Vampyr

The game’s strengths lie in its immersive atmosphere, deep lore, and impactful narrative choices, but its combat and pacing can frustrate players. Players appreciate the game's unique vampire theme and the weight of their decisions on the world. The balance between exploration, social interaction, and combat creates a distinctive experience, though the latter is often seen as the weakest link. Vampyr’s story and character development, especially of side NPCs, receive strong praise, while the main character and some dialogue are divisive. Despite some repetitive mechanics and occasional clunky controls, the game is generally recommended, especially at a discount, for fans of story-rich RPGs with dark themes and moral dilemmas.

Highlights

Players consistently praise Vampyr's atmospheric and immersive 1918 London setting, which effectively conveys a dark, melancholic vampire world. The deep, lore-rich narrative and character writing stand out, with many appreciating the complex NPCs and meaningful moral choices that influence the story and districts. The social system, where relationships affect experience gains and outcomes, is highlighted as innovative. The soundtrack and voice acting enhance the grim mood. Gameplay-wise, the variety of weapons, skills, and builds allows for personalized playstyles, and the game’s approach to choice and consequence is well received. The story’s multiple endings and replay value are also noted positively.

Criticisms

Common criticisms focus on the combat system, which many find clunky, with poor hit detection, frustrating stamina mechanics, and an inconsistent lock-on system. The difficulty spikes can feel unfair rather than challenging, especially on higher settings. Several players mention tedious district management and lack of fast travel, making exploration feel repetitive and slow. The main protagonist, Jonathan Reid, is often described as overdramatic and unlikeable, which detracts from the narrative immersion. Some find the romance subplot underdeveloped and forced. Additionally, the game’s pacing can be slow due to extensive dialogue and repetitive tasks, and a few minor bugs and UI issues are reported.