Info about Vampire: The Masquerade - Shadows of New York: Official game description: You’re a nobody. An outcast in your own vampiric sect. A political prisoner of no particular value. An immigrant who never found her roots in a city of immigrants. A chainsmoker whose favorite pastime is staring blankly at the streets through the windows of a fast food joint at 4AM. The sinking feeling in the pit of your stomach tells you that you’re doomed, and distorted voices from the shadows seem to agree. The curse of your clan makes interacting with everyday technology difficult. Dissociation is your natural state. But when New York’s Anarch leader meets a gruesome end, out of all the bloodsuckers in the metropolis, you’re the one picked to investigate. Make no mistake: this is obviously a trap, yet another move in the horrible game of Jyhad, the eternal struggle for power between warring vampire generations. But you’re Lasombra, and if there’s one thing you know, it’s this: if the Ventrue Prince and her followers underestimate you, they’re going to deeply regret it. **Vampire: The Masquerade – Shadows of New York** is a visual novel set in the rich universe of Vampire: The Masquerade. It's a continuation of our previous title, Coteries of New York. While Coteries was a general introduction to the world depicted in the 5th Edition of the hit tabletop role-playing game, Shadows presents a more personal and unique tale. * A visual novel tackling themes of personal and political horror, suitable for both Vampire: The Masquerade veterans, and fans of narrative-driven games who are newcomers to the setting. * A continuation of Coteries of New York. See the familiar metropolis through entirely different eyes. Expect new characters, new locations and a fresh original soundtrack. * Play as a member of the Lasombra clan. Formerly vicious foes of the Camarilla, the Magisters decided to search for safety in the ranks of their former enemies. Master the shadows and communicate with the inhabitants of the Other Side, but beware – Oblivion is always lurking out there, ready to devour you whole. * Explore the streets of the Big Apple. While you search for ways to satiate your bloodthirst, catch glimpses of various fascinating vignettes and forge connections with the eccentric inhabitants of the city. One playthrough won’t be enough to see it all. * Shape your mind, shape your fate. You used to avoid defining yourself and tried to stay neutral, but given your situation, you can no longer afford to do so. The choices you make will alter the way you think, and your thinking will alter the paths you take. If it’s called Vampire: The Masquerade, does that mean you have something in common with World of Darkness, Bloodlines 2, Redemption, the cult tabletop RPG system, or...? -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Yes. Shadows of New York is set in the same shared universe, but offers independent experiences and stories. You may spot some connections with the other titles, but Shadows is not a sequel to any existing products. The World of Darkness is a media franchise and shared universe, shaped by various creators and participants, meaning: all stand-alone stories play into a greater whole. Berlin falling to the Anarchs during an official LARP, the Lasombra clan joining forces with the Camarilla in the Vampire: The Masquerade - Chicago By Night 5th Edition sourcebook, Sophie Langley’s plot to take control of New York in Coteries of New York – all of these events subtly influence and interact with each other. Do I need to play Coteries of New York to understand and enjoy the story of Shadows of New York? ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Not at all. Shadows of New York is a continuation of Coteries of New York, which means it shares the New York City setting and a large part of the supporting cast with our previous title, but is designed to offer a different experience. Coteries served as an introduction to the basics of Vampire: The Masquerade 5th Edition – it was focused on showcasing different vampire Clans and core concepts of the setting through the point of view of a newly-fledged vampire, a character who did have a defined backstory, but by and large meant to serve as a player avatar. Shadows of New York is a more personal story, told from the perspective of a well-defined character who’s already integrated into the Kindred society and has a developed inner monologue of her own (which means you influence her personality instead of shaping it). Those who are familiar with Coteries will already know a large part of the cast and catch some references that would otherwise go unnoticed, but those who decide to start with Shadows and get back to Coteries later should be able to enjoy both experiences just as much as they would if they played them in their release order. The two stories are essentially separate, different both tonally and thematically. Which platforms is Shadows of New York available on? ---------------------------------------------------- Shadows of New York launched simultaneously on PC (Windows/Mac OS/Linux), PS4, Xbox One and Nintendo Switch in September 2020. Does the game support controllers? ---------------------------------- Yes. You’re able to play both with mouse and keyboard, as well as with a controller. Release date: Sep 10, 2020 Categories: Visual Novel, Choice-based Narrative, Dark Atmosphere, Story-driven Gameplay, Character-driven Narrative, Multiple Endings, Branching Narrative, Dialogue-based Gameplay - Hardware Profile: No data Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $2.59 - $4.50 - Reasoning: The evidence indicates that the community generally finds the game worthwhile only when it is significantly discounted. Multiple reviews mention that the game is worth a few dollars or recommend it at an 80% or 85% discount, which translates to a price range of approximately $2.59 to $4.50. This suggests that the community considers the fair price range for the base game to be quite low, reflecting concerns about the game's brevity and replay value. