquisition may have advance tools, but so does the kindreds and their minions. Advanced tools are not something new that came along so the Kindred have defenses against even if they don't like it. They are also significantly less in numbers and can't operate openly, with a church that is weak in almost every aspect it once have. If you want to give them teeth, that I don't think is the way. Yes the hunger in the old is much less visceral, which can be compensate by role-play which is the entire point. The one simply doesn't fit with how the WOD has been. If it was really this taxing, the masquerade simply would have been non-existing a long time ago. Simply unsustainable from a logistic point of view. I get that a lot of RPG don't care much about real world logistic but it should matter. But yes, agree to disagree. :)
This is such a great game. I remember playing though the first time and coming across VV. First time i was absolutely smitten by a video game character. Not just because she's beautiful. but because she's so feminine, delicate and caring.
First time or twelve through, I thought so too. Then something kinda curdled (I did something she didn't like), and that presentation became a mask - honeyed words and cloying poetry trying to hide the manipulative monster she really is. Could just be me, but it could also be a fantastic bit of writing. As much as VV is a treat for the senses, I much prefer the Brujah girl, Damsel. Her acceptance is hard-won, and you always know exactly where you stand with her.
@@CyberiusT Yeah, you can see VV's mask come off a little bit if you walk in there as a Nos. You can tell she doesn't like ugly things or has less patience for them. She's a bit more formal and such. But my first playthrough was Toreador and hooooo boy.
The thing with Therese and jeanette getting to co-exist, starts the moment you encounter Jeanette on the dance floor in the Asylum. All dialogue choices up until the final confrontation, determines whether or not you get access to the right dialogue choices. To make it simple, you flatter Jeanette all the way and brownnose Therese by staying as polite as possible (you still can't give Jeanette the necklace from the Ocean Hotel, but can turn her down with flattering answers). Stay on their good side, make them believe they have the long end of the stick. You can't threaten either of them, like offering Therese to off Jeanette so she would be rid of her, that sort of thing is a big no no! The "sisters" do love each other and needs each other to be whole (whatever that means as a Malk) You'll know the moment you have done it right, when you are offered a blue persuade option in the final confrontation (Requires Persuade minimum 4) The game simply handles it by having a "seduce" score for each sister in relation with the player, which starts at zero. Neutral answers during conversations with them, have no effect on the score. Insults, being snarky or offering aggresive solutions towards either sister will detract from this score and flattering / helpful, respectful answers will add to the score. Like the persuasion feat required, the player needs at least a score of 4 on this "seduce" score for both, to even get the option to reconcile the two "sisters" This score is not visible to the player.
I’ve only played through this game about 5 times, but the experience is so rich and fun every run. It’s easily my favorite game of all time. Everything is so memorable and I never get bored of it. Every play through is just a little bit different enough to keep it feeling like a new experience.
Counterpoint, best year in gaming was 1999. Alpha Centauri, Age of Empires 2, System Shock 2, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Jagged Alliance 2, Homeworld, Planescape: Torment, Super Smash Brothers and Ocarina of Time.
my favourite game ever. the music, the characters, the gameplay, the conversations, die several perspectives of the clans and the different options to solve the quests. an awesome vampire role play game.
That's a great observation, great story is written from the ground up, not from the top down like the vast majority of the world's stories are written. Great story is made up of the interactions between each of the characters motivations and the traits that drive them. This is far more noticeable when done wrong and it's usually what is referred to as bland seeing as it's easy to predict something that declares what it sets out to achieve. Good characters will always leave you guessing as to what they will do next because you aren't presented right away with their true motivations. Even an omniscient narrator is only as good as he is withholding.
The only problem I have with Grout being "a friend" is that Grout seems too stuck in the past to even know what an email is. The most advanced piece of technology he has in his lair are the voice recorders. Also, depending on the age of a Kindred, final death takes different forms, and Grout is too young to be turned into ash (all other Kindred that turn into ash was the easy approach to death animations). Other theories I've heard is that it might be Jack or Caine himself, they do mention that they had a role in steering the player. I also thought it might be Gary or Mitnick, but the mystery remains unresolved.
"Here's where you should start putting points in guns." But I didn't, I put all my points in stealth, I used it for the Hallowbrook Hotel and Out For Blood, and I even used stealth for the WEREWOLF and it worked!! (The whole time I hid in the corner where the cable car is suppose to come, it might've been a glitch though?)
plausible, you either break the AI or it breaks you :) For some reason 2nd playthrough I was like, come ON come to die already... the wolf is missing, somewhere I'm like Oh my god...
And sung for some Akira Yamamoka songs, like "You're Not Here" for Silent Hill 3-which I complemented her on. Irony, if I remember her right, when they were voice casting for SAC, the origina English VA actress was simply not available. Also, gotta love how she's now with Steve Blum. So, Pisha and Andrei. Or, The Major and Wolverine.
I love this game, but I tried to play the modern VtM tabletop...and well...its really insufferable. However a friend of mine told me most people play the older versions of the game due to my former complaint. So I'm gonna be trying that soon, hope it goes well.
