Vampyr

A very immersive and enjoyable game taking place in London between world wars. Lots of interesting vampire references for fans of the genre, along with a believable story (all things considered) which delivers on many fronts.

I consider Vampyr to be a great example of a game that just needs a sequel to sand off the rough edges. In this action RPG, the player takes the role of Dr Jonathan Reid, a London doctor in the post-World War I era who happens to be infected by an vampire at the beginning of the narrative.

The player can choose whether to prey on the ailing humans they meet (the more they delve into their stories and help manage their illnesses the more EXP they're worth) or simply to help them and resist those blood-feasting urges. Doing the latter may well cause you to struggle in the frequent battles, as this is one of the primary sources of EXP. It's a similar situation to opting whether or not to harvest the Little Sisters in BioShock, with similar consequences.

The team has certainly crafted a dark, grim, and atmospheric rendition of London, but what really holds the game back is the lack of fast travel and the repetitive back-tracking that the story and sidequests can demand. The map really, really needs to show you where the NPCs are, too. If you're a gamer who absolutely needs buttery smooth performance, moreover, you won't find it here.

Combining creature collecting with survival mechanics felt refreshing and unique. The mix of wholesome and intense moments gave the game its own identity, keeping me hooked.

Vampyr was an impressive game from Dontnod that was held back due to technical problems.

The fact that you had to help the city but still hurt it to survive was such a challenging paradox to manage.