How disappointing. A complete downgrade from its predecessor.
This game struggles with a new writing team. A lot of the problem here lies with Aleksander Borzowski. Previously, Zięba had dominant narrative roles in Coteries. However, Borszowski has all the major roles in Shadows, from story, writing, and conceptualization. The reins being given to him! And it is very clear... he is not a talented writer. In this VN, you are no longer given access to a choice of character, but rather you have one made for you: Julia, a Lasombra. This is already a downgrade from Coteries, which allows you to choose between Ventrue, Brujah, or Toreador. But there's nothing INHERENTLY wrong with having a more linear, directed character, it can help you roleplay better. And I do love me Lasombra kindred.
Unfortunately, our protagonist Julia is not well done. The main character is effectively the writer's self-insert. Surprise it is to me when I googled Borszowski to find that he was an independent journalist, and his brand new vampire OC is also an independent journalist.
"Yes, let's see, this vampire should be extremely attractive, and also goth and alt, because I'm super edgy like that. And not only is she one of the best journalists in New York City, but she is one of the best in the world. She's also hated by all her co-workers, because she's simply so attractive and cool, and good at her job. She's so good at her job, that everyone is conspiring against her. She's also a martial arts expert, and has a hot girlfriend, and is sexy, and lots of people respect her, especially important people. She's immediately given one of the most important roles in the city 2 days after she is embraced, because she is simply so talented and awesome."
This is just so juvenile. I have nothing against a self-insert, but this is just so on the nose, that it is a clown nose. You can tell this guy was given the ability to write anything he wanted, and turned this story entirely into his personal vanity project. He wanted his Tumblr OC (do not steal), who is a Mary Sue, and also the coolest, bad-assest hot goth baddie you've ever seen (she has a psychedelic alt gf by the way), to be the most important person in the entire Vampire the Masquerade saga because it fellates his ego.
And that's just so sad. Part of what made Coteries so fun is that you felt like a unique person. You were embraced suddenly, the choices gave ambiguity on your purpose, and you felt like a true upstart, while also being played as a pawn. Here, in Shadows, because the story is so focused on the author's narrow-minded view of his super cool goth-baddie-vampire, not only can you not roleplay as the fledgling you are, but you also have to take these massive leaps of faith to presume this person is as competent as they're represented, even though there's no earned reason for why they are as cool, calculated, and talented as they are.
If that were the only issue, I'd be forgiving, but the writing problems run deeper. There are GIANT scenes where literally nothing happens. Why am I watching a mugger, someone I don't know or care about, mug some person, and they're talking about how cool and awesome their martial arts are, name dropping martial arts techniques and specific martial artists? ...... DURING A MUGGING?! Oh, because the lead writer is really into martial arts, and he wants to make himself feel cool by showing his EPIC KNOWLEDGE of martial arts. Why is my tinder date (why am I on a tinder date as a kindred?) waxing poetic on obscure Japanese cinema, at great length, name dropping directors and giving extremely uninsightful diatribe on the half-boiled, unintelligent perception of this film? Oh, because the author is a snobby loser, and wants to flex his film knowledge, so he wrote it into the story. I hope you enjoy lots of film "deep cuts" tossed in halhazardly, because it's half of the text. "She's single white femaling me." Oh, I'm sorry I didn't pick up on your obscure reference to 1992's cult-film "Single White Female" directed by Barbet Schroeder, but I hate to break it to you, "single white femaling" is not a verb.
This is just sad. This goes on to the named characters of the previous game, who feel like they're cameos of different actors reprising roles that aren't theirs; like watching the cover band performance of someone far greater. It's not that the spark of their original characterization is gone; I can still see them in some scenes. But it's clear the text, and the author, are not interested in them, and are more interested in THEIR OCs, telling THEIR story, which is super cool by the way, and super referential and knowledgeable and intelligent, and you probably don't even get the references because they're too cool for you flips hair.
At least there are some things to compliment, mostly the parts the lead writer wasn't responsible for. The music and art, just like Coteries, is stunning work. The music is dark and tense, but also has range to upbeat and melancholic, great stuff; the art is beautiful, both the character art and background art, and I really love the consistent emphasis on pink in color palettes. The larger story itself, as well, isn't bad. It doesn't hit the highs of the previous, and is very weighed down by the fluffy faffing, as aforementioned. However, the murder mystery herein is competent, and I liked the general uncovering of this strange mystery, even if the endings are a bit milquetoast.
But man... don't let this guy near a screenplay ever again. It was agonizing to read through this, particularly when there are 5-8 minute long conversations about NOTHING. It feels so vapid, which is such a shame. Vampire the Masquerade, as a series, can carry such cool vibes because of its heritage, but titles like this are like wearing an extremely expensive cocktail dress and then rolling around in a pig pen. It serves no purpose, you ruined your clothes, and all for what? Just to have some fun in the mud? Make your own story for that, don't weigh down an iconic series with your waffling, sniveling, Reddit-tier fanfic.