I have an install from many years ago with all the unoffical patches that fixed the bugs and included the missing content. This HD has migrated over from one PC to another over the years and every now and then I replay this glorious gem.
The soundtrack of this game has been the perfect music for all my Vampire The Masquerade Tabletop sessions since 2005. This game also made me become interested in Game development. Such a cult classic. Remember thinking “This is what games can do and be now?” back then. Still waiting for a game similar to it, though. Soo sad to have witnessed the potential of video games soo long ago and it never quite got there ever since.
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Every 3 to 4 years i do a playthrogh. This game its great.
If you use auspex on the cab driver you can see he has a uniques aura to him compared to everyone else
was spoiling the ending necessary?
What's funny is that Bush and some in his administration where in fact Bonesmen. That is Yale's Skull & Bones secret society.
@@dalewayward4540 well there was a spoiler warning sooo....
In regards to the whole "cab driver is Cain" thing, I personally like the idea. Here's an entire society of pretentious, power hungry vampires constantly at each other's throats, destroying what little good there is in each other and stomping out all attempts at redemption in desperate plays to maintain their power. Then here's their dad just chilling in the background, sucking on blood pops, just doing their own thing separate from the rest as the only truly free vampire. It's actually kinda funny and fits World of Darkness quite well.
L for using gender neutral pronouns on a clearly male character
@@100KGNattyto me it sounds right since in my native language one would use pronoun "they" to express the highest form of reverence and esteem for one's elders.
I know I'm replying to a comment from 2 years ago, but this is VTMB! I remember staring at the cabbie while using auspex and his aura was black, just like the figure that stood behind Jack at the end. This might've been tweaked in one of the patches since and it's not happening for me anymore, but my mind was completely blown when that happened.
Ah, the game that inspired Harley Quinn's design in Batman: Arkham Asylum.
I love how Jeanette is voiced by Grey Delise AKA Catwoman
@@Nick-mv5kg huh
@@themaccave08 Sorry i lacked context but, in the Arkham series, Catwoman is voiced by Grey Delise Griffin and she also voices Jeannette from VTMB (aka the inspiration for Harley's design in Asylum)
@@Nick-mv5kg oh no. I meant "huh" in the "oh that’s interesting" form. I knew Grey voices Catwoman. I just found it interesting she voiced one of the characters here. Also, I think the outfit was a base for Harley's nurse uniform but the face and hair is seen in Arkham City. What else did Rocksteady take inspiration of? Also Arkham City Harley Quinn is honestly my favorite design.
Insanity as well.
The way good person inside fights bad character outside that is controlling herself.
Harley Quinn DLC.
God, the Hollywood theme...I remember one of the most impactful moments I had, the first time I loaded into Hollywood, everything was bugged, no one was there, no music loaded, I roamed around for a bit, and found the house of the baron. When I exited, the music started to slowly come together, the city got lit with life suddenly, people walking the streets, and then, this character, an old friend of my character that hadn't seen him for god knows how long, just asking worriedly where I was. I got into some kind of shock, since I related too much with the situation, and everything surrounding it, I stood, with the Hollywood theme on the background, as I got a masquerade violation, and even more, I got a glimpse of my old life back that shouldn't be there. I was legit 10 minutes there, with such a violent emotional response that I couldn't belive. It cemented the game as one of my favourite games ever, and a masterpiece to me, even with the problems that are there.
It also led me to discover Massive Attack, and trip hop as a genre, which also influenced a lot of my life later on, so this game basically changed my life.
Hey, could you recommend some albums with Trip hop vibe, similar to Bloodlines ost? Just from top of your head, I really could use them 😇
Constantine and The Matrix soundtrack had a similar effect on me. This game though blew my mind for immersion and how it could evoke such strong feelings in me
the image of andrei calling into the deb of night and going on about the end for humans always cracks me up
Where you realise she's actually a cammirila informant
Hi, Deb
I'll admit, at first, I smirked as well when the trolling commenced. But then it quickly shifted in me to be terrified of the implications that his words came with. Because it was possible, and in the grand scheme of things, when you think about it, you hear something like that on the radio, late at night... it should send chills down your spine in the least. Especially if you are a mortal and you know there are worse things out there than what mortal society believes to be the worst of the worst.
@@dreadedpunk3473 nah it’s funny
@@SplurtChain It's funny cuz you aint living in that setting ! Imagine if a anonymous dictator would come talking at a radio with plots to start a world war.But I think it's both funny and scary !
I always found that the reason the character models of VtMB still holds up is due to the eyes. They are not dead, flat fisheyes like a lot of more modern-character figures look. It gives them a sense of 'has a soul', if you know what I mean? there's life (well unlife) in the eyes.
It helps that (thanks to the Source Engine) the facial animations are detailed and lively _by modern standards_ let alone 2004 standards.
You ought to get the eye replacement mod, it doesn't change anything except giving the eyes the reflection they have in real life, it just makes the eyes much better looking much more alive
As a Gen X who grew up in the Goth scene and trolled the clubs for many years late 90's to the 2010's, I have to say this game captured the essence of the time so very well. Even though that wasn't the primary purpose and yes, Brian is definitely from that scene and influences the writing - the visuals and soundtrack are also highly influenced. To the point of even using real band posters. And if anyone who's from the scene, you likely know how much we love to make fun of our tropes and that's played to very well in the game also.