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 4.0h - Story completion: 3.0h - Session length: N/A - Endgame: N/A - Reasoning: The evidence provided includes several direct mentions of playtime for the target game. Users frequently mention completing the game in around 3 to 4 hours, with some playthroughs extending to 7 hours. These quotes help establish typical playtimes for game completion and story completion. There is no strong evidence provided for typical session length or endgame hours, so those fields are marked as null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: The game starts with a tedious and overwhelming introduction, but it becomes more engaging once players get past the initial hurdles and into the story. - Stance: Fun then drops - Anchor: Getting past the initial overwhelming information and into the story. - Time to anchor: 0h 20m - Friction: Repetitive scenes; Lack of real choices; Frequent pauses to understand new terms; Tedious and overwhelming introduction - Unlock drivers: Getting past the initial overwhelming information; Engaging story and narration - Conditions: Familiarity with Vampire: the Masquerade; Patience to get through the initial tedious parts - Player Archetypes: - Lore-Driven Veteran (sale) - Motivation: Story and character depth - Playstyle: Plays for narrative and lore immersion - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: Vampire: The Masquerade fan; WoD fanboy - Reference games: Vampire the Masquerade - Coteries of New York; Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines - Atmosphere Enthusiast (sale) - Motivation: Unique themes and dark atmosphere - Playstyle: Plays for the immersive experience and narrative - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: WoD fanboy; Vampire: The Masquerade fan - Reference games: Vampire the Masquerade - Bloodlines; Vampire the Masquerade - Coteries of New York - Newcomer Explorer (sale) - Motivation: Exploring new universes and narratives - Playstyle: Plays to experience new settings and stories - Experience: newcomer - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: New to WoD; Visual novel enjoyer - Reference games: Vampire the Masquerade - Coteries of New York Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Well-developed protagonist (weight 0.45): The main character, Julia, is noted for being well-written, engaging, and charismatic, with a strong personality that feels real. - Engaging and well-written story (weight 0.44): The game features a captivating and emotionally rich narrative with well-developed characters. Players appreciate the efficient storytelling and the depth of the plot. - Appeals to World of Darkness fans (weight 0.38): The game is recommended for fans of the World of Darkness and Vampire: The Masquerade universes, offering a rich setting and good introduction to the lore. - Excellent music and soundtrack (weight 0.37): The game's music is highly praised for its atmospheric quality and how well it complements the gameplay without being intrusive. - Beautiful and high-quality artwork (weight 0.36): The artwork in the game is described as stunning, gorgeous, and well-done, contributing significantly to the game's visual appeal. - Multiple endings and choices (weight 0.24): Players appreciate the multiple endings and the impact of their choices on the story, adding to the game's replayability. - Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.17): Players find the game enjoyable and fun to play, with a simple and easy-to-understand mechanics. - Improved atmosphere and writing (weight 0.12): The game is noted for its improved atmosphere, writing, and overall vibe compared to its prequel, providing a better experience. Common complaints: - Choices lack impact (weight 0.72): Players frequently noted that their decisions had little to no effect on the story or outcome, leading to a sense of frustration and lack of engagement. - Linear gameplay (weight 0.22): The game was described as too linear, with a linear narrative structure that limited player exploration and choice. - Excessive dialogue (weight 0.2): Players found the game to have too much dialogue, often filled with clichés and unnecessary exposition, which made the game feel tedious. - Unsatisfying endings (weight 0.17): The game's endings were criticized for being abrupt, underwhelming, and rushed, leaving players feeling disappointed. - Lack of meaningful side quests (weight 0.16): Side quests were criticized for lacking meaningful content and feeling like fillers, leading to a decrease