Vampire the Masquerade - REDEMPTION

[apoppin]

i finished VtMB - Bloodlines - this week ... the bugs near the end kept it from being the equal or near-equal of Deus Ex ... it is very similar ... they are both story-driven role playing games with classes, choices and "upgrades" you specialize in and with FPS-style real time fighting.
-they get the RPG part 'dead on' while keeping the 'excitement' of a FPS

as i ponder getting into a *commitment* with PS:T [the gfx are fugly] ...
i see i have the 2000 game VtMR - Redemption

i read a few reviews that either *hate* it or *love* it ... they acknowledge the gfx are great for the time with interactive lighting but say the combat is frustrating as hell.

later reviews say patches fixed combat ... other reviewers hated the very fictionalized and liberal distortions of vampire "history" ...

what do you guys think?
worth a play?

 

[VIAN]

I don't know anything about vampire history, but other than some bugs and the open ended gameplay, I thought it was a marvelous game. I didn't have any issues with combat. I played the game for maybe about 4 hours before I decided it wasn't my type of game. It was too open-ended for me at the time.

 

[DaveSimmons]

There is a huge thread on it in the ArsTechnica.com Gaming Extra-Strength Caplets forum on Bloodlines not redemption - d'oh! (on page 1 or 2, but search actually works there).

Besides the official patch [ for Bloodlines ] , there is a fan project to fix scripts and content that is up to version 3.4.

I'll get it eventually since you can sometimes find it for $20 now.

I gave in and ordered NWN2 though (partly because of the Planescape Trilogy fan-made campaign coming out soon) so I won't get to Vampire for awhile.


Edit: for some good vampire fiction, I'd recommend Nancy Collins' Sonja Blue (trade paperback trilogy) and the first 4-5 of the Anita Blake novels by Laurell K. Hamilton

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: VIAN
I don't know anything about vampire history, but other than some bugs and the open ended gameplay, I thought it was a marvelous game. I didn't have any issues with combat. I played the game for maybe about 4 hours before I decided it wasn't my type of game. It was too open-ended for me at the time.

i got it in a game bundle ... and i just didn't play that *type* of game back them

--now, i 'get' what i missed and am going back a bit to catch up on the not "too old" hybrids and RPGs

i think - in preparation for it - i need something "in between" the more modern Gfx of Bloodlines and the ghastly look of 800x600 top-down PS:T ... which i am very frankly having trouble getting into.

Anyone finish Redemption? ... is the combat frustrating after patch 1.1?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
There is a huge thread on it in the ArsTechnica.com Gaming Extra-Strength Caplets forum on Bloodlines not redemption - d'oh! (on page 1 or 2, but search actually works there).

Besides the official patch [ for Bloodlines ] , there is a fan project to fix scripts and content that is up to version 3.4.

I'll get it eventually since you can sometimes find it for $20 now.

I gave in and ordered NWN2 though (partly because of the Planescape Trilogy fan-made campaign coming out soon) so I won't get to Vampire for awhile.


Edit: for some good vampire fiction, I'd recommend Nancy Collins' Sonja Blue (trade paperback trilogy) and the first 4-5 of the Anita Blake novels by Laurell K. Hamilton

yeah, i just finished Bloodlines .. i found out *after* i finished the game by reading a walk thru to see what i missed - nothing but a mini-poster SQ - that i installed the 3.4 patch into the *wrong directory*

all i had was the last official patch ... no wonder it was so damn buggy at the End ... but i am not replaying it ... i got all the endings as a Gangrel. :beer:
--and i loved beating that BadAss "Unbeatable" WereWolf into werewolf pulp .. that took a little thought ... i just hated running from Wolfie.

i read Stoker's Dracula in Elementary School - age 11 or 12 ... under the blanket by flashlight ... my parents *didn't approve* at all
:Q

:wine::brokenheart::lips:

i got a real 'taste' for vampire literature as a youngster - including the medieval writings .. Anne Rice was interesting ... for awhile
:shocked:

i wanna know about Bloodlines predecessor - Redemption

 

[DaveSimmons]

> i wanna know about Bloodlines predecessor - Redemption

I missed that in my first post , but the books I added are worth picking up. I haven't played Bloodlines or Redemption yet myself.

GameSpot has a bunch of short user reviews of Redemption along with the critc's review. Users rated the game higher than the critic did.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DaveSimmons
> i wanna know about Bloodlines predecessor - Redemption

I missed that in my first post , but the books I added are worth picking up. I haven't played Bloodlines or Redemption yet myself.

GameSpot has a bunch of short user reviews of Redemption along with the critc's review. Users rated the game higher than the critic did.

