Waiting endlessly Bloodlines 2, Vampire The Masquerade wishes to claim a share of the bloody cake of the Battle Royale in a format Free-to-Play. Developed by Sharkmob and planned for the end of 2021, bloodhunt entered early access on September 7. The opportunity for us to endorse our most beautiful cosplay vampire and see what blood this game feeds on. Vulgar Masquerade or title to watch? Approach to know our opinion. We promise, we don't bite...
Preview made from a personal PC version via Steam. The final game is currently scheduled for the end of the year on PC via the Valve platform, as well as on PS5, as announced during the PlayStation Showcase. Other console versions could arrive later.
Despite its exclusively multiplayer aspect, Bloodhunt intends to pay a vibrant tribute to the World of Darkness universe. Many codes borrowed from the franchise are thus adapted for the needs of the game, and a story will even develop over time. Early Access is therefore intended as a kind of prologue, putting us in the shoes of a vampire in Prague, responsible for tracking down and eliminating the Anarchs wishing to overthrow the established secular order.
For now, we are only entitled to a map, a solo mode and a mode in groups of three, in short and nervous parts each welcoming 45 players. If an illustration by action is better for you than a long speech, do not hesitate to check out our gameplay video available below.
Let the Bloody Hunt Begin
Our adventure begins smoothly with a… Sharkmob registration form. If it is necessary to go through Steam, it is also imperative to create an account dedicated to the game. Once this mandatory step has been passed, we are launched into a short tutorial teaching us the basics.
We can immediately see that Bloodhunt is quite successful visually speaking. Optimized just before early access by Sharkmob, the game is also quite resource-efficient and fluid. As a vampire, our character is indeed particularly agile. Slips, inhuman jumps and climbing on the walls are all elements that make the movements quite exhilarating and instinctive.
The tutorial teaches us in particular to use our vampiric sense. A nicer way to name what is actually a sonar. This one will show us loot (weapons, ammo, armor, healing items) nearby, as well as mortals for food and healing. Some also have a Blood of Resonance, allowing you to obtain passive advantages such as health regeneration, an improved cooldown for our skills, and others.
Initially limited to three points to improve our passives, it will be possible to earn some by eliminating specific opponents controlled by the AI, or by committing Diablerie on a downed player. One of the most despicable acts among vampires, but which will allow us here to heal ourselves completely and gain a precious passive point.
Faithful to the universe of Vampire The Masquerade, Bloodhunt allows us to choose between different iconic clans, each with a unique skill. For this early access, the Brujah, Nosferatu and Toreador clans are available. Each clan offers two archetypes, each endowed with their own skill. Like an Apex Legends, it will therefore be interesting to choose an archetype according to its style of play or the needs of the team.
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Gore Elysium
After this short introduction, we are dropped into Elysium, the haven of peace for the vampiric aristocracy. It will be a hub where we can, among other things, meet other vampires, customize the appearance and outfit of our avatar, consult a very complete codex, our challenges to advance in the Battle Pass, and above all go on a Hunt. . We currently have the choice between the solo mode and the mode in teams of three vampires.
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Once the 45 hunters have been gathered, we will have to, Battle Royale requires, select a spawn point on a map proving to be of an ideal size, which will of course shrink over the course of the game. For each new lobby, certain areas of the map will be more conducive to collecting additional loot. A well-worn way to motivate participants to happily slash themselves as soon as they arrive in the game. Chests and shops scattered in the streets of Prague will also allow you to recover better quality loot or consumables, at the cost of discretion.
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Bloodhunt marks a point here compared to the competition, inherent in the universe it depicts. As vampires, we must perpetuate the Masquerade at all costs, at the risk of arousing the suspicions of mortals, who could turn against us and drive a stake through our hearts. It will therefore not be necessary to eat in full view of other mortals nor to kill them with impunity, at the risk of being marked for a minute and visible to all the other vampires. Similarly, opening a shop or jumping on a car will cause an alarm that will alert us to our presence around. In general, the sound design is very effective and will be one of the keys to successfully seeking the sacrosanct Top 1.
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The opportunity for us to mention the fights themselves, exclusively in third person view. If the gunplay is not the greatest success of Bloodhunt, it is clear that the action is particularly nervous and dynamic. Putting a huge emphasis on verticality, however, it is sometimes difficult to know where our potential opponents can come from. Note also that it is possible to get up twenty seconds after being knocked down, even solo, although this rarely happens in reality.
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The use of vampiric powers and fairly varied weapons does, however, offer more than respectable sensations, all without major lag or bugs. A rather good point for a start of early access. The loading times to enter the game can however be quite long, if not all participants are equipped with SSDs to shorten them.
Spill the blood, but stay trendy
Battle Royale and Free-to-Play oblige, Bloodhunt displays an economic model fatally based on microtransactions and a seasonal Battle Pass. This one features a few items that can be accessed for free, but the majority of the rewards will require checkout. However, and this is to Sharkmob's credit, the monetized part of the game remains exclusively cosmetic. No Pay-to-Win mechanism to deplore here, only the skill (and necessarily a little luck) of each will count during the Hunt.
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It is therefore possible to buy cosmetic items in a flash shop for tokens, obtained mainly for real money, or to buy the Battle Pass and earn rewards while playing. Every day, week and season, challenges will allow us to earn points which will supplement those obtained according to our performance during each game in order to progress on the latter. For now, the amount of challenges available is quite meager, but this could change in the final version.
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Among the cosmetic items available we have outfits, tattoos, makeup, accessories, player icons, banners and emotes. What in the long term make his vampire and his profile truly unique, provided you draw the bank card and devote a lot of time to it.
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Vampire The Masquerade: Blood Hunt - JVFR's first review
If those allergic to Battle Royale will be able to complain about the arrival of a new game in this genre in 2021, Bloodhunt finally turns out, according to our hot opinion, to be a rather pleasant surprise. Appealing to fans of the World of Darkness universe, the game intelligently appropriates its codes. What to offer us a vampiric twist with the now slightly sour sauce of the classic Battle Royale.
It remains to be seen whether Sharkmob will manage to maintain a solid player base over time thanks to the injection of new content, preferably not exclusively cosmetic. All in all, an enjoyable and dynamic experience, both solo and with a group of friends. Even if, despite all this Masquerade, Bloodhunt is and will remain a Battle Royale. With all that this implies, both positive and negative.
Download Vampire The Masquerade: Bloodhunt on Steam
