Vampyr

(Spoiler-free)
Vampyr is a role-playing game with an open world set in 1918’s London. The game is also a combination of many elements from other genres which greatly benefits it. It took me years to finally give it a try and I am amazed. The climate, the narrative and the characters made an enormous impression on me. I personally think that this is the best Vampire RPG game out there. It is a must-try for vampire and role-playing games enthusiasts.
When you launch the game, in the lobby you are going to hear an amazing violin song that’s already very climatic. It is a real pleasure for one’s ears. You begin the game with a prologue which introduces you to the story as well as to gameplay basics. The prologue itself lasts around an hour and is very, very climatic. The dark streets of London at night and an amazing audio accompany you throughout the whole experience. I don’t think that you can actually make someone’s first impression better. That’s a prologue done right. It absolutely bought me and made me want to continue playing the game.
In this game we play as Jonathan Reid, a distinguished British gentleman who is also a doctor. The man is hard to not like. The story is deep and keeps you engaged until the end. It is actually a really nice and well-written story (with few exceptions). The characters are explicit, well expressed, all different from each other and very likeable. You will find interactions with them interesting. Well, not all of them are likeable. Some you will like, others you will hate but when you hate someone, what actually stops you from embracing them? Absolutely nothing. You have a lot of freedom in this game and all choices belong to you, however, every decision leads to some consequences. Those can be either harmless or catastrophic.
There are communities in this game and a few interesting mechanics connected to them. You see, we discover hints (information) about people as well as their stories. At least half of them will have separate quest lines connected to them. The more you know about the person, the better reward for killing them will be. There is no faster way to get stronger in this game other than feeding on members of the community. Before that can happen, you have to keep them alive and safe from diseases. When a person is ill, their blood will be affected, granting much less experience than when they are healthy. It can even lead to their death. You will spend a lot of time talking, healing and doing investigations for the citizens but that’s an enjoyable part of the experience.
In summary, the game is great and definitely worth trying. There are some amazing mechanics behind it as well as an interesting story, characters and the climate. The only thing I disliked about this game was combat. Fortunately, it was easy to learn and intuitive. Once I learnt how to fight, it no longer was an issue but it was dreadful at times. I also encountered a few minor glitches that did not affect my experience. Overall, I played an exceptional game and I can recommend it with clear conscience.
You can find more detailed reviews on my curator page Malfour's Choice.

Love this game and would have loved to have seen a sequel but sadly it seems im one of the few.
did no one else enjoy this story as much? yes the combat is janky and the world small but it so rich that a sequel would have polished to perfection given the chance.

please make another one, petition=1 any takers?

THIS GAME IS FOR YOU IF:
You like pretty graphics with moody lighting.
You like very well written dialogues with superb voice acting.
You dislike huge skill trees. The game offers managable and easy to understand skills.
You like uncomplicated gameplay, go in and out for an hour or two of gaming.
You like dark, gloomy and slightly depressing atmosphere (London, War times, Vampires, moody appropriate music).
You like to stick to the main quest without being thrown into unnecessary side quests (but to be fair, you will have to do some work on the side to gain XP for the main quest, it doesn`t fell though like your typical "fetch quests", it is all connected to the main plot in a way so it is fine)
You like a good, not just average main story.
You don`t like huge maps which you can easily get lost in. The world progression is fairly linear as you steadily "unlock" new areas.

---{ Graphics }---
☐ You forget what reality is
☑ Beautiful
☐ Good
☐ Decent
☐ Bad
☐ Don‘t look too long at it
☐ MS-DOS

---{ Gameplay }---
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ It's just gameplay
☐ Mehh
☐ Watch paint dry instead
☐ Just don't

---{ Audio }---
☐ Eargasm
☑ Very good
☐ Good
☐ Not too bad
☐ Bad
☐ I'm now deaf

---{ Audience }---
☐ Kids
☑ Teens
☑ Adults
☐ Grandma

---{ PC Requirements }---
☐ Check if you can run paint
☐ Potato
☑ Decent
☐ Fast
☐ Rich boi
☐ Ask NASA if they have a spare computer

---{ Game Size }---
☐ Floppy Disk
☐ Old Fashioned
☑ Workable
☐ Big
☐ Will eat 10% of your 1TB hard drive
☐ You will want an entire hard drive to hold it
☐ You will need to invest in a black hole to hold all the data

---{ Difficulty }---
☐ Just press 'W'
☐ Easy
☐ Easy to learn / Hard to master
☑ Significant brain usage
☐ Difficult
☐ Dark Souls

---{ Grind }---
☐ Nothing to grind
☐ Only if u care about leaderboards/ranks
☐ Isn't necessary to progress
☑ Average grind level
☐ Too much grind
☐ You'll need a second life for grinding

---{ Story }---
☐ No Story
☐ Some lore
☐ Average
☑ Good
☐ Lovely
☐ It'll replace your life

---{ Game Time }---
☐ Long enough for a cup of coffee
☐ Short
☑ Average
☐ Long
☐ To infinity and beyond