You might have missed my summary also

Really [really] *conflicting* reviews ... worth a play?

i read about 7 or 8 reviews off google links ... it was either *hate* ... deep hatred ... OR ... *love* ... enthusiastic thumbs up

the *big issues* were (1) [minor imo] Story conflicts with historical fact [the hero fights NPCs in the wrong armour and in the wrong time, historically.
and 2) combat sucked unless you picked "strength" [suppossedly 'addressed' in a patch, but i don't see it in the readme]

i *guess* it was popular or there wouldn't have been bloodlines

 

[HeroOfPellinor]

I only watched my friends play it for a while and it looked cool to me. They weren't big time gamers.....really had only played Fallout besides it and they enjoyed it. Does that tell you anything? Didn't think so. But there you go.

Vampire lore is Goth.A.F and I dig it heavily. But playing any game where you need to bite busty lasses to survive just seems like the Goth equivolent to Leisure Suit Larry and I can't bring myself to play it.

 

[DeathReborn]

Originally posted by: apoppin

i finished VtMB - Bloodlines - this week ... the bugs near the end kept it from being the equal or near-equal of Deus Ex ... it is very similar ... they are both story-driven role playing games with classes, choices and "upgrades" you specialize in and with FPS-style real time fighting.
-they get the RPG part 'dead on' while keeping the 'excitement' of a FPS

as i ponder getting into a *commitment* with PS:T [the gfx are fugly] ...
i see i have the 2000 game VtMR - Redemption

i read a few reviews that either *hate* it or *love* it ... they acknowledge the gfx are great for the time with interactive lighting but say the combat is frustrating as hell.

later reviews say patches fixed combat ... other reviewers hated the very fictionalized and liberal distortions of vampire "history" ...

what do you guys think?
worth a play?

Redemption annoyed the hell out of me the first time I played it but after a little while it grew on me. It's well worth playing as it's if anything a more interesting game compared to Bloodlines.

Combat will always be frustrating though . My mate swears by the game (he's got all the books & is a vampire nut) and it's more fun than Bloodlines imo.

 

[Bateluer]

I played Redemption only a little, mainly because I wanted to experience the game's story. I didn't get very far, there were a lot of annoying issues that bugged me. The feeding aspect could be a royal pain, especially in the medieval time periods. At first, I was hoping that there were unofficial patches, like Bloodlines, but I never found anything substantial.

If you got it as part of a bundle, I'd give it a go, at least for a while.

 

[Schadenfroh]

I believe that there is actually a neverwinter nights 1 fan-made module clone of it called Vampire ? Heaven Defied. Anyone able to comment how closely it mirrors redemption?

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: DeathReborn

Redemption annoyed the hell out of me the first time I played it but after a little while it grew on me. It's well worth playing as it's if anything a more interesting game compared to Bloodlines.

Combat will always be frustrating though . My mate swears by the game (he's got all the books & is a vampire nut) and it's more fun than Bloodlines imo.

you played thru it more than once?
:Q

... the 1.1 patch still didn't *fix* combat? ... is it wise to put skill points into 'strength'?


Bloodlines certainly wasn't "perfect" ... but it was a very enjoyable game

i am just not *ready* for PS:T ... and not quite ready to RePlay Fable [or i won't ever play PS:T]
[i am definitely revisiting older games i have ... the only other pre-'03 game i haven't played that i am considering is 007, Nightfire]

 

[BladeVenom]

I enjoyed the game, sure it may have its flaws, but what game doesn't.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: BladeVenom
I enjoyed the game, sure it may have its flaws, but what game doesn't.

Fable ... PREY . . . Oblivion ... DM M&M . . . B&W2 ... Riddick ... Thief ... DeusEX ... HL ... HL2 ... Unreal ...


sorry ...
:lips:

i am looking for a game that is [still] not *seriously* flawed like:
Gothic3 ... Gun ... NWN2 ... Serious Sam2 ... [unpatched VtMB] ... B&W2/BotG

seems like a few of you liked Redemption
:sun:

 

[Dethfrumbelo]

I played Redemption a while back. For its time it had great graphics - nobody back then had the hardware capable of running it decently.

It's primarily a 3rd-person action game where you have multiple party members. There is dialogue, although it's fairly straightforward, not many choices to be made. You can buy various weapons/armor, etc. The game's story spans medieval times to the present, modern world... so you go from swords and plate mail to assault rifles.

I remember it being a long game, taking probably 30 hours or so to beat. The atmosphere was pretty cool, might be worth checking out if it's cheap enough.

