Bye Sweet Carole vs Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

• Perspective: 2D Side-Scroller
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Early 20th Century England / Fantasy Kingdom
• Platforms: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, Nintendo Switch
• Unique Feature: A completely hand-drawn, cinematic horror adventure with a unique rabbit transformation mechanic, inspired by classic animated films and 90s adventure games.

• Perspective: First-Person (with Third-Person elements)
• Multiplayer: Single-Player Only
• Setting: Modern-Day Seattle
• Platforms: PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S
• Unique Feature: A dual-perspective narrative that blends the action-RPG combat of a powerful Elder vampire (Phyre) with the non-combat, detective gameplay of a thinblood (Fabien).

• Fabien: A constant narrative companion who is trapped in Phyre's mind. He provides commentary, 'buddy-cop' banter, and is playable during flashback investigation segments.
  Vampire (Thinblood consciousness)

• Puzzle Items: Found throughout Bunny Hall and Corolla. These are useful objects that must be collected and used at the opportune moment to solve puzzles, in the style of classic point-and-click adventure games.
• Lore Notes: Documents, letters, and environmental clues that piece together the story of Carole's disappearance and the secrets of the world.

• Blood Resonances: Gained from feeding on specific mortals. Collecting enough of one type (Melancholic, Sanguine, Choleric) allows Phyre to learn new clan Disciplines.
• Lore Items: Found through exploration and in Fabien's investigation sequences, these items provide context for the game's central mystery.

• Horror
• Adventure
• 2D Platformer
• Hand-Drawn
• Dark Fairytale
• Mystery
• Psychological

• Vampire
• Urban Fantasy
• Gothic-Punk
• Action RPG
• Narrative-Driven
• Noir
• Mystery

• Unarmed / Claws: Melee
  Phyre's primary form of combat. Players fight with punches, kicks, and unlockable claw attacks. Phyre cannot equip traditional melee weapons or guns.
• Disciplines (Vampire Powers): Supernatural
  The main 'weapon' system. Players use blood points to activate powerful abilities from six different clans, such as boiling an enemy's blood (Tremere) or unleashing a hail of punches (Brujah).
• Telekinesis: Supernatural
  An innate ability to mentally grab, pull, and throw objects and enemies. Can also be used to 'shoot' dropped firearms.

• Cosmetic Outfits: Players can customize Phyre's outfit. The Deluxe Edition includes the 'Santa Monica Memories' cosmetic pack with items to decorate Phyre's haven. The Expansion Pass also includes outfits for Phyre.

The game does not feature a traditional skill or upgrade system. Progression is tied to puzzle-solving and acquiring key items. Lana's primary ability is her magical transformation into a rabbit, which is essential for escaping threats and platforming. There are no combat upgrades; the focus is on stealth and evasion.

The game features a streamlined progression system with no traditional leveling or stats. Players choose one of four starting clans (Banu Haqim, Brujah, Tremere, Ventrue) and unlock their core abilities within the first few hours. Players can acquire Disciplines (abilities) from the other clans by feeding on specific clan contacts, with the cost varying based on their starting clan's affinities. Lasombra and Toreador clans were added to the base game after fan backlash.

The game features a linear, 2D structure. Players explore two main settings: the hostile and austere Bunny Hall orphanage and the mysterious, creepy kingdom of Corolla. The gameplay involves moving back and forth between these two realities, where actions in one can influence the other.

The game features a seamless open world, dividing Seattle into five distinct districts: Uptown, Financial, Downtown, Chinatown, and Industrial. While described as an open world, the game is a condensed, focused, and linear experience, with exploration often criticized as 'empty' and side content as 'repetitive filler'.

• Lana Benton: Playable Protagonist
  A young girl at Bunny Hall orphanage who is investigating the disappearance of her best friend, Carole.
• Mr. Kyn: Antagonist
  A sinister, menacing man in a cylindrical hat who controls the kingdom of Corolla and relentlessly pursues Lana.
• Mr. Baesie: Companion / Protector
  A kind, headless silver gentleman who guards the kingdom of Corolla and acts as Lana's faithful companion.
• Velenia: Antagonist
  A ruthless and ominous owl that serves as a threat to Lana.
• Tar Bunnies: Enemies
  Swarms of ravenous, nightmarish rabbit-like creatures that plague the world.

• Phyre: Playable Protagonist
  A 400-year-old Elder vampire (The Nomad) who awakens in modern-day Seattle. Fully customizable and voiced.
• Fabien: Playable Protagonist / Companion
  A Malkavian thinblood detective from the 1920s whose consciousness is trapped in Phyre's mind. He serves as a secondary playable character during flashback investigation sequences.
• Lou Graham: Key NPC
  The influential former Prince of Seattle. Voiced by Jane Perry.
• Tolly: Key NPC
  The Prince's spymaster and a member of the Nosferatu clan, known for his friendly personality. Voiced by David Menkin.
• Katsumi: Faction Leader
  The leader of the Anarchs and Thinbloods in Seattle.

