Funny, I've seen a few people discard this game because of a few PC reviews. There are 2 things to note, one is that a patch was released for the game that made a huge difference in the gameplay and thus in the opinions of the reviews (as noted by the reviews), and two, if you read more than just one or two PC reviews, you will see that some give it 9 out of 10, and 5 out of 5 stars. Common praises for the game seem to focus on the stroyline, graphics and sound. I posted some review exerpts to read below if interested.
One thing I have to say is that it would almost be a tragedy for any Mac gamer not to play this game. And perhaps after reading the exerps below you might agree with me....
"While the amazing quality of the graphics lured me in, it is the storyline that kept me playing night after night into the very early morning hours. Finally I retired, like my characters, when the sun arose. The story and plot of this game are amazing. This is the most involved plot I have ever seen with any computer game, and propels the title instantly into the "best of all time" list, at least for me. As icing on the top of the cake, there is a multiplayer option that lets players actually create levels for the game. In all, Vampire delivers what few computer RPGs ever could: an engaging story, wonderful graphics and even a full editor."
John Breeden
GameIndustryNews
"The sound and visuals of this game are truly intense. One of the things that caught my interest almost immediately was the voice acting. No bad accents in this game. 100% pure talent was hired and man did they do one hell of a good job. The ambient background noises were also quite chilling and made me look around my dark crypt like bedroom at times, especially when you’re inside the Tower of London. The soundtrack was pretty decent as well with heavy influences from the time periods they are set to. Even more impressive though is that the graphics in Redemption are some of the nicest I’ve ever seen. Great animation in the cut-scenes makes the story progress very well and very smoothly. The edge for this game lies in the fact that its looks and sounds beautiful...."
Dave Montowski
GamersPulse
"The game engine supports complete 3D environments and characters, along with dynamic lighting, advanced real-time [4 point] shadowing, and an easy point and click gameplay system. The character models and levels are incredible. This game is full of 3D cut-scenes, where character movement is crucial, and Vampire: Masquerade Redemption performs beautifully. The characters' mouths move very closely to the actual words being spoken in real-time. Their movements are solid and believable. The textures for their clothing, armor, weapons, and hair are all very realistic. The game also sports detailed animations for hair, sleeves, dresses, and capes waving in the wind and while running. There are also several examples of reflective surfaces, which look gorgeous! The game supports up to 4 unique shadows per character... the shadows are cast as they would be in real life. They will bend up walls, follow the contour of steps, and down to the ground from a high ledge. Basically, if you haven't gotten the idea already, the graphics are stunning. [also] For the first time in a long time, I've really noticed the sound effects and music in this game. Usually effects sound pretty normal to me and I don't think too much about them. I've been paying more attention to these aspects in my recent games now, and I must say that Vampire has the best mood-setting music I've heard since perhaps Castlevania: Symphony of the Night for PSX. No matter which new room or new level I walk into, the music is always preparing you for what kind of action you should expect, as well as describing the look of the current level. I think it blends beautifully."
Brian Federici,
PC Gameworld
"This is the first game I’ve seen with realistic shadows. If there are 4 light sources surrounding you, then you have 4 realistically slowing shadows that move with the candlelight. This game is very fun to play, easy to get into, and awe inspiring graphics pull you in even deeper. Great audio also adds a bonus to this game’s score. The story line is one of the best I’ve seen in many games in a long time... No one, living or dead has any excuse to not play this game."
James Sonne
3D GameGear.com
****
I played the demo on a PC a while back and found it to be a very unique game that really held my interest (and I rarely find games outside the FPS genre that can hold my interest. While Vampire is categrozed an RPG, it's not like traditional RPGs like Baldurs Gate nor hack and slash RPGs like Diablo II). I just hope that Summoner (another great game in the same genre) does not detract from Vampire's potential, because I really think Mac gamers should not miss this game. So if you have already decided you're just not into it, perhaps it deserves a second look. It should be out soon, prob by MWNY.
Cheers,
TG3
MacGamersReview
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