 

[apoppin]

OK, it's *officially* my in-between game ... thanks to you guys

"officially"
:roll:

i will let you know what i think ... gotta love 2 MB patches
[PS:T's patch was a few KBs]
:Q

now a days the patch is longer than the game
:disgust:

 

[imported_Imp]

I still remember the 'cereal' box it came in. First box ever with a perforated pull strip to open. The game itself was fun, and scared the eff out of me (hadn't played System Shock 2 yet). I only played it once through, never killed the boss, and got tired of it by the end. It's pretty much a 3rd person action game with some role-playing. Multiplayer was suppose to be great, but there were never many players. Personally, I couldn't go back now. It's just too damn old.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Imp
I still remember the 'cereal' box it came in. First box ever with a perforated pull strip to open. The game itself was fun, and scared the eff out of me (hadn't played System Shock 2 yet). I only played it once through, never killed the boss, and got tired of it by the end. It's pretty much a 3rd person action game with some role-playing. Multiplayer was suppose to be great, but there were never many players. Personally, I couldn't go back now. It's just too damn old.

imagine my shock when i tried to play PlanetScape: Torment

it looks god-awful ... by '97 standards
[it's '99 ... Unreal still looks 'nice' in comparison ... wait there is *no comparison*]
:Q

i need a "transition" game . . .
--to prepare me. :beer:

 

[KeithTalent]

Originally posted by: apoppin

Originally posted by: Imp
I still remember the 'cereal' box it came in. First box ever with a perforated pull strip to open. The game itself was fun, and scared the eff out of me (hadn't played System Shock 2 yet). I only played it once through, never killed the boss, and got tired of it by the end. It's pretty much a 3rd person action game with some role-playing. Multiplayer was suppose to be great, but there were never many players. Personally, I couldn't go back now. It's just too damn old.

imagine my shock when i tried to play PlanetScape: Torment

it looks god-awful ... by '97 standards
[it's '99 ... Unreal still looks 'nice' in comparison ... wait there is *no comparison*]
:Q

i need a "transition" game . . .
--to prepare me. :beer:

PlaneScape is definitely 'old school', but it's more about the gameplay anyway.

 

[Alienwho]

I've always wanted to play planescape torment cause i've heard such good things. I just can't go back to play a game that old. I also should have played system shock 2 5 years ago, i can never go back and play that now either.

Vampire bloodlines could have been such an AWESOME game. i played it pretty far through and loved it, but eventually the bugs were just so out of control I had to stop. I don't know if I could go back and try to play through it all the way again now though .

 

[imported_Imp]

Well, if you must, enjoy it. Even though it's overall an ok game, there are some great levels and the characters are pretty cool. Loved the 'Walk the Abyss' (not so much the gimped save system, but the spell and haven). There is an amazing sword and a really nice transition between ages. Story wasn't bad either.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: apoppin
OK, it's *officially* my in-between game ... thanks to you guys

"officially"
:roll:

i will let you know what i think ... gotta love 2 MB patches
[PS:T's patch was a few KBs]
:Q

now a days the patch is longer than the game
:disgust:

Unofficial PST patch.

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Alienwho
I've always wanted to play planescape torment cause i've heard such good things. I just can't go back to play a game that old. I also should have played system shock 2 5 years ago, i can never go back and play that now either.

Vampire bloodlines could have been such an AWESOME game. i played it pretty far through and loved it, but eventually the bugs were just so out of control I had to stop. I don't know if I could go back and try to play through it all the way again now though .

They fixed *most* of the bugs with the official patch ... until the endings split off
-and i *guess* most of the other issues with the Unofficial patch

System Shoch2 was *cool* ... i dual-booted with Win98Se to play it in '05 ... but it is *nothing special* anymore .... much better games have Since Ripped it Off to the Max and improved on it [DE, for example].
--------------

Originally posted by: Imp
Well, if you must, enjoy it. Even though it's overall an ok game, there are some great levels and the characters are pretty cool. Loved the 'Walk the Abyss' (not so much the gimped save system, but the spell and haven). There is an amazing sword and a really nice transition between ages. Story wasn't bad either.

You DO know that there is an *anytime save* with the last patch?!?

 

[imported_Imp]

Grrrr... so glad I bought it at release....

 

[apoppin]

Originally posted by: Imp
Grrrr... so glad I bought it at release....

see *thats the thing* ... i am learning real-life lessons here in "Games" forum just like i did in Video and in O/C'ing and GH before then [forget OT ... what a waste ... generally ... now ] - from your experiences ... and sharing them.

Buying a newly released game from a publisher without a sterling track records is stupid. Or on *impulse* without hearing what other gamers have to say about the "issues", if any.

looking at Redemption's reviews, the reviews BEFORE the patch generally condemned it whilst the ones after praised it.

and you'd think these guys would *learn* ... but they *won't" because we tolerate "Pretty Garbage" and fix THEIR bugs so they can save huge bucks not testing it.

*cough* Atari *go to hell*
:thumbsdown:

i know the other diligent publishers will suffer but i will *never* [ever] buy a game on Day One [again] until i get *confirmation* from several sources that the game deserves my $50


but i so want to experience old classics ... just not fUGLY old classics ...
PS:T better be *unbelievable* for me to play it thru ... my eyes *hurt* after playing a few minutes.
:Q

:laugh: