ased on White Wolf's pen-and-paper Vampire: The Masquerade roleplaying game, Vampire: The Masquerade--Redemption details the journeys of a young medieval crusader named Christof. The swordsman, a devout Christian, is dedicated to eradicating evil. Unfortunately, a pagan's arrow knocks him on his back, landing him in a Prague convent's sick bed. It is there that he meets the full-lipped nun Anezka. It's a classic boy-meets-girl scenario, yet their virtue is stronger than their hormones, and they keep it cerebral.
The townsfolk ask Christof to clear nearby mines of the demons that lurk there. He does so, and his action catches the attention of a clan of vampires. They feel his sword might benefit their cause. A nibble on the neck later and he's one of the monsters he was sworn to kill. And that's just the first lap; the rest of the race involves Christof in more fighting--against rival vampires, against the rising beast within him and against his flaming desire for Anezka.
As Christof, players battle an army of baddies, viewed through a rotatable, elevatable camera. A smorgasbord of blood types, from fellow vampires to ghoul-spiders, soak Christof's sword and machine-gun shells. Machine-gun shells? Why, yes, Christof's story spans time from the cobblestone streets of medieval Prague and Vienna to the alleys of modern London and New York. Nor need he face the ages alone. Up to three others may join the crusader on his quests.
The action is real-time, although the version 1.01 patch allows gamers to pause combat and issue orders. All four members simultaneously hack, slash, blast or cast magic on their unfortunate foes. After completing the saga, those who hunger for more may design their own stories using the included editor.
Great roleplaying, quest-building
Without a doubt, Vampire is a gamer's game. The combat is a blast--a difficult blast, but a blast, nonetheless. To vanquish the onslaught of foes, players must learn not only to swing swords and pull triggers, but to master disciplines (magic).
These disciplines range from those that hold enemies in awe--allowing players to suck their life-giving blood--to those that render a character invisible or summon other beings to battle. Learning the combinations of disciplines, combat modes in which fellow party members may be placed, and weaponry is bottom-line basic to conquering the quests. On the downside, even experienced players may find it difficult to vanquish some of the hordes thrown their way. Perhaps a variable difficulty setting would have helped.
The character development is rich. Choosing among several traits to enhance, or among disciplines to learn or improve, keeps the between-quest play stimulating. So, too, do the cutscenes. The voice acting is superb. Game companies are finally getting the message--acting counts. And what the characters say, specifically the interaction between Anezka and Christof, is believable enough to keep players looking forward to the next scene.
The game's editor is truly a magnificent piece of work. Using a combination of the existing editor and the Nod Engine download, gamers can create quests similar in scope to the original title. To top it off, aspiring designers can take their quests online and host them for other players. While playing as the "storyteller," the designer can nudge the quest along by talking with the players, placing objects in the universe and performing a host of other typical dungeon master tasks. The bad news is that all the real-time interaction/conversation must be typed, which can be a drag. It is nevertheless an admirable venture, even if it falls short of gathering around the kitchen table for real-life roleplaying.
Vampire: The Masquerade--Redemption combines spine-tingling combat, sweet character development and a solid story with an outstanding editor. The editor's limitations and the overly challenging combat are the only blemishes on this roleplaying gem.
