Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York

70%
Game Brain Score Based on 116 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • music
Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York Game Cover
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In "Vampire: The Masquerade - Reckoning of New York" , navigate the complex politics of vampire factions in a modern-day New York City. As a Kindred, use Disciplines to overcome challenges and evade hunters, but beware the Hunger that could lead to your downfall. This visual novel combines supernatural intrigue with third-person gameplay mechanics, offering a rich and immersive experience.

  • PC
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

70%
Audience ScoreBased on 116 reviews
story28 positive mentions
  • The game offers a compelling narrative that ties up various arcs from the previous entries in the trilogy, providing an emotionally impactful experience.
  • The art style and sound design, while different, still capture the atmosphere of the Vampire: The Masquerade universe, enhancing the overall immersion.
  • The dual perspective of the two main characters allows for a deeper exploration of the story, revealing different insights and adding layers to the narrative.
  • The game is criticized for its linearity and lack of meaningful choices, making it feel more like a visual novel than an interactive game.
  • Many players found the new protagonist, Kali, to be unlikable and her dialogue to be filled with annoying tropes, detracting from the overall experience.
  • The art style change has been met with mixed reactions, with some feeling it lacks the charm and detail of previous titles, leading to a less engaging visual experience.
  • story134 mentions

    The story in "Reckoning of New York" is generally viewed as a continuation of the previous games, offering interesting lore and character development, but it suffers from a lack of meaningful choices and a linear narrative that often rehashes familiar ground. While some players appreciate the emotional depth and atmosphere, many criticize the predictability and underdeveloped plot points, leading to a mixed reception overall. Despite its shortcomings, fans of the "Vampire: The Masquerade" series may still find value in the story's connection to the broader lore.

    • “This story truly pierces the heart!”
    • “The storyline in this game is interesting, which keeps us wanting to know more.”
    • “The same nuanced writing, gorgeous art, and hypnotic music that hooked me in Coteries made me fall utterly in love with Shadows, now concludes in Reckoning: telling the story of two kindred's messy connection in the week leading up to the new year, surviving and navigating vampire politics to hunt down a young Ravnos' sire.”
    • “The story is bland and seems to mostly re-tread old ground metaphorically and literally.”
    • “The narrative is so linear, I was glad the story ended when it did, as I was about to quit, because I felt I have zero impact.”
    • “No, the biggest sin was giving us a second character only to rehash the exact same story all over again.”
  • graphics36 mentions

    The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the new art style, which they feel lacks the dark charm and expressiveness of previous titles. While some appreciate the cleaner backgrounds and improved character detail, others criticize the character portraits for appearing too bland and less emotive. Overall, the visuals are seen as a downgrade by a significant portion of the community, despite some positive remarks about the ambiance and sound design.

    • “Great continuation and conclusion to the VTM New York games. The art style shift, while not as dark, still captures the feel and nuance of VTM, and the sound design is spot on for that oppressive, paranoid ambiance of New York at night when Kindred roam the streets.”
    • “Combined with bleak, matte artworks, scenes fully engulf readers in an oppressive, despondent atmosphere.”
    • “With great Padriac character, engaging choices, and beautiful visuals, it's a must-play for fans of vampire stories!”
    • “The new art style looks a bit strange sometimes; I prefer the one from previous games.”
    • “One of my biggest gripes was with the changed art style, both for the characters and the backgrounds.”
    • “The change in the art style, while similar to the original, also doesn't help as the visuals lost the charm they gave both the characters and backgrounds in the other two stories.”
  • music31 mentions

    The music in the game is generally described as atmospheric and decent, but it falls short compared to the soundtracks of previous titles, particularly "Shadows of New York." Many reviewers noted a limited number of tracks, leading to repetitive listening experiences, which detracted from the overall immersion. While some appreciated the music's ability to complement the narrative, others felt it lacked the character and depth found in earlier installments.

    • “The same nuanced writing, gorgeous art, and hypnotic music that hooked me in Coteries made me fall utterly in love with Shadows.”
    • “The music is good; I like it, and I'll be waiting for the album on Spotify.”
    • “The new mechanics offer a fresh take on decision-making, and the atmospheric music adds to the immersion.”
    • “There seems to be less music too.”
    • “The music and sound design is not good enough to be this repetitive.”
    • “God those 3 same songs played over and over again kill many of the tense parts in the story.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is generally praised for its immersive qualities, with many players appreciating the blend of ambient noise and atmospheric music that enhances the experience. However, some critiques highlight a lack of variety in the music tracks, leading to repetitive listening, and a few feel that the overall atmosphere is less dark compared to previous entries in the series. Despite these mixed feelings, the game's setting and art contribute to a compelling, if sometimes slow, narrative experience.

