DESCRIPTION

He is immortal. For 800 years he was a warrior, a lover and a wanderer. His name is Christof Romuald, a crusader who is wounded in battle against evil but is rescued by the beautiful nun Anezka. The weary Christof begins to fall in love with her, realizing his feelings betray his own religious upbringing. One night he is attacked by the Brujah clan and fate befalls him, as he becomes one of them — a vampire, a son of Cain!

Based on the White Wolf pen-and-paper RPG, Nihilistic Software and Activision's Vampire: The Masquerade — Redemption is a story-driven, single and multi-player 3D game that utilizes a third person, three-quarter top-down view, with zoom and free-roaming camera features. Starting in ancient Prague, you fight vampires, gargoyles, hunters, werewolves and dozens of other evil creatures. You'll explore towns, mines, tombs, sewers, castles and factories as you travel across Vienna, London and all the way to the streets of modern day New York.

There are numerous treasures, weapons and potions to collect throughout the course of gameplay as you build your statistics and upgrade your abilities. Dozens and dozens of weapons, ammunition and defenses include assault rifles, grenades, rockets, flame-throwers, multitudes of swords, axes and halberds, shields, helmets, gloves, necklaces, amulets, rings, crossbows, stakes, holy water and a whole host of others.

Take advantage of your vampire disciplines (spells) such as Beckoning, Eye of the Beholder, Prison of Ice, Mesmerize, Shape of the Beast and many more. If you need to save your game, increase attributes (rest) or put away items, the Walk the Abyss discipline allows you to enter a portal back to your haven.

The Tremeres, Tzimisce and Giovanni are but a few of the many mortal and immortal enemies you face along your journey. Gain the trust of fellow vampires and enlist them in your party. Up to three can join you in your quest to eliminate the evil, to make sense of your new vampire-like existence and ultimately to find out what happened to your beloved Anezka. Is there no end to this madness? Will there be redemption?

In multiplayer mode, you can become a storyteller and control NPCs and events, as well as lay out the map for those who dare enter your world. Play online over the Internet or across a LAN using WON.net's gaming service. If you become the host, you can give your players quests and rewards and even take control over any NPC at any time. Unlike the single-player mode, this mode does not include full speech.

Presenting a unique game engine that allows for customization of graphic and audio options, Vampire: The Masquerade — Redemption invites your warmly welcomed blood. For a limited time during release of the standalone version, a collector's edition that includes two CDs, a manual, a limited edition hardcover Book of Nod, a Camarilla pendant and a Bradygames mini-strategy guide was available (c. mid-2000). ~ Cal Nguyen, All Game Guide