Vampyr is the PRG currently in development at studio Dontnod, the team that’s currently being showered with praise for its work on episodic adventure game Life is Strange.
We haven’t heard much about it since it was revealed at a press event earlier in the year, but now the first teaser trailer has emerged, along with a pretty hefty plot synopsis:
“Vampyr is set in early 20th century Britain as the country is gripped by the lethal Spanish flu and the streets of London are crippled by disease, violence and fear. In a disorganized and ghostly city, those foolish, desperate, or unlucky enough to walk the streets lay prey to Britain’s most elusive predators: the vampires. Emerging from the chaos, a tormented figure awakens. You are Jonathan E. Reid, a high-ranking military surgeon transformed into a vampire upon his return home from the frontline.”
As with the excellent Vampire: Bloodlines, the main narrative tension here is between your wish to retain your humanity, and your desperate addiction to the red stuff. “Absolutely all” the characters in the game are walking blood banks, and it sounds like there’s a vaguely Hitman-esque element to stalking and eventually pouncing on your intended victim. Kill someone, however, and they’re unlikely to be able to help you out in the future.
”There will be times when exploration and seduction will only get you so far, and you’ll need to resort to engaging in Vampyr’s dynamic real-time combat. It blends hard-hitting melee combat with ranged shooting mechanics and the supernatural vampire powers. You’ll face many types of enemies: different species of vampires and creatures, as well as vampire hunters who want to hunt you down with their weapons, tools and traps. In Vampyr, your health and the “energy” that drives your supernatural powers are one and same! Using powers will drain your own blood, giving you an edge in battle but also leaving you weaker. You will have to find a way to feed during combat to replenish your strength.”
Basically, if the game is half as clever and fun (and maybe a bit less janky) than Bloodlines, I’m pretty much sold. There’s a while left to wait, though – Vampyr will release in 2017 for PC and consoles.
