Vampyr: A Deep Dive into London’s Darkest RPG
Welcome to the world of Vampyr. Get ready for a gothic experience. You are a vampire doctor in 1918 London. The mood is dark and morally complex. This is not a love story. Expect existential dread during gameplay.
Let’s break this down. We will cover saving your progress and the many endings. This guide serves as your survival manual. Trust me, you need it for the dangers of Whitechapel and beyond.
Saving Your Neck (and Your Progress): Save Game Data Location
First, let’s discuss saving your game. Losing hours of gameplay is like getting a stake through the heart. Many players will understand that pain.
Vampyr features a save system. But finding those save files can be tricky. I will help you locate them.
Where to Find Your Save Games: A Platform-by-Platform Breakdown
Your save game location depends on your version of Vampyr. The locations can be bothersome. We’re smarter than that, so here’s how to find them:
- Windows (Standard Installation): If you installed Vampyr through Steam, your saves are in the Local AppData folder. Use this path:
%LOCALAPPDATA%AVGameSavedSaveGames
Paste it into File Explorer to find your files.
- Microsoft Store Version: Downloaded from the Microsoft Store? Your saves are hidden in package files:
%LOCALAPPDATA%PackagesFocusHomeInteractiveSA.VAMPYR_4hny5m903y3g0LocalCacheLocalAVGameSavedSaveGames
Good luck typing that out.
- Steam Play (Linux Users): Running Vampyr through Steam Play? Your saves are within the Proton layer. Navigate to:
<SteamLibrary-folder>/steamapps/compatdata/427290/pfx/
Just replace <SteamLibrary-folder> with your actual path.
Knowing this saves you from heartache later. Backing up saves is smart in this game where decisions matter. Understanding file locations is crucial if you’re into save scumming.
Navigating the Moral Maze: Unveiling Vampyr’s Multiple Endings
This game thrives on choices and their impacts. Your actions as Dr. Jonathan Reid will ripple through London. Each choice affects your fate, leading to several distinct endings.
Four Shades of Finality: A Breakdown of Vampyr’s Endings
Vampyr features four distinct endings. Each of these endings will challenge your morality, spinning your compass wildly. They depend on how you feed and manage London’s districts. Let’s break down each ending.
The “Good” (Pacifist – Traveller) Ending: The Saintly Surgeon
Imagine playing as a vampire without feeding on anyone. That’s the “Good (Pacifist – Traveller)” ending. To achieve this, resist blood throughout the game. You cannot snack on citizens at all. You must also protect key citizens in each district.
This path is a test of willpower. Survive only on rats or insects. Busy yourself with non-interference while navigating London. This ending brands you the “Traveller.” You choose a path of minimal impact on humanity.
The “Bad” (Evil – Mourderous) Ending: London’s Ruin, Your Undead Reign
In contrast, the “Bad (Evil – Mourderous)” ending requires you to embrace your monstrosity. Feed on citizens at every chance, making London your buffet. You’ll cause chaos and collapse in all districts.
This ending depicts you as a “Mourderous” vampire, a plague upon humanity. Well done. You have shown yourself as a bloodthirsty entity without subtlety.
The “Good” (Risky – Balanced) Ending: Walking the Razor’s Edge
Now for a more nuanced outcome—the “Good (Risky – Balanced)” ending. Here, you’ll indulge your urges but with restraint. Feed selectively and manage risks carefully. This is a dance with danger as you navigate your cravings.
This ending represents balance but comes with consequences. You should prove even vampires can practice moderation sometimes. This makes you a “balanced” character in this morally grey narrative.
The “Bad” (Evil – Tragic) Ending: The Slippery Slope of Sin
The last path is the “Bad (Evil – Tragic)” ending for those who start with good intentions but falter. You must feed on more than just a few people, leading to tragic ramifications. You’ll face consequences for losing control over urges.
This outcome represents a fall from grace rather than malice. You become a cautionary tale about temptation. Did you mean to doom London? Probably not, yet cravings took over.
Multiple Paths, Multiple Outcomes: Your Choices Matter
Let’s remember: Vampyr demands choices and consequences. Your decisions shape the story. Feeding, interactions, and district fates are crucial elements in creating your narrative. The game tracks every action keenly, affecting the ending you will receive.
Reflection on your vampiric journey is essential. There isn’t a single “right” way to play unless you aim for a specific outcome. The beauty of Vampyr lies in its moral ambiguity. It lets you define your undead ethics or lack thereof.
Do you want to be a blood-sucking monster? That is fine. Want to embody vampire virtue? Good luck with that. The choice is yours. Remember, every sip, every life taken, shapes London and the ending you deserve. Choose wisely or don’t. It’s your unlife.