The Downtown and Hollywood hubs actually give an associative vibe to what it was like at the time. I can't put into words how they did it and even with "old technology", but they made this world feel lived in and representative.
It makes my heart glow to know how much love this game continues to get. Like many cult classics, it proves you don't need the latest and greatest to make a great game. People should know that technology has little to do with immersion in both story and universe. Nowadays, games are relatively dumbed down because developers choose to reach the "wider audience", aka the lowest common denominator (that's not said as an insult, this is just marketing and sales).
Heck, im not even a Goth, way over here in the Nordic region and never sat a foot in many nightclubs but it just symbolizes an bygone age. Makes me nostalgic. Bloodlines to me is so symbolic of that era of the 90's dying, the millenia of 2000 coming around and the 1900's leaving. We had a lot of tech but not that whole "always online" like now. The last death rattle of the Gen X age/era.
And as I said, im not eve a goth or punk or any of those subcultures. Im born in the second half of the 80's and could never see all of that but damn, that Goth stuff suits so well and makes it so different and interesting. A PERFECT theme for Anarchs too!
yeah that game really has that years feel when it takes place..well I mean, it's not that hard when it takes place around the same time it is created in the real world.
I have never met a goth person in my life, lmao they sound like cool urban legends.
The VtM Redemption album was pretty good
I bet you'd dig Filmmaker's music
I've been planning a new playthrough of Bloodlines. I almost never finish the game, but I always end up having a great time with it.
I just got done watching your new video😂
I mean, that last quarter to fifth is a pretty big drop in decline, but everything before is gravy.
THAT level can luckily be mostly skipped now
@@chillhour6155 Sewers? I was so irritated by the place I just noclip pretty much the whole way through everytime. Couldn’t figure out how to get the skip to work on the patch version.
@@deejaythedj313 yep, the one and only dark stain on this unfinished masterpiece, unofficial patch+clan mod I'd reccomend using if you're giving the game another go
If you're going to do it legit you will have to do that one swim puzzle where you have turn of the big fan that pushes you back when you're swimming underwater, you have to swim down the tunnel and turn left before the fAn switches back on then the water pressure will shoot you through a water pipe to a tedious are full of those limb bosses before being able to get a key card to go down a big latched hole into the Nosferatu base, I always used the -noclip cheat console command back in the day before the mod was released to skip all this tedious nonsense
Also now that I think about it,maybe auspex if you have it could give you some extra time and make that puzzle a bit easier
If you play a Malkavian you 'know' much of the games plot twists from the moment you stumble upon them, provided you as a player can decipher your character's crazed ramblings.
Oh, we all had our divorce issues with no parking signs, stop signs, and TV dudes getting cocky at us!
This game is like every relationship I've been in. Absolutely broken, but was a joy to experience
One of my favorite video games ever
Had a friend ask me what made the game so great.
My response was that no words could describe it. You just have to play it to KNOW how great it is.
you good bro?
People attract what they are. In your case, trainwrecks.......
@@rvh1702hahahaha ooof
Dont think thats the praise you wanted it to sound like lol. But i kinda get it
That previous character being present in a new character's intro is really clever.
And while I do love the Kuei Jin, hence my NAME, there's a very important reason why you shouldn't side with them. You may think your Kine as brutal for the most part, but even the Sabbat have rules. The Kuei-Jin? They will cut your tendons with a poisoned knife, then keep you at the brink of death so they can extract information from you. They literally provide the worst of fates in the game.
Chinese in nutshell... oh wait you can't do that anymore... -.-'
At least they give you an opportunity to "For thousands of years I lay dormant" someone later.
@@gamerdweebentertainment1616
The chinese took over the world without using physical force.
But, but... Chinese slug titties!
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 They were handed the world on a silver platter. All anyone had to do was not accept slave labor as a source of cheap product, especially because the Chinese include in their contracts that they're allowed to steal your product after a set time. So for a few years of cheap labor you then have them undercutting you on price and no longer manufacturing your product.
And all of this is because the international bankers and shareholders profit from China and have a stake in undermining the west, so they encourage businesses to work with China and, whether greedy or earnestly naive, the businesses follow their advice.
We all wish Troika got a shot at a full horror game.
When you said you'd like to see Troika get a crack at horror for a moment I forgot they went defunct 15 years ago =(
15:54 Fun fact about mid 2000s EA/Activision, Most of their games had great soundtracks because they bought music licenses(mostly for Guitar hero and Rockband) to use in many games.
What a smart choice for the thumbnail.
Actualy there is a Lasombra in the game, he's that guy you find stalking you in the alleys and the serial killer quest, you fight him in a side quest
The wiki says hes a gangrel.
@@Dmitry_Medvedev not the serial killer, when you enter the cabin in the junkyard the Lasombra appears in front of you for a few seconds before vanishing
That sidequest isn't a part of the base game. It's restored content from the Unofficial Patch Plus
@@ThePlayer920yes it is?
