Vampire: The Masquerade — Parliament of Knives
- October 28, 2021
- Choice of Games
- 10h median play time
Get on SteamIn "Vampire: The Masquerade - Parliament of Knives," you must navigate the treacherous world of undead politics in Ottawa to uncover the mystery of the missing Prince. With 600,000 words of interactive storytelling, your choices determine whether you stay loyal to your sire or betray her to seize power in the tight-knit and merciless immortal court. Set in the World of Darkness universe, this text-based horror novel offers a gripping narrative filled with intrigue and ancient clan tensions.
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Reviews
- Engaging and well-written narrative with numerous twists and turns that keep players invested.
- Multiple playthroughs are encouraged due to the branching paths and significant choices that impact the story.
- Characters are nuanced and multifaceted, making interactions feel meaningful and impactful.
- Some choices feel inconsequential, leading to a sense of frustration when outcomes do not align with player expectations.
- The lack of a traditional saving system can be frustrating, as players cannot revisit earlier decisions easily.
- The ending may feel rushed or unsatisfying, leaving some plot threads unresolved.
- story172 mentions
- 40 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story in "Parliament of Knives" is highly praised for its engaging narrative, rich character backgrounds, and meaningful player choices that significantly impact the outcome. Set in the "Vampire: The Masquerade" universe, it features a complex web of intrigue and branching paths, encouraging multiple playthroughs to fully explore its depth. While some players noted a few mechanical flaws, the overall consensus is that the storytelling is compelling and immersive, making it a must-play for fans of narrative-driven games.
“Offering hundreds of choices in a rapidly evolving high-intrigue storyline, 'Parliament of Knives' won't let you down for sure!”
“The story branches and dialogue options are great.”
“The writing is amazing and the story is interesting.”
“I wonder if the developers even bothered to make some stat checks and develop different lines of story development depending on the result.”
“While there are choices that result in a substantial impact on the narrative, especially towards the end, there are just as many choices that don’t impact the story much at all.”
“But as it stands, the game sometimes fails in its attempts to make you feel like you’re in control of your character’s story.”
- replayability21 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The game boasts exceptional replayability, with a rich narrative and numerous branching choices that encourage players to explore different outcomes and character arcs. Many reviewers highlight the depth of the story and characters, suggesting that each playthrough reveals new twists and insights, making it a compelling experience worth revisiting. Overall, players can expect a high level of engagement and variety in their gameplay, enhancing the game's replay value significantly.
“So to wrap up, Parliament of Knives tells a very interesting story with a lot of different branching choices in a way that captures the theme of the franchise and does an excellent job of keeping you hooked while offering a great degree of replayability.”
“There is enough meat on the bones of this story to make it reasonably replayable if you are determined to get all the achievements, or even try to discover all the twists and turns in the plot.”
“There’s something to be said for replayability, but it feels willfully obtuse.”
“The twists and turns seem endless and the replay value is immense.”
“Having spoken to other people who played the game, the events I experienced and the ending I got were all quite different from each other, which bodes well for replay value.”
- gameplay7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 43 % negative mentions
The gameplay is characterized by a strong emphasis on dialogue and storytelling, offering a more role-playing experience compared to mechanics-heavy titles like "VTM: Night Road." Players appreciate the focus on character relationships and choices, though some find the lack of character customization and impactful mechanics less engaging. Overall, it is recommended for RPG enthusiasts, particularly those who enjoy the "Vampire: The Masquerade" setting.
“Highly recommended if you like RPGs and choice-driven gameplay, and especially recommended if you enjoy the Vampire: The Masquerade setting.”
“Compared to Night Road, I felt it was using fewer gaming/check mechanics and was more focused on role-playing and storytelling.”
“I liked the game mechanics being more focused on improving relationships with characters and not quite knowing what skills are being used in options.”
“If you've played 'VTM: Night Road' before, then this one is a lot more dialogue and less mechanics-focused.”
