[Starwars]

I would agree with Sodomy in that ToEE has a lot of the things that draws me to a RPG and that it's very underappreciated in this sense. Most people simply don't have a clue beyond that the game is combat heavy.

However, ToEE also proves to me that a game isn't great just because it turns out to have the features I love down on paper. There's absolutely nothing in ToEE that makes me eager to move the game forward, which is somewhat strange because I usually have no trouble playing dungeon crawls or games like that (even though it's not my fav genre). It can partly be blamed on the module itself, which is lacklustre as far as I can remember it. But Troika really, *really* failed in the writing department (it's horrendous) as well, and the game isn't particularly well paced.

Now, on the flipside, Bloodlines which has plenty of features that I generally do *not* want in RPGs actually rate somewhat high on my fav games list. Despite some of the awful design stuff in the game (oh how I loathe thee Nosferatu sewer and much of the game beyond that point), I was actually curious to move the game forward. I think much of it has to do with that rather undefinable quality called mood or atmosphere. And I find Bloodlines is dripping with it. Fallout 1 is dripping with it (and in combination with its gameplay makes it my fav game), many people disagree but I find Arcanum dripped with it though the gameplay was a mixed bag. The atmosphere in ToEE was non-existant, it feels incredibly flat to me.

I can still play it and even have lots of fun with it occasionally. But it never hit me with that feeling of "hey, this is *special*" despite it having many great features.

I generally don't like to talk about atmosphere as a game design element as it tends to come rather close to talking about stuff like immersion or epicness. But, it is a very important part of a game for me personally. It's what makes me *care*, and that is becoming increasingly important for me even though it's "just games".

[Justme]

^^^Great post.

[kyosuke]

If anyone is interested in another game for the VTM world...
GOG just released VTM: Redemption from Activision at US $5.99.

[Starwars]

I'm replaying this (yet again).

I don't think enough can be said about the characters and the writing in this game. Most of them are really spot on. The writing is of course on a different level than a game like Torment for example, Bloodlines relying more on the acting rather than the lengthy text of Torment. But most of the writing is witty, believable and very natural. Even some of the more crazy stuff, like Grout's journals, are just wonderful.

Also, some of the quests are just kick-ass. It's a nice break from ye standard fantasy stuff when you're off hunting a horrific snuff tape. I'm not crazy about the execution on the quest design here, but the general idea is so appealing. It's a great little horror story within the game, very fresh in the world of RPGs.

Bloodlines still holds up as a very unique game. The atmosphere and texture of the gameworld is pretty goddamn amazing, it pulls me in every time. I think it *really* nailed the Vampire feel.

[caster]

For me it was Redemption.
I just couldnt take on to the Bloodlines "modernistic" motorcycle gang vampire mentality in most of the game.

[One Wolf]

@Starwars:

Completely agree on all points.  There are so many reasons why this game shouldn't appeal to me, yet it winds up captivating me every time I play.  I'm not big on vampires, I like my games less linear, the combat system isn't fantastic.  But the feel of it...  The characters, the writing, the voice-acting for christ's sake.  It's just so well done.

I will always have a special place in my heart for Grout's mansion.  Those logs were just chilling.  And I'll always remember the first time I entered the ocean house.  And the first time I entered the warrens.  And and and and.....

[yaster]

The thing that really impress me about VmtB except for voice acting is astonishing body language. At times it may be awkward, seems incomplete, jarring but when it works it delivers hard. It gives so much personality to npc, eg: Janos Daughters Ghul and his hectic, overexcited moves. It's strange seeing games like ME2 still doesn't managing to deliver so convincing acting even despite having huge budget (though, as I think about it now, it come close... heck, there was so much dialogue animations in that game, maybe it's matter of perspective)

[Vampiress]

Bloodlines is still the best RPG I have ever had the pleasure of playing. I have completed it upwards to 4 or 5 times now, two of those times were even with the exact same character  It's just that good!

We really, really, really need some more vampire RPGs! Or for lack of better, just vampire games in general.

[erbgor]

I felt constricted (artificially locked doors) and I didn't like the combat system. Plus that haunted house sucked donkey balls, almost as much as the Max Payne nightmare levels.

But I won't deny the game had atmosphere. The characters actually looked like real people when they talked, I was amazed when I saw it for the first time. The not-generic-soundtrack was also kinda cool.

[Silellak]

The characters actually looked like real people when they talked, I was amazed when I saw it for the first time.

The impressive thing is that the characters in-dialog still look really good when compared to recent games.  The only game I can think of off the top of my head with "virtual acting" equal-to-or-better-than Bloodlines is ME2.  

I'm just not sure if that says more about Bloodlines, or more about the gaming industry in general.

[One Wolf]

Probably more about the industry. I can imagine some devs (or the money-men above them) thinking that devoting resources to implementing nuanced, realistic facial expressions would be waste of money. Interesting considering how much they added to the game. Along with the voices, the expressions went a long way toward establishing a connection with the characters