Everyone keep saying every damn time YOU REINSTALL IT IF SOMEONE MENTION it. But jokes on you i haven't uninstall this game since my first playthrough in 2019. And boy it was a blast. Proboboly the last game that i replayed so many times in a row.
Yep, pretty much an october ritual for me since 2015.
Yeah I never uninstall it either, the only time I re-install is when I have to get a fresh pc install and it’s one of the first games I will always install. I played it first back around 2005. Still have my physical copy.
@@oliviawilliams6204 you lucky bastard. I dream of having a physical copy
@@oliviawilliams6204 I still have my physical copy from 2005 as well.
Went on a day long quest to find the Bradygames guide, to try and work out how to get past the whirling blades in Fu Syndicate. A day roaming around London, trying to find it. Failed, but found someone who told me how to do it.
And I never uninstall it.and love that the game has never died away, but is as strong as ever.
honestly when I got a new harddrive for my computer about 4 years ago now vtmb was my first install.
I have cleared this game 3 times and it always feels fresh somewhow. While dated, it's still a very enjoyable and memorable game.
I'm a simple man. I see Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines, I click on the video.
Agreed
Same. ♥️
i'm a simpler man, i see VTMB, i play the game again
The Massive Attack soundalike song was actually written by Al Jourgensen, frontman and head of industrial metal legends Ministry. I think Ministry are also the ones performing the song. _Bloodlines_ is another Ministry song written specifically for the game's soundtrack. Funny coincidence because the album cover of Ministry's _With Sympathy_ from 1981 seemed to be a major inspiration for the book covers of the original Vampire: The Masquerade rule book and (even more so for) the Vampire: The Dark Ages rule book.
It's like poetry so that it rhymes. ^^
No, it's by Rik Schaffer
Both this and Dying Light 2 pulled the trigger too quickly on Chris, they'll both suffer for it writing wise.
Malkavians laugh at your boomsticks! I played Malkavian first and any other clan was just too boring after that. Then I replayed it many times as a malkavian, it is such a nice warm feeling when you start to understand what voices in your head have been telling you all the time :-D I love the same concept in Hellblade too.
You going to china
I dunno, playing a Ventrue and using Dominate on Chunk to go boogie the night away at Asylum never gets old.
You shouldn't have trusted those voices in your head, dear! Stomping thru those sewers, snacking rats, it is heartwarming!
I'm so glad I didn't play Malkavian first because you're so right. Any other clan would just be too boring after that. It's also especially hilarious to be a flirty Malk, though most dialogue options are just so much fun already, really.
"TV Man?"
This is the most immersive and atmospheric game I ever played, despite it's shortcomings especially at the end but it's still my favourite game ever.
Serious question, how do you keep releasing stuff this quickly?
Built different
This one actually came together really quickly, length aside. I go on lots of walks and started to use speech to text to get some ideas down and go from there.
@@BoulderPunch Hustle. I dig it.
Not dying probably helps.
@@BoulderPunch That's a very good tip for any creative out there. Hell, I bet this is a good tip for health care professionals when they're dealing with a difficult case!
I just realized after watching these there's a scene in the angel tv show where angel the main vampire does that dance a nice easter egg
Does someone has a link to that? Thanks
@@targard.quantumfrack6854 th-cam.com/video/rssNTiczooA/w-d-xo.html
I was watching Cyberpunk's lead quest guy's stream and he often mentions that Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines was Cyberpunk's main influence. I'm a big V:TM-B fan and have like 400 hours in Cyberpunk but only after this video and your Ocean House Hotel one did I realize the similarities. Thanks for the great vid!
i guess they must've also took some inspiration from VTMB's launch for cyberpunk
@@DontJinxItYet Almost all of my favourite games somehow have disasterous launches, so I'm okay with it. The game is fine to me but at least CDPR will keep putting in work until they're/everyone's satisfied with it :)
Man, they really took the inspiration to heart, down to having great writing coupled with a buggy as hell game
I mean I really loved both games but without some serious patch work they are quite messy on a technical level
@@NEON-XMV I haven’t had any insane glitches since release day, but I play on PC so I do feel bad for the console players. Shoulda never been released on a console that can’t handle the insanely large and complicated game 🥺
@@_yikesforever You obviously don't know full story, huh...
Point is you're making excuses of glitches and bugs but there's bigger issue than that.
The game felt bland and boring. There's big comparison all over YT that was promised to dominate RDR2 immersion. Yet they failed. It's Fallout 4 2.0 with cars and garbage boring quests with little difference of endings.
If you want big difference on endings, take a look on Mass Effect 2. It is praised by many. How come CP77 that is worked for 4 years is being dominated by many old games? Mass Effect 2 was worked for less and yet it has no issues with the world, story and characters. lol
Chinatown theme is by far the best theme from the game. It encapsulates the World of Darkness perfectly.
lmaoooo
my first playthrough was as a Malkavian
it was wild: my character knew shit that neither me nor the NPCs knew
and arguing with the tv man😂😂😂 the funniest thing I've ever experienced in a game
@LaughingLorraine Did you argue with the stop sign also? That was the part that cracked me up the most.