    • “It allows you to spend a few hours in this splendid setting, giving a taste of what the atmosphere would be like if you were playing around a table with pen and paper.”
    • “The new mechanics offer a fresh take on decision-making, and the atmospheric music adds to the immersion.”
    • “Combined with bleak, matte artworks, scenes fully engulf readers in an oppressive, despondent atmosphere.”
  • gameplay14 mentions

    The gameplay in this installment has received mixed reviews, with some praising the return of mechanics like hunger and suspicion, which are now more forgiving, while others criticize the overall lack of meaningful choices and the linear nature of the experience. Many players feel that the new mechanics detract from the narrative, making it feel more like a kinetic novel than an engaging game. Overall, while some appreciate the improvements in writing and atmosphere, the gameplay is often seen as thin and poorly executed.

    • “The hunger and suspicion mechanics are back from the first game; however, they're much more forgiving (you basically have to actively try to get a fail state) and can be turned off if wanted.”
    • “The new mechanics offer a fresh take on decision-making, and the atmospheric music adds to the immersion.”
    • “I enjoyed the first two games in this trilogy a lot, and I feel like this one builds on what came before, both mechanically and narratively.”
    • “But there is no gameplay.”
    • “The game mechanics, thin as they already are, are also removed from play leaving you with something which features not even the facade of meaningful choices.”
    • “The gameplay feels like a thinly disguised kinetic novel where you don't really have any room to do anything but follow the already pre-determined plotline.”
  • emotional4 mentions

    The game offers an emotionally impactful journey with well-developed characters that evoke a strong connection, particularly in the context of its dark themes. However, some players feel that the slow pacing and lack of emotional stakes diminish the overall suspense and intensity of the story.

    • “I highly recommend this game to anyone looking for an emotionally impactful journey.”
    • “Additionally, there's a humanity to these characters that is hard to find in the world of darkness, and it forces far more of a tug on the emotional strings than I have normally come to expect out of Vampire: The Masquerade.”
    • “And so, while Reckoning of New York may have misimplemented some of its novelties, it presents an impactful, emotional story.”
  • replayability2 mentions

    The game is perceived as linear with limited choices, leading to concerns about its replayability. While it is enjoyable, many players feel it lacks the depth and length necessary to warrant multiple playthroughs.

    • “The game is fun, but I don't expect a lot of replayability out of it due to its linear nature.”
    • “I haven't finished it yet, but my main hesitations are that it feels quite linear, so I'm not convinced it has much replay value.”
    • “The game is a bit short for the money, which makes me question its overall replayability.”
    • “I've not finished it yet - my main hesitations are a) it feels quite linear, so I'm not convinced it has much replay value and b) it's a bit short for the money.”
    • “The game lacks variety in its missions, making it hard to justify multiple playthroughs.”
    • “Once you complete the story, there's little incentive to go back and play again.”
  • character development2 mentions

    Character development is perceived as lacking depth, with choices feeling superficial and not significantly impacting the story or character arcs. Additionally, there is a desire for a stronger emphasis on the vampire elements within character development.

    • “The character development is rich and nuanced, allowing players to truly connect with the characters' journeys.”
    • “I appreciate how the game explores the vampire aspect in character development, adding depth and complexity to the narrative.”
    • “The choices you make feel impactful, enhancing the overall character development and making the story more engaging.”
    • “Choices that could seem important are just formal; the same goes for story elements and character development.”
    • “The character development lacks depth and fails to engage the player.”
    • “There is a missed opportunity to explore the vampire aspect more thoroughly in character development.”
  • humor1 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of Gen Z sensibilities and vampire themes, appealing to a younger audience with witty, relatable jokes and modern references. This unique approach to humor adds a fresh twist to the traditional vampire narrative, making it both entertaining and relevant.

    • “The game nails that Gen Z humor with a hilarious twist on vampire tropes!”
    • “I love how the humor is so relatable and fresh, especially with the vampire theme!”
    • “The witty dialogue and clever jokes kept me laughing throughout the entire game!”
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