As a fan of the game, for years I considered the story to be little more than a vehicle for the game’s superb mechanics and setting - basically fine, but nothing exceptional. Yet one aspect of the game that gets comparatively little attention is its story and themes. Even its famously buggy, unstable state at launch gave way to fan-made patches that went as far as to reinstate cut content, galvanising a community around the game that persists to this day. Its deep lore, evocative se tting, character customisation and openness to player choice make it a classic of the first-person RPG genre alongside more well-known games suchas Deus Ex and System Shock 2. Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines is a cult classic for many reasons.