@@jodonnell64 No, YOU Stop! 😂
This game just had this memorable atmosphere, that almost cartoonish edgy goth thing, it's not my thing but it just fit the game perfectly. This, combined with the voice acting, setting, plot and the character customization made it a real rpg. And the gameplay wasn't half bad either, say whatever you want about the janky animations, few things are cooler than dodging bullets while ripping an entire death squad apart.
And the soundtrack, Jesus, a thing of genius.
3:31 Gangrel: I was hoping u'd mention the WWF tie-in and you delivered! Fangin' & bangin'! 🧛
That theme is an absolute banger. Up there with Black Reign.
As I mentioned in another comment here, I just had the privilege of meeting Gangrel about a week ago and he is one of the absolute nicest people you could ever come across!
(See another bloodline video that pops up every 3-6 months) “can I really learn anything new after watching 20 of these?” (Sighs and watch’s to support)
Ah yes, the Hollywood theme. Stated by the author to be the piece he wrote while in the lowest point of his life. The transient hint of death, abyss, melancholy, anxiety, and hopelessness weaved throughout somehow continuing to exist in spite of everything screaming at you not to. It my go to track for reading, writing and having existential crises.
Massive attack is so good.
Hey, fun piece of info; kindred "corpses" are basically in whatever state a human corpse would be in in the amount of time that has transpired since they turned.
Most of them aren't actually old enough to turn into dust upon final death, which is kind of a massive misconception in the community because *all* kindred enemies you kill turn to dust in Bloodlines.
This is just an easy design choice for fairly obvious reasons, and it *sort of* fits the lore.
Seeing as Grout was embraced in 1925, and met his final death in 2004, he'd probably leave behind some remnants, but not a whole ass skeleton.
We have skeletons older than that.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 I'm not 100% on the lore, but I don't think these Kindred remains would be comparable to preserved remains.
@@keystonelyte
Didn't you say that a body simply turns on what they would look like if they died naturally?
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 you said we have skeletons older than that; those skeletons are preserved, thus not exactly a good representation of what natural remains would look like.
@@aldiascholarofthefirstsin1051 under the proper conditions, a corpse buried in fertile soil can decompose almost completely in about 20 years.
I wouldn't think that "being a cursed corpse" would be ideal conditions for decomposition, but it wouldn't exactly be preserved completely, either.
That fucking haunted hotel scared the shit out of me back in the day.
I played the Malkavian on my first playthrough of this game. I actually did pretty good. But I can see why people advise newbs to not play this character first. Thanks for the video. Always like to hear insights into one of my favorite games.
The problem is that it makes the other clans more boring to play afterwards.
I would say that the only downside of making Malks the first playthrough is that because of their seer abilities, the Malkavian PC ends up spoiling a ton of the plot twists in the game.
@@Magnanimoose Hah, I was just going to comment this same sentiment. =D I played Malk first and regret nothing! That dialogue made me fall so hard in love with the clan. As for the awesome voices you hear, I could never understand what they said, so nothing was spoiled.
Going Malk is one of the best second playthrough experiences I've ever had. Not a big fan of the game's version of Dementation (feels like a watered down take on Dominate), but the new quirks and dialogues are just wonderfully funny.
Do not miss out on the WW2 MOD or the Prelude MOD, as playing a mortal hunter working for Grünfeld Bach is really hilarious!
I can’t seem to stop watching 30minue to hour long video on this game because I fucking love it. It introduce me to the vampire the masquerade role playing system.
I was one of the dozen people who bought this game when it released, before Troika went bankrupt.
I never beat it though until fan patches came out. I got to Giovanni mansion and a game breaking bug would just shut down my playthrough.
Same here, bought it on day 1 and just powered through the jankiness, I replayed it 9 times over the next few months with all the different clans and is one of my all time favorites games, I finished it every single time, I even stopped GTA San Andreas which was already out on ps2 to play this on my PC.
the first time i played this game i almost stopped playing mid-way during the mission where you have to blow up a warehouse because after it blew up i thought my game was softlocked because i couldnt get out of the bent train door but it turned out you just have to slam into it over and over until it suddenly decides to squeeze you out lol
that's not the midway, lol That's the final mission of the FIRST area, Santa Monica
Yeah that door was so annoying
It’s so funny this is so relatable. Fuck that door
All these years I never knew your character pops up in the intro for a new play through. Amazing stuff man.
When I played this game back in the days, it made me feel the same atmosphere that I experienced in the end of the 90s when I was driving early in the evening headed to the VHS rental store. It happened usually when days became shorter, from autumn to early spring. The rainy and rusty autumn days. That's why I always thought that this game truly represented the time when it came out, catching and buliding up the atmosphere and the dark tone of the music/fashion subculture from the end of the 90s throughout the mid 00'.
Ohh, Just now I realised what has been missing among your videos!
Jesus, I absolutely love this game, finished it fullly more than a dozen times and it's always just a matter of time before it goes back on my hard drive. As soon as the main menu appears and that famous tune starts, I can't help but smile each and every time
I really really hope the sequel comes out sometime, and that it's good.
