Freunde der Nacht, das war doch endlich mal eine ordentlich geschriebene, detailreiche und spannende Geschichte im World-of-Darkness-Universum!

Zwar gibt es im gesamten Spiel nur etwa 10 Grafiken zu sehen, jedoch ist das ja wortwörtlich ein Visual Novel ohne den „Visual“-Teil – also ein interaktiver Roman. Die vielen Nuancen in den Unterhaltungen zwischen den Charakteren sowie äußerst detailreiche Umgebungsinteraktionen lassen sehr an eine Pen-and-Paper-Runde mit interessierten Freunden – die ich nicht habe, weswegen ich dieses Spiel gespielt habe – denken.

Die schiere Anzahl an Auswahlmöglichkeiten und tatsächlich relevanter Fähigkeiten bei den vielen Entscheidungen haben mich dazu verleitet, das Spiel gleich zweimal durchzuspielen. Zuerst als animalistischer Gangrel mit Tierbegleiter, dann als verführerisches Blaublut des Ventrue-Clans. Man sollte jedoch relativ gute Englischkenntnisse mitbringen, denn das Sprachniveau ist deutlich über normalem Schulenglisch (aus deutscher Sicht natürlich).

Achievements: 33 %

played a character more based around physical and mental rather than social skills and with storyteller mode on i didn't have too much issue getting through the game with the (often quite extensive) range of options it gives you to approach each situation, but i'm definitely interested to replay with a radically different character and taking Julian's path. solid writing and character designs. a good place to dip into the worldbuilding of WoD if you haven't played bloodlines yet or have tried but couldn't get past the games clunkiness.

Playing Zork (1980) was one of my favorite things as a teen, so when I heard there was an Interactive Fiction game set in the WOD, I just had to get it. Now I’m excited to check out more stuff by Choice of Games, WOD licensed or not.

Firstly, I played this with the Secrets and Shadows DLC. Ravnos vampires, having to be constantly on the move as part of their clan curse, were simply made for this game. On that note, I’d say the DLC content blended smoothly with the base game, with the exception of the intro sequence, where the text seemingly contradicted itself (referencing a different embrace than the Ravnos one in some lines), although that sort of mistake is understandable when you make a text-based game with so many variations.

Speaking of which, I was thoroughly impressed with the amount of variables this game takes into account. It feels good to know the game will remember small details, chapters after the decision that generated them occurred. Another great thing is you aren’t forced to commit to one side straight of the bat, and are given a lot of freedom as to how to end the game. For example, I choose to help the Camarilla on the final mission, then go on my own path after that. The fact that it didn’t have to be one or the other was a breath of fresh air.

Plot-wise, I would also say this game is a breath of fresh air. Most VTM games have you starting out as a neonate and slowly be introduced to vampiric society. This one begins in media res (in quite an action-packed way, I might add), so most of the exposition is done through flashbacks, which really spares us the usual routine of vampire 101s, et cetera.

Thematically, it also works as a great introduction to 5th Edition VTM, focusing a lot on the Second Inquisition and its consequences for kindred society, as well as the Camarilla-Anarch conflict, with the Sabbat remaining in the background. Although I should add that both the Camarilla and Anarch sects are personified on the characters of Prince Lettow and Julian Sim, so if you don’t like one of them (as I very much disliked Julian), you’ll probably side with the other.

On the Second Inquisition, an aspect of the game I really enjoyed was how it conveyed the anxiety of using cellphones or computers to communicate with other Kindred. Often the places where you discarded compromised cellphones would end up razed to the ground a few nights later, while encounters with the Hunters were quick and explosive, as they should be. They are a lingering presence throughout the game, which adds a layer of tension that is incredibly engaging.

Driving is a big part of the experience, and you are given plenty of options as to what you can drive. Simply put: The game features a lot of car porn, which I’m sure appeals to a lot of folks (myself included). However, this also adds another layer of characterization, together with being able to pick your outfit at the beginning of the game, that helps to flesh out your character. Smalls details like “your park your Porsche(…)” or “the bullet pierced your Courier’s Outfit(…)” add a lot of personality to your vampire courier in the long run.

The same is true for NPCs, as just about every major character has a unique car that reflects their personality in some aspect, to a point where I was actually looking forward to seeing what each character drove after I met them.

Another feature of this game is the ability to romance certain NPCs, and while I will admit that there was only one actual “date” I was able to do with my romance option (I chose to romance my ghoul, Vani), by the end of the game I felt as though I had formed a significant bond with her. She accompanied me to every mission and I was able to ask her opinion on how to approach certain matters, which is purely optional but serves to develop your relationship with your ghoul. While I can’t know for sure, since I only played the game once, I would imagine other romance options might feel more or less developed.

Overall, I had a blast playing through VTM – Night Road and I feel that it’s a testament to the literary potential of IF games as well as the WOD setting in general, and would recommend it to VTM fans and non-fans alike.