Vampyr Reviews
Vampyr did not live up to our expectations and did not reach the level of Life is Strange. So, if If you were expecting another Dontnod masterpiece, you'll be disappointed. If you're interested in setting, then it's probably worth a try, but only at a discount price.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Vampyr has a ton of interesting ideas, an intriguing world, and a great cast of characters, but is ultimately let down by its narrow-minded focus on unnecessary combat.
I want to like this game, I really do. But it's holding me back from doing so. Reading into it, I find a lot of near-depth, but nothing that the game actually employs has much depth to it. There are a ton of amazing aspects that boost the game, but its larger ambitions lies just outside the reach of its execution. But it is worth a try, and an admirable achievement. In truth, I think this game is more a 7.8, but I feel the current rating it has adequately describes its qualities, while acknowledging its flaws.
Vampyr puts the player at the centre of a very well written plot where many sub-plots intertwine, with the player's actions seriously affecting the narrative developments that follow. This alone is very much worthy of praise, but the game's gothic atmosphere is outstanding. Vampyr's rather long loading times and occasional unstable performance can feel frustrating at times but the game undoubtedly brings an added value to Nintendo Switch owners.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
If you're looking for something different this Halloween season, Vampyr is one of the most impressive horror games on the Nintendo Switch. If you're sold on the concept, this game definitely deserves your attention.
Vampyr simply disappoints in too many regards to recommend.
With a protagonist seeking to balance his dark instincts with his remaining humanity, it's interesting how Vampyr faces an inner struggle of its own. On one hand, the storytelling is excellent, delivering another great narrative from DONTNOD that forces players to make tough choices. On the other hand, the combat is a bit uneven and doesn't quite reach the same heights. It certainly has promise, though, and hopefully marks a return by DONTNOD to making games that add action to its narrative touch.
A small, technically not quite dewy masterpiece: Vampyr is multi-layered, atmospheric and exciting to the last drop.
Review in German | Read full review
Vampyr would've been far better as Jonathan Reid's Point and Click Tale of Moral Adversity than what we got, which was essentially Jonathan Reid's Mashy Exercise in Combat Frustration Sparsely Sprinkled With Plot. Games do not need combat sequences if those sequences do not serve the game's themes and story.
What's struck me most about my time with Vampyr is that it manages to turn you into a predator through its mechanics as much as it does with its storytelling. It does collapse under its own weight by the end, but the fact that it so effectively seduces you, almost trance-like, into roleplaying a villain makes it worth biting into.
Vampyr is a dark and dour adventure that drips atmosphere. Its shortcomings can be easily overlooked by anyone wanting a character-rich journey into darkness.
Vampyr might not be what many wanted after Life Is Strange, but it's still an enjoyable – well, as enjoyable as its grim nature allows – game nonetheless. It follows the modern action RPG template almost to a fault, but the agency the player has in shaping the districts by disease control and straight up murder is a lot more interesting than some of the moments in other games within the genre, where they present you a binary choice that pushes the plot forward. It's a decent idea holding up an otherwise solid game, but overall Vampyr is worth a look if you're looking for something to plug the gap in your life in this post- Witcher 3 world.
Ultimately, the sum of Vampyr's emphasis on story, combat, and progression combine to produce a video gaming experience that will appeal to those outside the RPG and adventure genres that it seeks to combine. My hope is that it finds its audience so that we might yet again see Dr. Reid on an even grander scale in the future.
Rather than going for size in the character roster, Dontnod might have done better to shoot for complexity.
Vampyr is a good surprise, with a delightful poetic and gothic atmosphere, a clever story and a satisfying system of choices. Sadly, its combat system is crippled by its locking mechanics especially, and most of the fights are not wall balanced. Despite this, Vampyr is a really good action-RPG.
Review in French | Read full review
Vampyr competently displays an understanding of combat, dialogue, and narrative choice, but it never rises above mediocrity, and is an utter failure on a technical level. The aesthetic of the world is the best thing on display, but beyond it lies a derivative title that fails to leave a lasting impression.
Despite the strikingly different premise from Life is Strange studio Dontnod, the team’s expertise in characterisation and world-building dovetail neatly into this vampire romp.
The immersive vampire RPG you never knew you needed.
Vampyr is ambitious for sure, but with ambition comes risk, and unfortunately, here it provides very little in the way of rewards.