Dont hold your breathe amigo
Yeah... dunno about Bloodlines 2, but Swansong (another title, another studio, same franchise) is definitely coming.
@@rafaellago172 I had no idea, and now I'm very interested.
One of my favorite games of all time. Something about the atmosphere, storytelling, characters and setting is just so interesting and immersive.
Great video as always, man. I love this game with all my heart, but every time I play it, I like it a little bit less. The last time I played it (around March 2020, I also made a video about it) I found the Malkavian mansion an absolute torture to navigate, with its labyrinthian layout and numerous combat encounters. Also, that creepy song that plays in certain mission areas (the crackhouse in Downtown LA, the Malkavian Mansion, Andrei’s Villa, the internet Cafe, etc) I always found it grating, idk why. It’s not a bad song, just overused.
But the good moments... man, they’re really good. Like you said in the video, they did a great job making characters feel like a part the world, that their (un)lives don’t revolve around you. My favourite character by far is Isaac Abrams, the Toreador movie producer on whose watch Hollywood went from a fledgeling industry to a multi-billion dollar industry (love how he name drops Scorsese, Brando, and other Hollywood legends he’d worked with).
Another thing that I liked is how they approached vampire politics. It’s kind of funny how these powerful creatures chose to spend their immortality on petty squabbles and politics instead of, you know, doing something more productive with their time, like trying to legitimize themselves in the “real world”, so to speak. It’s like they’re bored out of their minds and they have nothing better to do than scheme against each other and cook up millennia-spanning plots.
Oh, and on the subject of the woman you meet in Hollywood - I have a sneaking suspicion she was supposed to play a bigger role in the main story, but it got cut for time. She has a unique character model, so I doubt they would have spent so many resources on a one-off character - though, to be fair, given how badly this project was mismanaged, I wouldn’t be surprised if that were the case after all
Well, petty squabbles are just part of our DNA.
I know this is a very late reply but I like the idea of samantha showing up later in the story.
that said, it might be a second "back off before someone else kills you" very similar to keeping your ghoul from showing up in the hotel
There is something about the vibe of the game. The atmosphere, the soundtrack I don't known what it is but it has it's fangs in my soul for 15 years.
People uninstall Bloodlines?
After visiting the Hollywood Warrens, I get that.
41:40 One thing to keep in mind for the release Date being November 2004 was that Activision probably also tried to cash in on the hype that was generated about the third "Blade" movie which was being released in December 2004 as well.
Even some of the ingame graphics might have been inspired by the Blade movies (for example the Vampires dying in a similar fashion to the movie effects)
Acoustic Guitar - Rik Schaffer's VTM Bloodlines Hollywood Theme Is The Diablo 3's Parallel To Tristram's Theme.
I love this game. Every time I see or hear music from this game it teleports me right back to 2004.
Fucking hell
I'm the one that made that Grout theory image, I did it in Microsoft paint one day to prove my point to some random person I was arguing with
I posted it one time on 4chan's /v/ board, and then let it be, I was trying to win an argument. Haven't played Bloodlines in 10 years, just reinstalled it, and I'm watching some videos on it. The fact it's been passed around for almost a decade?
Oh my god
I'm still convinced with the werewolf bullshit at the observatory and my theory he prophesied that
LaCroix sent you and Ming Xiao independantly to the mansion at the same time, and Grout called Bach to burn everything down.
Still standing by it
The closest thing I've seen to the 'Bloodlines dance' is those cyberpunks dancing in that video with the Thomas The Tank Engine theme tune dubbed over the top.
I loved listening to the radio in the game. The ads are amazing.
Wow, Heather got so few votes. Heather is only second to the Voerman sisters for me. I always make her a ghoul, no matter what character i play.
Excited to watch this, your videos are always very well polished :)
This game is such a gem. I played this game for the first time last year and I’m addicted to this games atmosphere and world. Makes me mad that the devs were rushed game could’ve been way better but I’m just happy we got this game in general. Thanks for making the video always love revisiting such a great game
One of the greatest sins off the AAA video game industry is its failing of the VTM:B franchise. The original game is STILL a masterpiece despite Activision's best efforts to completely fuck it up for everyone involved and it deserved better than what it got by a wide margin. And VTM:B2 was one of the shining lights of hope that RPG fans have been starving for for over a decade. To fuck such a monumental pillar of potential takes a special kind of evil. We truly live in the darkest timeline.
Welp, the game is not cancelled just changed developer , so i got hope that with a great delay but we will get Bloodlines 2 eventually. •́ ‿ ,•̀
Still the best RPG video game ever.
To quote a deceased genius, Dr. Alistair Grout: ``Damn, now I am doing it, too!´´ - Replaying the game...
I've been on the Bloodlines video binge because I found out somebody basically recreated the entire world map of the game in vrchat I'm literally sitting in the starter apartment right now watching this on my VR overlay lol
The game made fun of Bush and Republicans, but it completely eviscerated Hollywood. In that sense, it was evenhanded.
-Tell me your greatest sins, sins you can't speak of.
-I voted for Bush.
-Yeah well...
Although I was very hyped by the announcement of 2, I recall thinking 'they could just finish the first game. Remaster/remake/overhaul patch, with restored content and improved gameplay. 🤷♂️
Great video, you managed to add something new to the discussion (for me at least) which is mighty impressive considering just how much coverage this game gets on YT.
Bloodlines came out at the perfect time, that being during the height of the goth-emo-nu metal surge of the early 2000's which myself and so many of my other fellow highschool students were mixed up in. I adore this game, it's just too bad it's so freaking janky. Even with fan patches, this game runs about as well as a 30 year old diesel engine.
I played this game brand new and still replay it today. It captured a part of my adolescents perfectly. Was a big fan of white wolf vampires.
Honesty this is one of the best videos I watch about bloodline amazing job
VTMB, along with the film Queen of the Damned, were the core piece of my music taste development. Anyway, gotta start my 60th playthrough of the game.
This game probably would be my favourite game of all time if some areas weren't as rushed as final version. Still, a great game.
I'm surprised there wasn't a mention of Vampire the Masquerade: Redemption at the end of the video.
It's by no means an amazing game, but the music and atmosphere was good and I really liked the lore growing up. That game was what got me into the Vampire franchise altogether.
it has so many flaws and yet just demands a play every few months, the world and characters are just awesome
Night Road & Out for Blood are worth a look too, just FYI.
Parliament of Knives just released, as well.
@@BelleMort6 ....and Sins of the Sire is due out next year 😉.
Oh shit the flesh eating vampire is Motoko from Ghost in the shell. My forever waifu
L
Aaaaaand here we go again... gotta do a new run now. Thanks Mate!
Huh, Cain aging us, or making us more powerful makes a LOT more sense than our sire being a 7th generation, and being decapitated like a scrub at the start...
5th Edition VtM is absolutely *not* a "trash fire." It's a pretty outstanding update to a _very_ dated and bloated ruleset.
Haven't really got into it, but the 2 things I hate about it, I really hate. Second Inquisition is too wildly successful. The Vienna Chantry just gone like that?? If it was that easy, the Technocracy would have done it ages ago, so would the Order of Hermes. The other part was the hunger and generation. I get that they are trying to make unlife more of a curse, the feel more visceral, but the actual logistic to make the Masquerade function would be so taxing that Vampire society simply wouldn't last to modern day.
@@biocapsule7311 I disagree on all three points. :)
Hunters in older editions were laughably incapable. The first Inquisition did untold harm, but a new Inquisition, with modern advancements/tools, is just a joke? No, I'm glad they gave the 2nd Inquisition some actual teeth.
Hunger, in older editions, was never more than an afterthought at best, and nothing more than a power-tracker at worst. Like a mana pool that you never cared about narratively. Are you out of blood points? Better get some more, so you can use your powers. Oh, and hunger too, I guess, kinda?
And the combination of blood potency and generation is just much better than the Generation of old. Used to be, there were very few successful strategies to use against Elders, and Methuselah were completely untouchable; they dominated the game and took the spotlight off of the players. Now, your elders can still be much more powerful than you, and generation is still a good limit for those power ceilings, but they're not unstoppable gods, and the players can keep the spotlight.
So agree to disagree. :)
@@schwann145 The first inquisition did untold harm because it's actually in the open. It use the most powerful factor the mundanes have, which is numbers. The enormous amount of ambient faith where the church has significant power. The new inquisition may have advance tools, but so does the kindreds and their minions. Advanced tools are not something new that came along so the Kindred have defenses against even if they don't like it. They are also significantly less in numbers and can't operate openly, with a church that is weak in almost every aspect it once have. If you want to give them teeth, that I don't think is the way.
Yes the hunger in the old is much less visceral, which can be compensate by role-play which is the entire point. The one simply doesn't fit with how the WOD has been. If it was really this taxing, the masquerade simply would have been non-existing a long time ago. Simply unsustainable from a logistic point of view. I get that a lot of RPG don't care much about real world logistic but it should matter.
But yes, agree to disagree. :)
This is such a great game. I remember playing though the first time and coming across VV. First time i was absolutely smitten by a video game character. Not just because she's beautiful. but because she's so feminine, delicate and caring.
First time or twelve through, I thought so too. Then something kinda curdled (I did something she didn't like), and that presentation became a mask - honeyed words and cloying poetry trying to hide the manipulative monster she really is. Could just be me, but it could also be a fantastic bit of writing.
As much as VV is a treat for the senses, I much prefer the Brujah girl, Damsel. Her acceptance is hard-won, and you always know exactly where you stand with her.
@@CyberiusT Yeah, you can see VV's mask come off a little bit if you walk in there as a Nos. You can tell she doesn't like ugly things or has less patience for them. She's a bit more formal and such. But my first playthrough was Toreador and hooooo boy.
The atmosphere in this game is absolutely amazing! The music is done so well to bring it to life.
"How about you put your ear to it and I shake it!"
