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VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE – COTERIES OF NEW YORK, TAMASHII


VAMPIRE: THE MASQUERADE – COTERIES OF NEW YORK PC


Draw Distance Fans of White Wolf’s classic roleplaying


game Vampire: The Masquerade have been clamouring for an- other World of Darkness (WoD) adventure in the wake of 2004’s Bloodlines. With a sequel to that cult favourite set for release in 2020, Polish developer Draw Distance adds to the excitement with Coteries of New York, a visual novel that utilizes the classic Vampire sourcebook New York By Night. Though it sports some wonderful writing and moody characterization, the game’s limited scale sometimes gets in the way of its mostly excellent narrative. As a fledgling who’s embraced without approval from New York’s Prince (think head vampire), you’re thrust into the warring egos and systems of belief that belong to the city’s centuries-old denizens. After being taken in by an affluent and mysterious To- reador named Sophie Langley, players mosey their way through a Camarilla and Anarch turf war while simultaneously trying to grow a contact list of cold-mannered, hot-headed kindred. Much of Coteries of New York is exactly what you would expect from a visual novel, though character and background artwork is particularly impressive. There are also some pretty slick ambi- ent effects; the leering eyes of a driver as they chauffeur players


MISFIRES: STORY’S CONCLUSION IS LACKLUSTRE


around on a drizzly night, the pulsing lights and throbbing bass of the nightclubs. Though the game features an engrossing plot full of beguiling bloodsuckers hailing from most of the seven major clans, Cote- ries of New York’s story falters in its final moments, where much of the cryptic intrigue is revealed to have risen from a particularly shallow grave. A robust glossary system that


0 0 0 0 HEADSHOTS: LOVELY AMBIENT EFFECTS, GRIPPING CHARACTERS AND NARRATIVE TAMASHII


PS4, Xbox One, Switch Vikintor


If there’s one subgenre that lends itself to the simple aesthetic of ’90s gaming, it’s J-horror: as titles such as Corpse Party, Yume Nikki, and even EarthBound have demonstrated, the rudimenta- ry and cheerful sprites found in Japanese games of that era are perfect for concealing darkness that lurks just below the surface. Enter Tamashii, an indie gem from early 2019 that has final- ly arrived to haunt the console of your choice. Featuring a hefty amount of challenge and some very unsettling level design, Tamashii is a brief but satisfying puzzle-platformer that’s worth spending a weekend with.


Players take control of a masked stranger who’s beckoned to assist a winged, pyramid-headed entity at cleansing a night- marish hellscape of the evil that’s taken hold. As the game pro- gresses, however, it becomes increasingly difficult to discern the oppressor from the oppressed and just who or what is actually the cause of suffering in Tamashii’s world. Gameplay resembles a satanic take on Super Meat Boy, dou-


keeps track of terminology along the way is one of the game’s best features, though, making Coteries the most beginner-friendly VtM game yet.


The degree to which you fancy the visu- al novel format is sure to affect how much mileage you’ll get out of Coteries of New York, but it serves as a tremendously solid introduction to the WoD and should whet the appetites of any ghouls anxious to sink their fangs into Bloodlines 2 later this year.


EVAN MILLAR


ble-jumping your way through a series of chambers accessible from a central hub. In addition to your leaping prowess, success relies on players’ ability to utilize three very creepy clones in strategic locations, activat- ing switches and clearing a path to whatever horror awaits on the next screen. Though it’s relatively straightforward in its design and concept, Tamashii’s biggest strength is its carefully crafted atmosphere and obvious homage to classic gaming. Every boss encountered is pure nightmare fuel, and even well-worn tropes (such as the game appearing to suddenly “glitch out”) are utilized in the very best of ways. If there’s one aspect of the game that’s just not up to par, it’s the overall length. Though a time trial mode is included here to add replay value, an unlockable difficulty or free roam option would have helped keep things interesting after the final credits roll.


0 0 0 0 HEADSHOTS: AESTHETIC IS PERFECT FOR J-HORROR FANS, DELIGHTFULLY DERANGED BOSSES/STAGES MISFIRES: LACK OF ADDITIONAL GAMEPLAY MODES MAY LIMIT REPLAY VALUE R M 60


Still, if you like your scares served up on a tantalizingly nostalgic platter, Tamashii is one of the most deliciously oddball platform- ers to come along in quite some time.


EVAN MILLAR


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