A lone, long-forgotten radio sits in a dusty, rundown room, conspicuous in its modernity. I approach it, curious, pushing the on switch tentatively - this is 2024 Seattle, they didn't have weird, talking machines when I stalked the earth. "Hello Seattle, this is your 2am weather and traffic update," a voice informs me. "We're still under a severe storm warning, and it's cold, cold, cold out there." It takes me a moment to recognize the dulcet tones of Jason Carl, brand manager for the World of Darkness and LA By Night's iconic storyteller. "Now let's make a note of these important reminders, because multiple things are happening at once" - one of Carl's most iconic lines from the aforementioned live play. I feel myself break into a smile, and, honestly, I shed a little tear. I've been waiting for Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines 2 for years, and this tiny, easily missed interaction suggested my faith in The Chinese Room hasn't been for nothing, even if sometimes it's felt like I've been clinging to a rose-tinted reverie.
RELATED LINKS:
New, free ARPG blends Diablo 4's combat with Escape From Tarkov's extraction
Stellar Blade dev's free action RPG Nikke gets surprise Resident Evil crossover
13 years after its reveal, sci-fi horror game Routine is back and launching soon