I have such a crush on Beckett lol
The thing with Therese and jeanette getting to co-exist, starts the moment you encounter Jeanette on the dance floor in the Asylum. All dialogue choices up until the final confrontation, determines whether or not you get access to the right dialogue choices. To make it simple, you flatter Jeanette all the way and brownnose Therese by staying as polite as possible (you still can't give Jeanette the necklace from the Ocean Hotel, but can turn her down with flattering answers). Stay on their good side, make them believe they have the long end of the stick. You can't threaten either of them, like offering Therese to off Jeanette so she would be rid of her, that sort of thing is a big no no! The "sisters" do love each other and needs each other to be whole (whatever that means as a Malk) You'll know the moment you have done it right, when you are offered a blue persuade option in the final confrontation (Requires Persuade minimum 4)
The game simply handles it by having a "seduce" score for each sister in relation with the player, which starts at zero. Neutral answers during conversations with them, have no effect on the score. Insults, being snarky or offering aggresive solutions towards either sister will detract from this score and flattering / helpful, respectful answers will add to the score. Like the persuasion feat required, the player needs at least a score of 4 on this "seduce" score for both, to even get the option to reconcile the two "sisters" This score is not visible to the player.
I’ve only played through this game about 5 times, but the experience is so rich and fun every run. It’s easily my favorite game of all time. Everything is so memorable and I never get bored of it. Every play through is just a little bit different enough to keep it feeling like a new experience.
Counterpoint, best year in gaming was 1999.
Alpha Centauri, Age of Empires 2, System Shock 2, Heroes of Might and Magic 3, Jagged Alliance 2, Homeworld, Planescape: Torment, Super Smash Brothers and Ocarina of Time.
2007 helped. COD MW and Mass Effect, Assassins Creed, etc. But in 1999 You also had Silent Hill.
my favourite game ever. the music, the characters, the gameplay, the conversations, die several perspectives of the clans and the different options to solve the quests. an awesome vampire role play game.
I could listen to VV talk all night.
Played this for more than a decade, and every playthrough was fun!
I've never played V:TM-B before, but this video is making me want to get it and try it out!
Just do it. You're in for a treat.
This games community is not very big but it still has a reputation of being played by everyone.
Your videos are great dood. Love this game.
That's a great observation, great story is written from the ground up, not from the top down like the vast majority of the world's stories are written.
Great story is made up of the interactions between each of the characters motivations and the traits that drive them. This is far more noticeable when done wrong and it's usually what is referred to as bland seeing as it's easy to predict something that declares what it sets out to achieve. Good characters will always leave you guessing as to what they will do next because you aren't presented right away with their true motivations. Even an omniscient narrator is only as good as he is withholding.
The only problem I have with Grout being "a friend" is that Grout seems too stuck in the past to even know what an email is. The most advanced piece of technology he has in his lair are the voice recorders. Also, depending on the age of a Kindred, final death takes different forms, and Grout is too young to be turned into ash (all other Kindred that turn into ash was the easy approach to death animations). Other theories I've heard is that it might be Jack or Caine himself, they do mention that they had a role in steering the player. I also thought it might be Gary or Mitnick, but the mystery remains unresolved.
"Here's where you should start putting points in guns."
But I didn't, I put all my points in stealth, I used it for the Hallowbrook Hotel and Out For Blood, and I even used stealth for the WEREWOLF and it worked!! (The whole time I hid in the corner where the cable car is suppose to come, it might've been a glitch though?)
plausible, you either break the AI or it breaks you :) For some reason 2nd playthrough I was like, come ON come to die already... the wolf is missing, somewhere I'm like Oh my god...
I have an idea as to why it refuses to die!
It's a vampire! It's already dead. What's gonna happen, it becomes double undead?
Your thumbnail answers your question.
THAT is why BloodLines is still so loved today
These female characters just exude sex appeal.
I legit just reinstalled this lol, just like all fans the moment it gets mentioned we reinstall for a play through
Also, love Mary Elizabeth McGlynn for her role in Ghost In The Shell: Stand Alone Complex as Major Motoko Kusanagi.
And sung for some Akira Yamamoka songs, like "You're Not Here" for Silent Hill 3-which I complemented her on. Irony, if I remember her right, when they were voice casting for SAC, the origina English VA actress was simply not available. Also, gotta love how she's now with Steve Blum. So, Pisha and Andrei. Or, The Major and Wolverine.
Nice video!
Bloodlines really is an awesome game
I love this game, but I tried to play the modern VtM tabletop...and well...its really insufferable. However a friend of mine told me most people play the older versions of the game due to my former complaint. So I'm gonna be trying that soon, hope it goes well.
"Remember, wherever we go, it is the blood of Caine which makes our fate."
I have an install from many years ago with all the unoffical patches that fixed the bugs and included the missing content. This HD has migrated over from one PC to another over the years and every now and then I replay this glorious gem.
i love bloodlines. i've played it so many times although never all the way through. i really do need to come back one day and actually get an ending.
The soundtrack of this game has been the perfect music for all my Vampire The Masquerade Tabletop sessions since 2005. This game also made me become interested in Game development. Such a cult classic. Remember thinking “This is what games can do and be now?” back then. Still waiting for a game similar to it, though. Soo sad to have witnessed the potential of video games soo long ago and it never quite got there ever since.
The real reason it doesn't die is this :
Every time you mention it, someone WILL reinstall it.