in overall interactivity. - Limited language support (weight 0.08): The game was noted to lack support for certain languages, such as Chinese and Spanish, which limited accessibility for some players. - Not for everyone (weight 0.08): Some players found the game to be not very enjoyable or addictive, suggesting it may not appeal to a wide audience. - Limited character choice (weight 0.07): Players felt restricted by the limited number of characters available to choose from, which reduced the game's replayability. - Limited saving options (weight 0.07): The game was criticized for its lack of quicksaving and limited save slots, which inconvenienced players. Gameplay feedback: - Visual novel with choices (weight 0.45): The game is a classic visual novel that emphasizes player choices and consequences, featuring different endings based on those choices. - Story and character-driven (weight 0.3): The gameplay is heavily focused on narrative and character development, with a strong emphasis on story progression and character interactions. - Choice-based mechanics (weight 0.2): The game features choice-based mechanics where player decisions influence the story and character development, though some choices may have limited impact. - Set in World of Darkness (weight 0.1): The game is set in the World of Darkness universe, specifically within the Vampire: The Masquerade lore. - Dark and atmospheric narrative (weight 0.1): The narrative is dark and atmospheric, focusing on creating a suspenseful and engaging environment. - RPG and progression elements (weight 0.09): The game includes RPG elements such as a progression system and character traits, adding depth to the gameplay. - Dialogue and branching conversations (weight 0.06): Players can engage in branching dialogue trees, offering various dialogue options that can influence the story. - Clan mechanics and adaptations (weight 0.05): The game features clan mechanics, allowing players to adapt and utilize different clan-specific abilities. - Murder mystery plot (weight 0.05): The storyline revolves around a murder mystery, incorporating detective gameplay and suspense. - Character monologues and backgrounds (weight 0.05): The game includes character monologues and detailed backgrounds, enriching the narrative and character development. - Narrative and plot structure (weight 0.05): The game has a well-defined narrative structure and plot, ensuring a coherent and engaging story. Performance notes: - Stable and smooth performance (weight 0.09): The game runs well with stable technical performance and no lag issues, even on old hardware. - Game progression bug (weight 0.04): Some players report that the game does not progress past the 'World of Darkness' logo. - Sound fix for Linux/Steam Deck (weight 0.04): Players recommend using Proton Hotfix to resolve sound issues specifically on Linux and Steam Deck platforms. - User-friendly interface (weight 0.03): The game features an interface that is easy to navigate and user-friendly. - Visual and animation issues (weight 0.03): Players have noted visual inconsistencies and a lack of character animations in the game. - Language translation issues (weight 0.03): There are issues with language translations in the game, affecting the player experience. Recommendations: - Ideal for Vampire: The Masquerade fans (weight 0.41): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Vampire: The Masquerade universe and the World of Darkness setting. It appeals to those who enjoy dark aesthetics and vampire themes. - Great for visual novel enthusiasts (weight 0.34): The game is recommended for fans of visual novels, especially those who enjoy dark and atmospheric stories. It is also suggested for those who might not typically enjoy visual novels. - Worth buying on sale (weight 0.18): Many reviewers suggest that the game is worth purchasing, especially when it is on sale. This makes it more accessible for those who are budget-conscious. - Sequel to the first game (weight 0.12): The game is a sequel to the first novel and is recommended for those who enjoyed the previous installment. It is worth playing if you liked the first game. - Atmospheric vampire story (weight 0.08): The game offers an atmospheric story that delves into themes of power and humanity within the world of vampires. It is recommended for those who enjoy immersive storytelling. - Good introduction to World of Darkness (weight 0.08): The game is seen as a good introduction to the World of Darkness universe. It is also recommended for those who want to dive back into this setting. - Play Shadows of New York first (weight 0.06): Reviewers recommend playing Shadows of New York before Coteries for a better understanding and full story experience. - Desire for more content (weight 0.05): Some reviewers expressed a desire for more story content, side plots, or missions, indicating that they found the existing content engaging but wanting more. - Recommended for specific audiences (weight 0.05): The game is recommended for those who enjoy stories about self-discovery and for those studying literary English, indicating a niche appeal. - Art style and soundtrack praised (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for its art style, soundtrack, and overall story, which contribute to its atmospheric appeal. - Not for deep gameplay seekers (weight 0.03): The game may not be suitable for those looking for deep gameplay mechanics. It is more focused on story and atmosphere. - Interest in different game modes (weight 0.03): There is an expressed interest in a roguelike version of the game, suggesting that players are open to different gameplay experiences within the same universe. - Political and vampire themes (weight 0.03): The game is recommended for those who enjoy themes of vampire politics, adding a layer of intrigue and complexity to the story. Other player notes: - COVID-19 pandemic impact (weight 0.02): This cluster mentions the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact, which may be related to the game's context or development. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.29): Players are disappointed primarily due to the lack of meaningful choices and impactful storytelling. The game's linear narrative, weak character development, and unlikable protagonist contribute to this sentiment. Additionally, the lack of language support, reused assets, and the game's short length further exacerbate the disappointment. - Satisfaction (weight 0.2): Players are satisfied with the game's improved visuals, engaging story, and character development. The artwork, music, and atmosphere are highlighted as strong points. Many appreciate the multiple endings and the overall narrative quality, finding it a worthwhile experience despite some flaws. - Frustration (weight 0.12): Players feel frustrated due to the lack of meaningful choices and poor implementation of gameplay mechanics. The linear story, weak character development, and technical issues such as save file problems and lack of language support add to this frustration. The protagonist's excessive monologues and the lack of player agency are also significant sources of frustration. - Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players enjoy the game's story, characters, and artwork. The immersive atmosphere, engaging narrative, and beautiful visuals contribute to a positive experience. The soundtrack and character development are also highlighted as enjoyable aspects. - Excitement (weight 0.04): Players are excited about the engaging storyline and character development. The improved character dynamics and atmospheric storytelling generate enthusiasm. The game's themes and elements, along with the fun of playing with friends, add to this excitement. - Appreciation (weight 0.03): Players appreciate the game's story, protagonist, and universe. The detailed narrative, improved soundtrack, and unique dynamics explored in the story are highly valued. The setting, dictionary, and educational content are also appreciated. - Admiration (weight 0.02): Players admire the game's artwork, music, and narrative depth. The character Julia and her development are particularly admired. The art style and character design contribute significantly to this admiration. - Intrigue (weight 0.02): Players are intrigued by the compelling story and character of Julia. The political intrigue and detailed protagonist background add to the game's appeal. The game's theme and premise are also found intriguing. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.02): Players are enthusiastic about the game's art, music, story, and characters. The atmosphere and overall experience generate high recommendations. The engaging themes and characters contribute to this enthusiasm. - Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Players feel nostalgic due to the game's connection to previous titles and the familiar universe. The artworks and atmosphere evoke memories of past experiences. The character Julia and the game's setting contribute to this nostalgia. - Disappointed (weight 0.02): Players are disappointed with the game's linear nature and lack of meaningful choices. Comparisons to the predecessor highlight the game's shortcomings. The underutilized setting and limited appeal add to this disappointment. - Surprise (weight 0.01): Players are surprised by the depth of the story and the positive aspects of the game's visuals and soundtrack. The unexpected ending and the impressive narrative contribute to this surprise. - Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy from the overall fun and engaging experience. The immersive atmosphere and beautiful soundtrack contribute to this joy. The art and writing are also highlighted as sources of joy. - Immersion (weight 0.01): Players feel immersed due to the rich narrative and atmospheric setting. The story and sharper focus on immersion contribute significantly to this feeling. The detailed and engaging narrative enhances the immersive experience. - Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find the game amusing due to its funny elements and the mention of the pandemic and its resolution. The humorous aspects of the game contribute to this amusement. - Pleased (weight 0.01): Players are pleased with the art style and text. The character and clan mechanics are also highlighted as pleasing aspects. The overall presentation and mechanics contribute to this pleasure. - Awe (weight 0): Players feel awe due to the gritty artwork and immersive story. The detailed and engaging narrative, along with the visuals, contribute to this sense of awe.}