Vampyr

by Mikhail Nov 7, 2020 | 1 Votes | 39 Played | 0 Reviews

10 rate

Genres:

Action , RPG , Adventure

Graphics:

Labels:

Adventure , Historical Setting , Vampires

Platforms:

Vampyr is an action-RPG set in London during World War I which also coincided with the outbreak of the deadly Spanish Flu. Play the role of Dr. Jonathan Reid, a vampire who is also a doctor. Will you help save the citizens from the virus or will you consume the people you’ve sworn to heal? Play Now Similar Games

People Also Played

Summary Plotline Gameplay Graphics/Sound Conclusion

Summary

Vampyr tells the tale of Dr. Jonathan Reid, a doctor based in London who also happens to be a vampire. In a nutshell, you’ll don his stethoscope and walk around the gloomy and dark streets of the great city at night. Thing is, you’ll have to make a choice: uphold the Hippocratic Oath and save the citizens or just give in to your bloodlust?

Of course, this isn’t an easy choice to make. Should you give up the essence of your being for your oath and occupation? Do you have to spare the lives of the inhabitants? How will killing - or sparing - them affect the city’s fate?

This is where Vampyr’s appeal lies, not its rather shallow combat mechanics. It manages to craft a world where your choices greatly affect the story and the fates of the NPCs you’ll either heal and protect or kill and consume. You’ll delve and move between the lines of morality and immorality while interacting with a large yet well-written cast of historically-accurate characters.

Currently available for PlayStation Plus users this October 2020, should you give it a shot? Let’s check out what it has to offer:

Plotline

Vampyr is set in two major events in modern history. As a resident of London in 1918, you’ll feel the terrible and devastating effects of World War 1 and the Spanish Flu. The gloom and doom are evident as you walk around the streets, sewers, and even the landscaped gardens of the middle and high-class neighborhoods. It’s a fantastic setting.

Without diving deep into spoilers, you’ll take the mantle of a doctor and recently-turned vampire Dr. Jonathan Reid, and no, he doesn’t sparkle when you shine sunlight on him (which is impossible considering he only leaves at night and sleeps during the day). Jokes aside, you’ll get to interact with a large cast of characters who have problems relevant to the time period which also includes racism and other social issues. For example, there are people dealing with deaths in the family due to the pandemic. Meanwhile, labor unions are up and running and as a doctor, you’ll also need to deal with the out-of-touch aristocracy.

Gameplay

The story - or stories - the focus here, and there’s no shortage of these in Vampyr. For example, you may have to deal with a father with a sick son or a bartender with a troubled past. The interactions result in choices which branch out in a web of outstandingly-written dialogue. In a way, it exceeds the scope of franchises under Telltale Games’ belt.

Thing is, the characters aren’t just beacons of information and quest-givers. They could end up being your potential meal and you’ll be faced with the choice of consuming them for experience and growth or letting them go free. These NPCs have problems that you can solve, and doing so improves their health and blood quality which, in turn, gives you more experience.

If you think Dr. Reid is having trouble with the undead and vampire hunters, just consume the blood of someone you’ve helped out. To help you get this done, you’ll have a selection of supernatural powers at your disposal like momentarily hypnotizing your victims. Plus, regular humans are almost always powerless against you.

Thing is, killing them comes at a cost as there will be consequences in their home district. Killing them or otherwise will help shape the fate of the city. In your case, it can make you delve into the morally-gray or black areas and even make you think about the consequences or benefits of your actions. But hey, you’re a vampire and you could just think about the entire process as dressing and marinading your next meal, no matter how twisted that sounds.

The combat isn’t the game’s main appeal. It’s shallow and fairly easy, with you simply going through the motions of dodging, attacking, and using your vampiric abilities. You can also bite opponents to restore your supernatural power and let you execute moves like healing and summoning shadows. There’s a great deal of enemy variety, ranging from fellow supernatural beings to vampire hunters which give you a different yet routine experience.

Graphics/Sound

In terms of presentation, Vampyr excels. You’ll be treated to a fantastic atmosphere that fits the time period and if you’ve played other games or watched TV shows covering the same time period, you’ll notice the developers fully captured its essence. The voice acting is nothing short of outstanding, capturing the posh accents of the high-class to the Cockney dialect of the working class and the sordid groups in the shadows.

Visually, the game holds up though there are animation issues likely due to the sheer number of NPCs. On a base PS4, there are occasional framerate drops, but nothing too serious.

Conclusion

Overall, Vampyr is one of those under-the-radar games that deserve to be in the spotlight, even if vampires are creatures of the dark. It tells a gripping tale, makes you pick between tough choices, and live with the consequences of your actions. Although its combat doesn’t hold up fairly well, the stalking, numerous dialogue options, and characters you’ll get to interact with more than makeup for it.