History YMMV / VampireTheMasqueradeBloodlines2

* TaintedByThePreview: A pre-alpha build of the game had a playable demo at 2019's E3, which was praised for its atmosphere and character writing. Unfortunately, what most people took away from it was the less-than-stellar gameplay, courtesy of a ''very'' poor playthrough blamed on IGN but actually due to the developer who played being exhausted that brought to the fore some clunky, unpolished combat and janky animations; one particularly unflattering gif of the player unloading a clip of ammo into a mook's head and not a ''single bullet'' connecting quickly went viral. For better or worse, the game's development was later restarted by The Chinese Room in the end anyway.
** Happened again, and arguably worse by the extended gameplay reveal in early 2024; showing a section where the player has to play through the same section with increasingly "creepy" variations multiple times; those variations including moving mannequins and floating books, none of which are explained and don't make sense within the TTRPGs lore and the context it is shown in the game. Combined with very limited dialogue options as well as the constant banter between the protagonist Phyre and the voice-in-her-head Fabien (a far departure from the atmospheric silences often used during the first game), this lead to the gameplay reveal being heavily derided by many fans of the original game.

* TaintedByThePreview: A pre-alpha build of the game had a playable demo at 2019's E3, which was praised for its atmosphere and character writing. Unfortunately, what most people took away from it was the less-than-stellar gameplay, courtesy of a ''very'' poor playthrough blamed on IGN but actually due to the developer who played being exhausted that brought to the fore some clunky, unpolished combat and janky animations; one particularly unflattering gif of the player unloading a clip of ammo into a mook's head and not a ''single bullet'' connecting quickly went viral. The same demo played through by other media sites was much better received, although worries that ''2'' looks set to barely, if at all improve on its predecessor's weakest aspect persist.

* SugarWiki/AwesomeMusic: The [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4e_RAsns1o8 main theme]] is a re-arrangement of the first game's menu music by returning composer Rik Schaffer, oozing even more atmosphere than before.

* AuthorsSavingThrow:
** Many of the returning Disciplines that had been made TierInducedScrappy in the first game have been confirmed to improve in order to better match their power and usefulness from the Tabletop game:
*** The {{Au|raVision}}spex Discipline was infamously reduced to underwhelming near-useless abilities aside from a small Wits and Perception bonus that was a pain to use properly due to the game's interface. This game apparently made a point of retooling it, adding back the beloved AstralProjection from the tabletop game, along with VeinOVision and captions allowing you to see what's important gameplay-wise in your surrounding.
*** [[CharmPerson Presence]], which had similarly been decried for being reduced to a not very dramatic buff in combat plus bonus dialogue options if you installed the patch, will now be much more powerful, allowing you to freeze and move entire crowds around you, along with dialogues options ''without'' the need for a patch.

* UnintentionallySympathetic: Discussed by Brian Mitsoda and Cara Ellison, who were surprised so many players chose to spare Slugg in the game demo, considering Slugg is apparently written to be a loser who tries to double cross and murder the player character for an incredibly petty motive.

* WinTheCrowd:
** The concept of the PlayerCharacter being a thin-blood was instantly contentious, with some fans worrying that their vampire's identity would thus be railroaded, divorcing from the much-beloved [[VampireVarietyPack clan system]]. The devs quickly confirmed that the player will still choose their clan, only that it wouldn't be immediate, and that character creation would occur twice: once for your human base, and again for your vampiric traits.
** One of the things everyone agreed [[ScrappyMechanic in the original game to be bad]] was the combat system, which was seen as clunky and not very dynamic. When this sequel was announced, the devs made a point of clarifying the combat system would be highly improved this time.
** A common minor complaint about the original game was that [[TheUnreveal you never were given any explanation about who the Fledgling's sire was and why they illegally embraced them]], instead having them [[DeathByOriginStory killed early in the game]] and never mentioned again, with many fans feeling this was [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasted potential]], especially given how sires were a rich source of lore and story in the tabletop game. Based on what we know about the sequel's story, finding out who Embraced the new protagonist and why will now be a major plot point of the story.
*** Another minor complaint was that other than a single conversation with an NPC, the game never addresses the fact that the PC was suddenly forced to leave their entire life, friends and family behind to join a completely unknown world as a vampire. The developers have claimed that due to the nature of the Mass Embrace, the player will meet several other thin-bloods and get to know their struggles with issues such as having to abandon their families and no longer having a place to live.
** Trailers officially confirmed that the fan-favorite clan, the Malkavians, will be a playable clan once again.
** Nosferatu are in the game, and one of them, Slugg, is actually a Nos ''thin-blood''.
** Damsel is back. Her voice actress too!

*** The [[AuraVision Auspex]] Discipline was infamously reduced to underwhelming near-useless abilities aside from a small Wits and Perception bonus that was a pain to use properly due to the game's interface. This game apparently made a point of retooling it, adding back the beloved AstralProjection from the tabletop game, along with VeinOVision and captions allowing you to see what's important gameplay-wise in your surrounding.
*** [[{{Glamour}} Presence]], which had similarly been decried for being reduced to a not very dramatic buff in combat plus bonus dialogue options if you installed the patch, will now be much more powerful, allowing you to freeze and move entire crowds around you, along with dialogues options ''without'' the need for a patch.