---{ Price }---
☐ It's free!
☑ Worth the price
☐ If it's on sale
☐ If u have some spare money left
☐ Not recommended
☐ You could also just burn your money

---{ Bugs }---
☐ Never heard of
☑ Minor bugs
☐ Can get annoying
☐ ARK: Survival Evolved
☐ The game itself is a big terrarium for bugs

---{ ? / 10 }---
☐ 1
☐ 2
☐ 3
☐ 4
☐ 5
☐ 6
☐ 7
☐ 8
☑ 9
☐ 10

Interview with the vampire, but you are the vampire, and you interview everyone.
You spend at least double the time talking to people than fighting enemies,
10/10, would interview again

This is not the game I thought I was getting into. You are a vampire but in your past life you were a doctor. As a vampire you have a conscience still and you still wish to help people and be a doctor so you join a local hospital and start helping treat the patients there. Although you work at the hospital you also are on the hunt for whatever bloodsucker turned you into a vampire in the first place. They are making short work of the civilians around town and you want to put a stop to it.

Rating 10/10 No complaints here. This game is very unique. It doesn't just let you drain blood from just anyone. You need to be able to mesmerize them first and take them to a secluded place to do it, each person in the game has a mesmerize level and if it's higher than yours you can't mesmerize them.

Vampyr, developed by Dontnod Entertainment (the creators of Life is Strange), is a unique and atmospheric game that leans heavily on storytelling and character development. Set in 1918 London during the Spanish flu epidemic, it offers a haunting and immersive narrative experience where choices have real consequences. While the game has its strengths, particularly in its story and setting, the gameplay itself feels somewhat lacking compared to the engaging narrative.
Story and Character Development
One of Vampyr’s biggest strengths is its deep, story-driven approach. You play as Dr. Jonathan Reid, a renowned surgeon recently turned into a vampire, struggling to balance his Hippocratic Oath with his newfound thirst for blood. The game is largely built around the moral dilemmas Dr. Reid faces, which add a compelling tension as he interacts with NPCs throughout London. Each character you meet has a story, personality, and background that you can uncover through conversation, and your choices shape not only your character but also the fate of each district of the city.
Character development is top-notch, and Dontnod does a fantastic job of making you care about the people you meet. The consequences of your actions, whether you choose to embrace your vampire side or resist the urge to feed, add weight to every decision. Killing an NPC can give you more experience points, making you stronger, but it could also destabilize the community, leading to its collapse. This moral complexity keeps the story engaging and makes Vampyr a standout in terms of narrative-driven gameplay.
Atmosphere and Visuals
The visuals in Vampyr are striking, especially in capturing the dark, eerie atmosphere of early 20th century London. The city streets are shrouded in fog, with gaslights casting ominous glows, creating a beautifully gothic setting that feels perfect for a vampire story. While the graphics may not be the most advanced, the art style and attention to detail bring a haunting beauty to the city, from the rain-soaked alleys to the dimly lit interiors.
The visuals add greatly to the immersion, making you feel like you’re truly navigating a grim, plague-ridden London. The city feels alive, or rather, on the edge of death, with NPCs coughing in the streets and tension hanging thick in the air. Each district has its own vibe and unique NPCs, which adds to the overall richness of the setting.
Gameplay and Mechanics
When it comes to gameplay, Vampyr falls a bit short. Unlike action-focused RPGs, Vampyr is designed more as a story-driven experience than a combat-heavy game. The combat system is fairly basic and, while functional, lacks the depth and polish seen in other action RPGs. Fights can feel repetitive over time, with limited moves and abilities, and they don’t match the intensity or complexity you might expect in a game centered around a vampire character.
The gameplay is mostly about exploration and talking to NPCs, fitting with Dontnod’s strength in storytelling rather than action mechanics. Much of the game consists of running around London, investigating clues, and interacting with various characters to unravel the story. For players who enjoy story-based games like Life is Strange, this narrative focus will feel familiar and satisfying. However, if you’re looking for a combat-focused vampire game, the gameplay may feel too slow or simplistic.
Pros:
Rich, immersive story with moral choices that impact the game world.
Well-developed characters with complex backstories that make the world feel alive.
Beautifully dark atmosphere that captures the eerie feel of London in 1918.
Choice-driven narrative where decisions matter and have real consequences on the world.
Cons:
Mediocre combat system that lacks depth and can feel repetitive.
Gameplay is limited mostly to exploration and conversation, which may not appeal to action-focused players.
Some pacing issues in terms of quests and travel between locations.
Final Thoughts
Vampyr is a game that shines in its storytelling, character development, and atmosphere. It’s a deep, narrative-driven experience that draws you in with its moral complexity and haunting setting. However, the combat and gameplay mechanics feel underdeveloped, which might not appeal to everyone. If you’re a fan of story-based games and are looking for an immersive vampire tale where your choices truly matter, Vampyr is worth the journey through dark London streets. But if you’re seeking a high-action vampire RPG, this game’s slower, more story-focused approach may fall short.