Bloodlines 2 is Game Informer's Next Cover Story

[Azar]

Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 is Game Informer's Next Cover Story

The cover art reveal will come next week, but we're thrilled to announce our exclusive coverage of The Chinese Room's revival of the cult classic RPG.

www.gameinformer.com

The next issue will launch digitally on July 22 at 12 PM ET/ 9 AM PT for those who are interested in some manner of news about BL2.

 

[Necromass]

Article says here's a game screenshot in place of the cover, and then displays a clear concept art illustration rather than in game screen capture which is worrying, hopefully the article will have some actual meat to it instead of a few pages of drawing and paragraphs of the word visceral.

Will be surprised if we get the release date or pre order cost before the next game expo paradox attends, speaking of which wonder how much paradox will charge for this version of bloodlines 2 compared to what we had to pay to pre order hard suit labs.

 

[Praetorian44]

It's a shame they require a subscription to read it. Haven't had a Game Informer sub since 2014.

 

[Azar]

Here is the reveal stream vod. As usual with twitch, this won't stay up forever unless someone makes it a highlight. (despite the warning, the video is safe for work)

My budget doesn't allow for unnecessary things, and I dont think the article is going to reveal much we haven't already heard. So Im not going to sub the magazine just for this. The actual release is also so close.

I looked carefully when they flipped through the magazine though. I love the name of the article, "Refusing to die". That has been very much bloodlines and world of darkness in a nutshell.

Few new things I was able to pick up by squinting my eyes:

1. Fabian has amnesia. (How convenient) This will likely make Phyres and Fabians early interactions more natural (as opposed if he was hiding information). It also makes it sound like Fabian is going to be a permanent fixture, kind of like V and Johnny Silverhand. My old theory about how Fabian ends up in Phyres head still hold.
2. Fabian's personality is apparently excitable and energetic, which works as a balance to Phyre's taciturn demeanor and dry humour. It wasnt originally so, and was changed during development. It is said Fabians character "clicked" after that. It's probably for the best, since I remember being unimpressed hearing him speak in some of the videos couple years ago. This is good. There is a reason why quirky sidekick is a trope: because tropes work. Also, someone in our head like that is more likely than not going to be a burden. So they need to contribute somehow into the overall enjoyment of the game in order to rationalize their existence.
3. Phyre's name is confirmed to be made up. Phyre picks the name from a band poster they see after awakening.

When devs compared Phyre to a famous gunslinger who walks to town in a western long ago, I remember drawing comparisons to classic Akira Kurosawa film the Yojimbo, where Toshiro Mifunes character walks into a town that is fought over by two criminal gangs. He kills a crook straight off the bat, which makes the gangs interested in him. When asked his name, he sees a mulberry field and states his name is Kuwabatake ("mulberry field") Sanjuro ("thirty-years-old") This made me think that Phyre's name would be made up. (as it was) In the Hollywood version of the same movie ("last man standing"), Bruce Willis' character says his name is "Smith". Now I am also wondering whether good old Benny the sheriff is the guy Phyre kills in the beginning... ergo, new sheriff.

 

[Pyoro]

Phyre being an alias/chosen name has been confirmed roughly 87 years ago.

... remember when the claim was that it was a historical unisex Armenian name and that somehow made it less ridiculous? Now it's picked from a poster, because that's somehow not making the choice even more insane.

But in any case; yeah, doesn't sound like the article offers anything new really (would have been surprising in a way; why do your marketing locked behind a magazine subscription barely anyone has access to... well, obviously you don't).

It's probably for the best, since I remember being unimpressed hearing him speak in some of the videos couple years ago.

I'd suspect that that was already the version of his personality that allegedly "clicked". But there's gotta be some more gameplay soonish (October isn't that far away) so that'll confirm that for sure.

 

[Azar]

... remember when the claim was that it was a historical unisex Armenian name and that somehow made it less ridiculous? Now it's picked from a poster, because that's somehow not making the choice even more insane.

It was suspected. There's always the possibility that we miss something. The wise man knows that he doesn't know.
This time its officially officially confirmed. Not that this is important in any way, but its probably the best way to handle the silly name. Oldtimers are cringy, check.

 

[Necromass]

Phyre being an alias/chosen name has been confirmed roughly 87 years ago.

... remember when the claim was that it was a historical unisex Armenian name and that somehow made it less ridiculous? Now it's picked from a poster, because that's somehow not making the choice even more insane.

But in any case; yeah, doesn't sound like the article offers anything new really (would have been surprising in a way; why do your marketing locked behind a magazine subscription barely anyone has access to... well, obviously you don't).


I'd suspect that that was already the version of his personality that allegedly "clicked". But there's gotta be some more gameplay soonish (October isn't that far away) so that'll confirm that for sure.

They probably couldn't do much marketing until the separation stuff was settled, this is more about raising awareness of the game again been seeing many of the new sites in my recommended feed use bloodlines 2 studio recently over still wakes the deep studio when talking about TCR,

Still dislike Fabián as a concept but its good that they at least rewrote his entire character to be less "Hey Encase you missed this let me spell it out for you" like the old stellaris tutorial advisor.

 

[Pyoro]

It was suspected.

No, it was confirmed 37 times.

Literally the FAQ:

Is the main character really named Phyre?
Yes and no. Your real name is never revealed; you use “Phyre” as an alias. Many characters you meet will also call you “The Nomad,” as you are an elder with a murky past.