download the new version for ipod Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong

The concept of a vampire therapist is probably the closest to a joke that Swansong gets, but his disturbingly domineering demeanour toward Leysha overrides the inherent absurdity in the idea, and their storyline delivers the best twists in the game.

The strongest of these is Leysha's toxic relationship with her vampire therapist. The central mystery surrounding who's behind the attack is intriguing, while the character conflicts produce some stimulating drama. There are also some decent ideas explored in the story itself. But a little exploration reveals a new character, and a potentially very different outcome to both the scene and the entire story. She eventually escapes, and can head straight for a confrontation with the warlock's leader. In an early example, Emem heads to the base of the warlocks to attempt a reconciliation, but ends up tossed in their underground dungeon. Narrative choices are both extensive and genuinely affect the trajectory of the plot. The lacklustre writing undermines the rest of the game, which is a shame, as there is some ambition on show. Unfortunately, she's accompanied by a profoundly irritating child vampire called Halsey, and her character arc revolves largely around her affection for the bothersome goblin she calls 'sugar fangs'.

Leysha is the strongest character, with her polite, slightly anxious demeanour masking a deep psychological instability. Emem's rebellious streak, meanwhile, mostly manifests in petulant whining that makes her difficult to empathise with. In fact, 47 is arguably the more expressive of the two, as at least he'll crack the odd pun while he's garrotting some trust-fund ghoul. Galeb is a vampiric Agent 47, with a persona that runs little deeper than his suit. The bigger problem, however, is how muted each character's personality is. The lacklustre writing undermines the rest of the game. This isn't to say that everyone should be quipping like they're in a Marvel movie, but compared to the fireworks-display of a script that Bloodlines has, Swansong's dialogue is flatter than a hedgehog on a highway. Nearly every character is droningly serious, delivering exposition in thick, flavourless spoonfuls like cod liver oil. To begin with, the script is almost entirely humourless.

Download the new version for ipod Vampire: The Masquerade – Swansong