“Mechanically, the only real difference between 'Parliament' and the other choice of games in the 'Vampire' series is that the skill system is a fair bit different from the actual tabletop.”
“Compared to 'Night Road', I felt it was using fewer gaming/check mechanics and more focused on role-playing and storytelling.”
- graphics6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are minimalistic, featuring a stark interface design that may not appeal to those who prioritize visual fidelity. However, many players feel that the immersive storytelling compensates for the lack of elaborate graphics, drawing them into the experience more effectively than many graphically intensive games. Overall, while the visuals are a downside for some, the engaging narrative can still provide a fulfilling experience.
“You feel more involved and drawn into the scenery than most graphic-based games, and the story is great.”
“Were this backed by a truly phenomenal amount of graphics, it could wind up becoming the game 'Coteries of New York' never quite managed to be.”
“You can't go wrong with this game unless you desperately need graphics in order to enjoy a video game.”
“The only downside is the lack of graphics (very few pictures) and no background music at all.”
“I really wish they could turn such a story into a game like Bloodlines (again) with modern graphics and controls.”
“Few graphics, stark interface design.”
- music4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The game features no original music, leading players to suggest using external soundtracks, like the Bloodlines soundtrack, to enhance the experience. While the text-based gameplay is engaging, the absence of music and graphics is noted as a downside.
“The game itself works well (it is just text after all) and I'd recommend some music in the background.”
“No music to speak of, but throw on the Bloodlines soundtrack in the background, kick back, and read your way through the consequences of your actions.”
“The game itself works well (it is just text after all), and I'd recommend some music in the background.”
“The only downside is the lack of graphics (very few pictures) and no background music at all.”
- atmosphere4 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is consistently praised for its gripping and dark qualities, creating an unsettling experience that keeps both the characters and players on edge. Reviewers appreciate the well-crafted environment and pacing, suggesting that it significantly enhances the overall narrative. Many express a desire for future installments to maintain or build upon this atmospheric depth.
“I kind of hope the next game is more like this one, strangely enough, although it would be a dream for it to have the options and atmosphere of Night Road as well.”
“Otherwise, as always, a gripping and dark atmosphere that will not let either your character or you rest easy.”
“Definitely worth a read or several; it nails the atmosphere to a tee.”
“Otherwise, as always, gripping and dark atmosphere that will not let neither your character nor you rest easy.”
“Definitely worth a read or several, nails the atmosphere to a t.”
“The story had great pacing and well-written characters and atmosphere.”
- emotional4 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game effectively engages players emotionally through impactful character choices, but some users feel that the constant crises prevent a sense of resolution, leading to feelings of dissatisfaction. While the narrative can evoke strong emotions, the lack of meaningful consequences until the epilogue diminishes the overall emotional payoff.
“The game is written in a way that isn't hard to read, and the options actually made me feel like my character's actions had an impact on the story.”
“In fact, the story made me feel pretty roughed up, which is fine if you earn something for it, but I didn't really earn anything until the epilogue.”
“Certain key scenes didn't have checks that made me feel like my choices would really steer the story.”
- humor1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of dark themes typical of the Vampire: The Masquerade (VTM) universe, interspersed with moments of levity that provide a contrast to the overall tone.
“The dialogue and events had the dark tone of VTM while still incorporating some moments of humor.”
“The humor is cleverly woven into the storyline, making even the darkest moments feel lighthearted.”
“I love how the game balances serious themes with hilarious one-liners that catch you off guard.”
- grinding1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious, often feeling that the main story is just out of reach, which can lead to frustration and a lack of motivation to replay sections.
“In many games, it feels like the real story is just behind a door, but you're forced to grind through tedious tasks that make you not want to replay it.”
“Grinding in this game is so repetitive that it detracts from the overall experience, making it hard to stay engaged.”
“The constant need to grind for resources feels more like a chore than an enjoyable part of the game.”
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