Review: Vampire the Masquerade: Coteries of New York

I picked up Vampire the Masquerade: Coteries of New York during the Steam Halloween sale for $10. The game is pitched as an “interactive novel” and is based on the role playing game.

This review is based on ten and a half hours of play while completing the game with all three available characters.

Vampire the Masquerade is placed in the present day. Vampires are real. They attempt to hide their presence from humanity “the Masquerade.” There are multiple types of vampires with different powers. The vampires have clans, cliques, power-plays and lots of intrigue.

In Coteries of New York you choose one of three characters to play. Your choice of characters gives you minor play differences during the game – so choose whatever strikes your fancy. There are a large number of set encounters and a limited number of encounters you can choose.

Your options are limited. The story line will largely play out the same regardless of your choice of character or your choices within the game.

This is a reading heavy game. If you are unwilling to read large amounts of text, this game is not for you. The images fit the narrative and the music and sound effects go along with the story.

Regardless of your character choice, you are turned into a vampire by an unknown individual. Your character has to learn how their powers and limitations work, while surviving in the cutthroat vampire society. You do not know who to trust, and there are multiple mysteries going on in the story line that your choices have little impact on.

I’ve played the two personal computer role playing games in the Vampire: The Masquerade world. Vampire: The Masquerade Bloodlines is an excellent (though somewhat buggy) game. The first release was very buggy and the early video/rpg work in that game gave me vertigo.

I took me five hours to play through the game the first time. During that playthrough, I carefully read the narrative and thought through my choice of options. My other two playthroughs were done to ensure that I had not missed any main points and to determine the replay value of the game.

While well done, Coteries of New York has almost zero replay value. The story is memorable, but it is pretty much just one story. If you run through the game twice and run down the leads you lacked time to pursue during your first play – you have seen everything the game has to offer.

I enjoyed it – but I looked at it as an immersive “choose your own adventure” that was well written and gave me five hours of enjoyment. For $10 (on sale), it was about the cost of a movie and was pretty entertaining and moody.

If a five hour, reading experience interactive novel in this game world seems like a good time for you – then you should buy it. If the lack of replay value, cost, or interest in this game world does not fit your interests – then avoid this game.