Gameplay Mechanics, Choices, and Consequences in Vampyr
Now that we’ve covered the various endings, let’s delve into the core gameplay mechanics of Vampyr. This is not just a walking simulator; there’s actual gameplay here. It’s an action-RPG blend with investigation and moral decisions that challenge your humanity.
To Kill or Not to Kill: A Vampire’s Dilemma
The central gameplay loop of Vampyr revolves around whether to feed on humans. This isn’t a straightforward good vs. evil choice, though the game nudges you. It’s a strategic decision with major consequences.
The Pacifist Path: A Challenge for Dedicated Players
Remember that “Good (Pacifist)” ending? Achieving it requires more than moral strength; it requires gameplay dedication. Vampyr tells you that feeding on citizens makes the game easier. Blood equals experience points (XP), and XP fuels your powers.
Is it possible to finish Vampyr without killing? Yes. Even on hard mode, it can be done. Be ready for a tough road. Rely on crafting, scavenging, and exploiting weaknesses. Combat will be challenging. Progression will slow. You may even find yourself gnawing on metaphorical rats. But think of the moral high ground!
Embracing the Darkness: Turning Humans into Vampires
You can “embrace” certain humans, turning them into vampires. This is complex. Embracing citizens offers a big XP boost, acting like a fast track to power. However, it has consequences for stability and can lead to bad endings.
There’s a quirky mechanic tied to embracing: invitations. In Vampyr, even bloodsuckers have manners. You can’t barge into homes uninvited. To feed or embrace, you often need an invitation, which you typically gain by increasing relationships through dialogue and side quests.
Consequences of Actions: Every Action Has a Reaction
The key theme in Vampyr’s gameplay is consequences. Your actions have repercussions that impact your journey. You can’t kill indiscriminately and expect sunshine. London reacts to your vampiric actions.
Districts in Distress: Hostile Neighborhoods
London in Vampyr consists of districts with their health and stability. Your actions directly impact them. Feeding too much or ignoring investigations can create chaos. When a district becomes hostile, you’ll get a message after sleeping, indicating you ruined a neighborhood.
A hostile district means dead citizens or missing ones. Investigations will stop, and the atmosphere will shift from gloomy to terrifying. Losing a district means fewer sources of information and blood meals. District stability is just as vital as your blood meter.
Experience Points: The Taste of Blood XP
Let’s discuss experience points (XP). In Vampyr, XP is crucial for unlocking your abilities. How do you get XP? You earn it through combat, quests, and feeding on people.
The XP Buffet: Temptation of Human Blood
Vampyr dangles XP in front of you. Eating people is the quickest way to level up. The XP rewards from embracing or feeding can be substantial—about 1500-3000 XP per neck. That’s many skill points in one bite.
This temptation is strong, especially against Skals and vampire hunters. But remember, that XP comes with costs. A moral cost, district stability cost, and perhaps an ending cost. Is the allure worth the consequences?
Resting Up: Only When You’re Done
In Vampyr, resting at a bed or safehouse allows leveling up and progress in time. But it’s not just a “sleep to heal” mechanic. Resting also triggers district updates and consequences for actions. Treat your bed strategically.
Strategic Slumber: Don’t Hit the Hay Early
The golden rule of rest in Vampyr: don’t sleep until everything’s done. Finished conversations? Completed investigations? Explored every corner? Only then should you think about resting.
Why this approach? Because resting advances time and triggers updates with unforeseen consequences. Rest too early, and you might miss vital dialogue or opportunities affecting district health.
Difficulty and Evolution: The Vampire’s Power Curve
One intriguing aspect of Vampyr is how your playstyle influences difficulty. The more you embrace your vampiric nature, the easier the game becomes. The more you resist urges and play as a “good doctor,” the harder it gets.
Difficulty by Design: Your Choices Shape Challenge
Vampyr lacks traditional difficulty settings. Your “difficulty” links to your evolution as a vampire. Feast regularly, and you’ll gain XP swiftly, unlocking powerful abilities and becoming formidable. Combat becomes less daunting, enemies fall faster, creating an “evil vampire” fantasy.
Choosing the pacifist path makes the game much harder. XP becomes rare. Progression slows down. Combat requires more skill, strategy, and quick thinking. Master dodging, parrying, and enemy weaknesses to stay alive. This is the “good doctor” challenge, testing your resolve in another way. Vampyr supports both playstyles. Each offers unique experiences. You can be an unstoppable blood god or a struggling, righteous vampire. Your choices shape the game’s challenges.
