“Your reputation is legend,” says a vampire in ‘80s shoulderpads and hoop earrings. Her tone is awestruck, her expression fearful. She might as well be talking to her game’s predecessor.
Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines was an RPG so beloved that its fans lifted it from buggy brokenness to cult classic status via two decades of painstaking unofficial patches. Some fear is merited, when it comes to pitching its sequel.
The pressure of following up such a legend has only been compounded by the sorry journey of Bloodlines 2: announced six years ago, delayed repeatedly, and restarted from scratch after the ugly breakup of its original team. Now, though, new developer
Its latest trailer comes off the back of a careful campaign that has gradually won over press without promising too much. Bloodlines 2 approaches its October 21 release date from a position of strength – forefronting Dishonored-style supernatural combat and vertical exploration, as well as a narrative sophistication that evokes its predecessor without aping it. While it’s surreal to see a date attached to a title that once seemed cursed to undeath, a certain confidence in Bloodlines 2 feels well-earned.
It’s a story emblematic of Geoff Keighley [224 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/people/geoff-keighley/”>Geoff Keighley and a parade of game studios weave their way between heightened expectations and damaged reputations with qualified success. The show began by slapping a firm deadline on Hollow Knight: Silksong, the metroidvania which over long years of little communication has become
Even among annualised series which hit their release date every Autumn without fail, there’s a sense that long-neglected threads are being pulled upon. Black Ops 7 filled the Gamescom hall with the ravings of Raul Menendez, Call of Duty’s most memorable and histrionic villain. By pairing him off with the sultry star power of Milo Ventimiglia – newly joining the series’ mythical Mason family – Treyarch [358 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/activision-blizzard/activision/treyarch/”>Treyarch ever led. But bravely stepping into the especially treasured desert of New Vegas, and playing with some of its most significant pieces – including the Netflix [355 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/companies/netflix/”>Netflix’s Witcher adaptation also seemed untouchable at one time, but prevailing fan opinion is fickle and can turn with the wind. Other videogame spokespeople must look on with envy when Naoki Yoshida takes to the stage. Fondly referred to as Final Fantasy XIV [92 articles]” href=”https://www.videogameschronicle.com/games/final-fantasy-games/final-fantasy-xiv/”>Final Fantasy XIV, and his appearance provokes one of the biggest cheers of the night. Emoting comfortably in front of millions while a translator relays his words, he communes ably with his MMO’s enormous fanbase in a way most creative directors would kill to emulate. Some of Keighley’s own pronouncements are less inspiring. Picking up a favourite subject from hundreds of thousands of dollars, rewarding the publishers with the deepest pockets. Besides a brief celebration of indies tackling the tricky subject of democracy, there’s little room for any small teams to break through here, and the message rings hollow. Similarly, while Keighley proudly recalls the Game Awards wins of the announcement of its sequel leaves a bad taste in the mouth. Though gorgeous, its trailer opens with a jibe about a character’s belly. It’s hard not be reminded of the recruitment poster that Black Myth developer wider history of intolerance that has largely gone unaddressed as the studio’s star has risen. It’s not a pleasant note on which to end the show, but maybe it tells us something important. Although popular support can embolden developers to create their best works, it can also encourage them to double down on their mistakes. Let’s hope that the many other studios taking brave risks on the Opening Night Live stage remember to reflect on their own failings, even when their dreams come true.