* NightmareFuel: In the Xbox Series X [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lLsFFRTADaA preview]], Mr. Damp's apartment filled with literal PeoplePuppets, which he dances merrily among to a cover of "Danke Schoen".

** A common minor complain about the original game was that [[TheUnreveal you never were given any explanation about who the Fledgling's Sire was and why they illegally embraced them]], instead having them [[DeathByOriginStory killed early in the game]] and never mentioned again, with many fans feeling this was [[TheyWastedAPerfectlyGoodCharacter wasted potential]], especially given how Sires were a rich source of lore and story in the tabletop game. Based on what we know about the sequel's story, finding out who Embraced the new protagonist and why will now be a major plot point of the story.

** Trailers officially confirmed that the fan favorite clan, the Malkavians, will be a playable clan once again.

** Nosferatu are in the game, and one of them, Slugg, is actually a Nos ''thinblood''.

* DuelingWorks: With ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' due to both being western [=RPGs=] based on cult favourite tabletop franchises, and (at one point) both due for release in the same ''month'' (March 2020, though neither hit this window by a long way in the end). So far there's not been enough room for comparison to declare a winner — though the less-than-stellar reception to ''Cyberpunk 2077'' upon release has prompted some ''Bloodlines 2'' fans to express relief that the latter has been delayed, instead of pushed out unfinished to ride the hype.

** Hardsuit Labs and Paradox's decision to delay the game's release (in a time where growing development costs and market realities make that an increasingly risky decision), explicitly citing how the original's ObviousBeta status and undercooked combat prevented it from being the mainstream success that it deserved to be and that they are adamant that ''Bloodlines 2'' will not make the same mistake.

* DuelingWorks: With ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' due to both being western [=RPGs=] based on cult favourite tabletop franchises, and (at one point) both due for release in the same ''month'' (March 2020, though neither hit this window by a long way in the end). So far there's not been enough room for comparison to declare a winner — though the less-than-stellar reception to ''Cyberpunk 2077'' upon release has prompted some ''Bloodlines 2'' fans to express relief that the latter has been delayed, instead of pushed out unfinished to ride the hype (see HistoryRepeats below).
* HistoryRepeats: Defied. There were concerns about the game releasing too early, (impressions of the game's E3 demo were that the game was still pretty raw, particularly the combat system) and doing so shortly before the release of ''Cyberpunk,'' possibly the most anticipated release of 2020, bringing up memories of the original game's release, which coincided so closely with ''VideoGame/HalfLife2''[='s=] release that it had a significant negative impact on sales. Paradox and Hardsuit Labs ultimately decided to delay the game from its initial Q1 2020 release date, a choice that has been much lauded by the fandom. It proved to be HilariousInHindsight, too, given that Valve did eventually announce a new mainline ''Half-Life'' game that had a release date close to Q1 2020, even if it was by pure coincidence.

* DuelingWorks: With ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' due to both being western [=RPGs=] based on cult favourite tabletop franchises, and (at one point) both due for release in the same ''month'' (March 2020, though neither hit this window by a long way in the end). So far there's not been enough room for comparison to declare a winner — though the less-than-stellar reception to ''Cyberpunk 2077'' upon release has prompted some ''Bloodlines 2'' fans to express relief that the latter has been delayed, instead of pushed out unfinished (see HistoryRepeats below).

* DuelingWorks: With ''VideoGame/Cyberpunk2077'' due to both being western [=RPGs=] based on cult favourite tabletop franchises, and (originally) due for release in the same year. So far there's not been enough room for comparison to declare a winner — though the less-than-stellar reception to ''Cyberpunk 2077'' upon release has prompted some ''Bloodlines 2'' fans to express relief that the latter has been delayed, instead of pushed out unfinished (see HistoryRepeats below).

* TroubledProduction: The game development team has lost multiple members of its senior staff over the course of the development; while some of these stem from concerns involving sexual harassment and the global pandemic, too many have been fired or left of their own accord in the span of three months for this to be a simple coincidence.

* BrokenBase: The choice to make only five of the Clans playable in the base game (in contrast with the original game, which gave you access to all seven Camarilla ones), with the other two only being promised as future [=DLCs=]. Some, in particular fans of the Nosferatu and Gangrel, are annoyed that their favourite Clans got the shaft, and criticize this choice as a typical cheap way from the company to make more money out of the game. Others aren't bothered since the two Clans will still become playable later anyway, and point out that reducing the number of starting Clans will allow to focus better on other more important elements. It was somewhat mitigated by having a choice of five ''factions'' to ally with.

*** Another minor complaint was that other than a single conversation with an NPC, the game didn't explore the consequences and effects of being suddenly forced to leave one's entire life, friends and family behind to join a completely unknown world as a vampire. The developers have claimed that due to the nature of the Mass Embrace, the player will meet several other thin-bloods and get to know their struggles with issues such as having to abandon their families and no longer having a place to live.

* NightmareFuel: In the Xbox Series X preview, Mr. Damp's apartment filled with literal PeoplePuppets, which he dances merrily among to a cover of "Danke Schoen".