"I rise!" (Vampire - The Masquerade - Redemption (PC))

Member Name: Mutalisk

Product:	Vampire - The Masquerade - Redemption (PC)
Date:	16/09/09 (30 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: great plot, mythology, innovative combat engine, diverse spells and weaponry, much personality, fun.

Disadvantages: modern weapons dont work so well, character interaction isnt that important, linear.

Released in 1998, Vampire - The Masquerade: Redemption is a mythology based RPG set in the same Universe as Whitewolf pen and paper RPG Vampire - The Masquerade.

The games has a third-person perspective view throughout, and the player controls a coterie of vampires, their portraits displayed below the screen. As well as in-game combat being diverse and with a great deal of originality, using blood and mana to cast spells whilst employing myriad weaponry, both short and long-range, Micromanagement also plays an important role, the characters all have specific traits, spells and abilities depending on their age and race, but also level up depending upon their actions, these level points can be used to meticulously upgrade traits such as strength, appearance, dexterity, perception,wisdom etc.

Also, spell scrolls, vials of blood and mana, armour and weaponry can all be equipped. Each character has a totally customizable inventory, and all appear differently in-game when equipped. Simple and easy to follow as it is, there's a lot of room for messing about here which can be lots of fun, and items can be bought, sold and bartered.

The game has an epic and brilliantly original plot, following the main character, Christof Romuald, a human Crusader embraced by a vampire clan and forced to toil over his lost love, Anezka. One brilliant device the game uses is that it takes place over the course of a thousand years, set in 1031 and 1999. Sadly, some of the modern weapons, particularly the guns, are not particularly effective, despite looking cool, and do not feel in the least bit visceral. You scarcely feel like you're tearing through the diverse enemies in 1999, as you did in the past.

The level design is great, and hugely plot-relevant.
The player is forced to battle through catacombs, underwater networks, ancient castles, steelworks, brothels and science complexes.

Graphics and animation are great, particularly when depicting a very nice touch, in which the player can feed on civilians and other vampires, grabbing their helpless bodies by the neck and sucking indefinitely on their blood, killing them if they so wish.

There's an awful lot to this game, and it is brilliantly immersive and impressive, surprising at every turn. It also has some great multiplayer, in which one player plays the role of a "storyteller" and creates levels and adds creatures and items and such whilst the other players battle through them, to complete the challenge.

Overall, plot development only really pretends to be non-linear. Choices made through character interaction do in fact have very little effect on gameplay, and all the levels are the same each time you play through it. RPG elements are based mostly through skill development, the people you play are oozing with personality and there are a great deal of entertaining one-liners and quips that are very memorable.

This game is a must-play for fans of both RPGs and Vampiric folklore and dogma. It is based on genuine mythology and sticks strictly to it. Learning the ways of the various vampires and their specific clans and traits is both enlightening and entertaining and, although the combat can get a little repetitive, and it is only necessary to use the mouse throughout the whole game, this is a truly outstanding and original gameplay experience.

Summary: A brilliant RPG with a great deal of charm, longevity and personality. Play it!