• Main Story Campaign
  A linear, cinematic story that follows Lana Benton as she investigates the disappearance of her friend Carole, jumping between the real world and the fantasy kingdom of Corolla to solve puzzles and uncover a dark secret.

• Main Story Campaign
  A 25-30 hour linear, narrative-driven campaign following Phyre's quest to uncover a century-old vampire serial killer and the mystery of the magical brand on their hand.
• Fabien's Flashbacks
  Non-combat, adventure-game-style investigation sequences where the player controls Fabien in the 1920s to solve puzzles and gather clues for the main mystery.
• Side Quests
  Optional, repetitive 'busywork' quests, such as fetch quests, delivery missions, or killing specific targets, which reward XP and blood resonance points.

The game is available in Standard, Deluxe, and Premium Editions. The Deluxe Edition includes the 'Santa Monica Memories' cosmetic pack. The Premium Edition includes all Deluxe content plus an Expansion Pass for two post-launch story packs: 'Loose Cannon' (starring Benny Muldoon) and 'The Flower & the Flame' (starring Ysabella Moore), both slated for 2026.

• Q: What is Bye Sweet Carole?
  A: It is a 2D cinematic horror-adventure game with a completely hand-drawn art style inspired by classic animated films. It was created by Chris Darril, the director of the Remothered series.
• Q: Is there combat in the game?
  A: No. The gameplay is focused on puzzle-solving, platforming, and stealth. Players must run and hide from enemies rather than fight them directly.
• Q: What is the rabbit transformation?
  A: It is Lana's main ability, allowing her to transform into a rabbit to run faster, jump higher, and escape through small passages. This is essential for both platforming and evading enemies.
• Q: What games is it inspired by?
  A: Its horror and stealth elements are inspired by the original Clock Tower, while its platforming is similar to Cuphead. The overall adventure game feel is a homage to 90s classics like Dragon's Lair and Heart of Darkness.

• Q: What is Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2?
  A: It is a single-player, first-person action RPG set in the World of Darkness. It's a sequel to the 2004 cult classic, but features a new developer (The Chinese Room) and a new protagonist, an Elder vampire named Phyre.
• Q: Is it an open-world RPG like the first game?
  A: It's more of a focused, linear, narrative-driven experience. While it has a seamless open-world map of Seattle, critics found the world 'empty' and the side quests 'repetitive,' with the game's strength being its main story and characters, not its sandbox.
• Q: How is combat different from the first game?
  A: The combat is primarily first-person and melee-focused (punches, kicks, claws). The player cannot equip weapons. Instead, you rely on your supernatural 'Disciplines' (vampire powers) and an innate telekinesis ability to fight.
• Q: Do I need to play the first Bloodlines to understand this?
  A: No. While it is a sequel, it features a new story, a new protagonist, and a new city. It is designed to be a fresh entry point into the franchise.

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS from the game's Steam page. The requirements are modest, reflecting the game's 2D, hand-drawn nature.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance should be excellent on most modern hardware. Even laptops with capable integrated graphics may be able to run the game, though a dedicated GPU is recommended.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.
• Game Name: Bye Sweet Carole

• OFFICIAL PC SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS. These specifications reflect the demands of the Unreal Engine 5 build and support for ray tracing.
• Laptop Performance Note: Laptop performance will vary based on the model's cooling and TGP. The game's open-world districts and high-fidelity visuals can be demanding. An SSD is strongly recommended.
• Laptop Consideration: G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain stable framerates.
• Laptop Consideration: Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• Laptop Consideration: C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics-based combat.
• Laptop Consideration: M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the first-person combat.
• Game Name: Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines 2

• G P U T G P: Not a critical factor for this title, as it is not graphically intensive.
• Cooling Thermals: The game is not demanding enough to stress modern cooling systems.
• C P U Power Limits: Any modern mobile CPU will handle the game with ease.
• M U X Switch Optimus: Not a critical feature, but beneficial for reducing latency in any game.

• G P U T G P: Maximum TGP for the laptop's GPU is essential to handle the advanced graphical features, ray tracing, and maintain stable framerates.
• Cooling Thermals: The game's visually rich world and intense combat will require a laptop with a cutting-edge cooling solution to prevent thermal throttling.
• C P U Power Limits: A powerful multi-core mobile CPU will be critical for handling the complex AI and physics-based combat.
• M U X Switch Optimus: A MUX switch or NVIDIA Advanced Optimus is a critical feature for reducing latency and ensuring the best possible performance in the first-person combat.