The Chinese language Room has revealed Phyre, the Elder Kindred who will function the primary playable character in Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2. To study extra, we had the possibility to talk to narrative designer Arone Le Bray all about this vampire who was Embraced within the early seventeenth century.
Phyre is a personality with a protracted historical past, however it is possible for you to to customise them and select their gender, clan, outfits, conduct, and a lot extra. You may have to consider carefully, nevertheless, as your actions, which means your conversations, what you put on, the way you feed and/or deal with Seattle’s populace, and extra could have huge penalties on the world round you and the way the story progresses.
As to what that world is, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2 takes place in Seattle in 2024 and sees Phyre waking up from a roughly 100-year slumber. They’re an Elder Kindred, which implies they have been undead for at the least 300 years however now have a giant hole of their data.
Phyre might have a protracted and storied historical past that you’ll study all through the sport, however they’re now in a world that has very a lot modified since they final remembered it. Whereas that looks as if a significant drawback, she is just not alone on this journey as there’s a mysterious companion that can be a part of her.
For causes which can be presently unclear, Phyre is inhabited by a thinblood vampire from modern-day Seattle named Fabien, and he is aware of issues Phyre does not and is a voice they will hearken to, ignore, anger, and many others. Very like Phyre can change the world round them with their choices, so can also they form their relationship with Fabien. Oh, and Phyre is the one one who can hear Fabien or is aware of that he’s there.
This, in line with Le Bray, may even be useful to gamers, particularly those that do not know any of Vampire: The Masquerade’s expansive lore, as Fabien will assist train them concerning the world as he’s instructing Phyre.
“Even in case you do not perceive a lot of what’s going on initially, Fabien is right here to assist be that cipher for you just a little bit, though it isn’t your character,” Le Bray stated. “You, because the participant, are nonetheless getting that info alongside Phyre.”
Phyre and Fabien’s journey can be an unpredictable one, however the decisions you make will not be so mild facet or darkish facet or, like within the universe of Mass Impact, paragon or renegade. It is possible for you to to movement by way of the sport in a means you need your Phyre to behave, and will not be shoehorned right into a binary good or evil playthrough.
“We did not need it to really feel like you’ll be able to solely be a pleasant particular person or a jerk,” Le Brey stated. “So, one of many issues that we checked out very early on is how can we make it really feel like Phyre is an individual in management from second to second? And we checked out what totally different responses you’d have at a selected second to nonetheless get the end result that you really want? How will you go about getting that end result? And simply because I’d need one end result, one other participant who’s enjoying Phyre won’t need that very same end result, or they may not care about appearing the identical means that mine does.”
There can be decisions you make on the earth, but additionally about Phyre’s historical past. As we talked about, they have been alive for lots of of years and most of the inhabitants of Seattle know the “legend of Phyre.” Nevertheless, you’ll be able to assist form that legend by confirming, denying, or not commenting on the so-called deeds of your previous, particularly if it helps get what you need.
Probably the most attention-grabbing features of Bloodlines 2 is that it does happen within the “actual world,” albeit one with vampire and all that good things. Within the movies introducting Phyre, we see her speaking to a girl named Lou. If you’re aware of Seattle historical past, you’ll acknowledge her as Lou Graham from the 1800s.
In our historical past, Lou was the madame of a brothel within the metropolis and was one of many wealthiest and influential citiizens of Seattle till she handed away in 1905. So, why is she exhibiting up in 2024 in Bloodlines 2? Effectively, discovering that out can be among the enjoyable the sport, which is mixing actual life with fiction.
“That is among the enjoyable issues about Vampire: The Masquerade – the true world components and kind of taking a look at, properly, what was making that actual world factor?” Le Bray stated. “Did that factor occur due to historical past saying that it occurred for that reason? Or was there an alternate cause why such a factor occurred, particularly in Seattle. I imply, Lou confirmed up at a really turbulent time within the historical past, so was there something there that perhaps was Kindred-related or was this all mortal? How a lot did these two worlds impression and meld and what does that imply for Phyre now? That is the place a number of that enjoyable is.”
And that’s solely the tip of the iceberg that’s Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2, and the subsequent merchandise on the listing for The Chinese language Room to dive deep into would be the clans. Till then, make sure you try the information that we are going to be getting a gameplay reveal of Bloodlines 2 in January 2024 and a launch date in Fall 2024.
Bloodlines 2 is the sequel to the unique recreation for 2004 and the official description will give followers only a bit extra as to what to anticipate from this bloody journey.
“Bloodlines 2 takes gamers to the darkish underbelly of Seattle, the place vampires wrestle for survival and supremacy,” the official description reads. “As an Elder vampire, gamers meet compelling characters, maneuver advanced political relationships, stalk town streets for prey, and interact in intense fight whereas balancing the necessity for blood.
“All through the sport, gamers should at all times be aware of their environment or danger breaking the Masquerade – absolutely the legislation of secrecy that retains vampire society hidden from humanity.”
Adam Bankhurst is a information author for IGN. You possibly can observe him on Twitter @AdamBankhurst and on Twitch.