Character Chronicles: Unpacking the Personalities of Vampyr
Vampyr features a rich cast of fascinating characters, both living and those who are not. The protagonist, Dr. Jonathan Reid, faces internal conflicts. He also meets the enigmatic Red Queen and the tragic Mary, possibly undead. The game thrives on these personalities driving the story.
Jonathan Reid: The Reluctant Vampire Doctor
Jonathan Reid stands at Vampyr‘s core. He’s a skilled surgeon turned vampire against his will. Caught between his oath and bloodlust, Reid presents a moral dilemma that captivates players.
From Surgeon to Vampire: Reid’s Unholy Transformation
Reid’s change into a vampire results from Myrddin Wyllt. This figure claims to be Merlin. Vampirism strikes in 1918 London due to ancient Arthurian connections. Myrddin infects Reid not to harm him but to combat his mother, the Morrígan, or Red Queen.
This transformation doubles as a twisted heroic origin story. Reid’s destiny aligns with battles against ancient evils. However, as a vampire, he struggles with his blood urges. His ethical fight against instincts adds depth, blending chosen destinies with terror.
Mary Reid: Sisterly Sacrifices and Undead Rebirths
Mary Reid, Jonathan’s sister, drives an emotional storyline. Tragically, she dies early in the game during the vampire outbreak. Or does she?
The Sisterly Twist: Undead Mary’s Return
In an expected twist, Mary does not stay dead. She returns as a vampire after Jonathan’s blood influences her fate. Vampire blood on her lips triggers her transformation—classic vampire lore.
This rebirth ignites a personal conflict for Jonathan. He must confront his sister, now undead due to his fate. The game complicates this reunion with harsh choices. You must kill her in a cruel twist of fate. No saving her. Just vold the act of slaying your own sister—highlighting the game’s dark tone.
The Red Queen: Ancient Evil and Plague Incarnate
Every vampire tale requires a formidable foe, with the Red Queen playing that role in Vampyr. She’s the ancient enemy behind London’s chaos.
Millennia of Malice: The Red Queen’s Reign of Terror
The Red Queen transcends typical villains. She embodies darkness that returns every few centuries, unleashing suffering upon humanity. Her goal? Mass havoc and blood to sustain herself.
The outbreak in London springs from her devious plans. Also, she happens to be Myrddin Wyllt’s mother, complicating Jonathan’s mission further. He faces her darkness in a fight for London and his soul. A classic battle against evil with high stakes—life and undeath.
Sean Hampton: A Taste of XP (and Morality)
Sean Hampton presents an early encounter in the game, tempting with opportunities for XP. He offers a juicy chance at power.
The XP Piñata: Sean Hampton’s Tempting Embrace
If you choose to embrace him, rewards pour in—3000 to 6000 XP depending on your knowledge from dialogues and investigations. Power comes quickly here; it’s a path to enhanced abilities.
Yet morality looms over this choice. Although flawed, Sean is human. Embracing him reveals the cost of prioritizing your power over another’s life—key choices await throughout the journey. Do you seize the easy XP? Or resist, seeking righteousness? Sean acts as your first moral test.
Skills and Shadowplay: Mastering Vampyr’s Combat Abilities
Combat goes beyond mere button-mashing in Vampyr. It demands strategy through dodging, parrying, and utilizing vampiric powers. To excel, grasp and enhance your combat abilities—building skills turns you into a night stalker.
Stamina: The Unsung Hero of Vampire Combat
Stamina may lack glamour compared to “Shadow Mist” or “Coagulate.” Yet it’s perhaps your most crucial resource. It governs all physical actions in fights: dodging, movement, attacking, and abilities drain it all.
Stamina Supremacy: Upgrade Early, Upgrade Often
Investing in stamina from the start proves vital. Boost max stamina and regeneration rates to enhance combat performance significantly. More stamina means increased mobility and aggression—key for survival at lower power levels.
Shadow Mist and Coagulate: The Dynamic Duo of Destruction
Players favoring aggressive styles find Shadow Mist and Coagulate formidable tools in their arsenal for damage and crowd control.
Shadow Mist: Area Denial and Crowd Control Chaos
Shadow Mist unleashes a damaging puddle beneath foes, creating chaos when it detonates. It’s perfect for managing groups while forcing enemies to reposition or take damage—a strategic advantage that looks cool too.
Coagulate: The Underrated Interrupter and Crowd Controller
Coagulate serves as an effective targeted skill at zero blood cost. It helps to disrupt opponents seamlessly while preserving resources. Players can use this skill strategically for control over intense situations.
