Page 68 - PC Gamer - UK (February 2020)

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Vampire: The Masquerade – Coteries of New York

COUNTMEIN

VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE – COTERIES OF NEW YORK

ain’t too bat. By Luke Kemp

f you thought being a vampire was all about theatrical capes and backstabbing politics, uneasy
indeterminate East European accents, think again. It is in fact all NEED TO KNOW alliances, and – to an extent that
about the Masquerade, which basically means abiding by a set of WHAT IS IT? makes the world interesting –
strict rules that hide the existence of vampires from boring old A visual novel that isolation and humanity.
Ihumans. This is just one thing you’ll have to keep in mind proves blood is thicker Although nothing worth talking
throughout your time with this game, a memorable visual novel that, while and tastier than water about is done to describe your
very good, has a few fangs holding it back from greatness. EXPECT TO PAY character’s life prior to pointy teeth, a
£15.49 palpable sense of detachment from
Coteries of New York, in a way, Poor old Kevin. Still reeling from a DEVELOPER normal life is generated. Each
occupies a sweet spot between the painful breakup, he thinks he’s going Draw Distance character you meet, too, leaps from
series’ tabletop roots and the to get some sexy time with a pretty PUBLISHER the screen and into your imagination
videogames that followed. It enjoys lady, but instead he finds out that In-house despite being represented by a static
the immediacy of videogames, she’s a pain in the neck. Literally. I (but very well drawn) portrait.
REVIEWED ON
shedding the need to learn rules and give this minor spoiler for two GeForce GTX 1650, AMD As the story runs smoothly on, I
orchestrate the reasons. Firstly, I’m Ryzen 5 3550H, 8 GB feel a need. A need for feed… ing. As a
schedules of friends pretty sure you’ll see it RAM vampire, I need to get me some of
associated with the There’s some coming anyway. In fact, MULTIPLAYER that sweet, sweet blood on a fairly
tabletop experience. very sharp I think the only people No regular basis. The more feeding
Conversely, the visual wordage who won’t see this LINK opportunities I ignore, the more I
novel format means coming are people who bit.ly/36rjEM1 tempt the Beast – an internal, primal
that the pace is dictated on display have never heard of vampiric form that shreds my
by the player, here vampires before. remaining humanity – to emerge. If I
something that isn’t Secondly, I was slightly become too hungry, certain story
always possible in the disappointed to find options will be blocked off to me… or
legendary Bloodlines. that the basic setup of the intro is the will become available.
The game begins as it means to go same regardless of who you pick. The truth is that, contrary to
on – with a choice. You can play as a Meet mysteriously attractive stranger, appearances, very few choices have
character from clan Brujah (Hulk-like become a vampire, dive into the story. meaningful consequences. Most of
physical prowess), clan Toreador the time, making the ‘wrong’ choice
(super speed and supernatural KINDRED SPIRITS means little more than upsetting the
senses), or clan Ventrue (mind This isn’t indicative of poor writing, person you’re talking to for a
control and enhanced resilience). All though. Far from it. Any example of paragraph or two, before they revert
three clans can terrify or sexually the visual novel genre lives or dies on to the dialogue they would’ve jumped
attract the puny humans around you. its script, and there’s some very sharp straight to if you’d pleased them.
You get to choose your character’s wordage on display here. The Then there’s the bizarre save
name too, of course; and so, on my Masquerade story is, of course, one of system. The only way to save is to
first run through, my vampire is vampires preying on humans. exit the game through the menu. So,
Kevin of clan Brujah. However, it’s also a story of if the game crashes (which happened
to me twice), you lose all progress
since your last save. Odder still, each
time the credits roll the game deletes
FANGS VERY MUCH Your sire, Sophie Langley my save, which is painful when I test
out whether making an obviously
Staring out of the stupid choice at a fairly early stage
1 window, clearly a
complicated soul. 3 results in death (it does).
1 Nonetheless, the game holds me
Sometimes, an ellipsis in its power, and I happily submit to
2 says more than mere its seductive charms.
words ever could.

Immaculate hair, a 2 VE R D I C T
3 sure sign of wealth. 4 Excellent writing and
vibrant characters
You can’t see them, 77
4 but the fanged teeth summon forgiveness for
are in there. prominent technical
issues and repetition.

68 FEBRUARY 2020