The Chinese Room studio has recently released an insightful development diary for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2, showcasing new gameplay footage that dives deep into the mechanics of vampire hunting within the game. In this universe, vampires adhere strictly to the Masquerade, a code designed to keep their supernatural existence hidden from the prying eyes of humans. This concept is vividly brought to life in Bloodlines 2 through the introduction of a Masquerade meter, which dynamically reflects the severity of actions that could potentially expose the vampire's true nature.
The gameplay footage reveals a detailed system where breaching the Masquerade triggers three distinct levels of alert, indicated by an eye icon at the top of the screen:
- Green: This level signals a minor violation. At this stage, simply hiding from view is sufficient to avoid further complications.
- Yellow: This indicates more serious infractions, such as feeding on humans or using aggressive powers. Players must deal with witnesses or take measures to avoid attracting significant police attention.
- Red: The highest level of alert, where the Masquerade is completely broken, and the police actively pursue the player. At this point, the best course of action is to flee and find a safe place to hide. If the meter reaches its peak, the Camarilla, the vampire governing body, will step in to handle the situation, as vividly demonstrated in the gameplay clip.
To mitigate their "infamy" and restore their standing within the Masquerade, players have various strategies at their disposal. They can manipulate the memories of witnesses to erase their recollection of the events or take more drastic measures by eliminating those who have seen too much. If law enforcement becomes involved, the simplest tactic is to hide and wait until the situation cools down.
The developers have emphasized that the challenge of maintaining the Masquerade will intensify as the game progresses. Players will need to be swift and decisive in their actions to keep the vampire world concealed from human society, making every decision crucial to their survival and secrecy.
