PGC NEWS

Adapting tabletop games into video games is a well-trodden path. Success stories abound, from Dungeons & Dragons inspiring classics like Baldur’s Gate and Neverwinter Nights, to the Warhammer universe spawning hits like Total War: Warhammer and Vermintide. However, World of Darkness, despite its popularity, has struggled to make this transition. Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood, unfortunately, exemplifies this struggle, presenting a missed opportunity to bring this rich universe to life.

While Dungeons & Dragons and Warhammer continue to flourish in the digital realm, World of Darkness has lagged behind. Its most prominent title, Vampire: The Masquerade – Bloodlines, is now a cult classic, while its sequel remains shrouded in uncertainty. When Paradox Interactive, known for its grand strategy games, acquired White Wolf Publishing in 2015, the promise of more World of Darkness video games was met with excitement. Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood was the first major release, and sadly, it falls short of expectations.

A Shallow Narrative and Repetitive Gameplay

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood presents a classic environmentalist narrative: werewolves, protectors of Gaia, clash with an eco-destructive corporation. While the premise holds potential within the World of Darkness setting, the execution is disappointingly bland. The story progresses predictably, with characters serving as plot devices rather than compelling individuals. Dialogue is excessive yet lacks substance, burdened by awkward animations and uninspired camera angles. While the game offers two distinct endings, the journey to reach them feels like a tedious six-hour chore.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood

The gameplay loop is equally uninspired. Regardless of the narrative context, missions boil down to infiltrating facilities, flipping switches, and moving to the next room. Stealth is an option, and most areas can be traversed undetected. However, the stealth mechanics are simplistic, limited to hiding behind cover and performing basic takedowns. The lack of options, such as body hiding or specialized stealth skills, makes this approach underwhelming, especially considering the developer’s previous success with the stealth-action title Styx: Shards of Darkness.

Being detected triggers combat, shifting the gameplay to a beat-em-up style. Players can alternate between fast, weak attacks and slow, powerful ones. However, the combat quickly becomes repetitive, lacking depth and strategic options. While unlockable special moves offer some variation, they ultimately boil down to “press button to deal more damage.” The core combat mechanics remain unchanged throughout the game.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood

Furthermore, the skill system suffers from imbalance. Focusing on damage reduction and health regeneration in Heavy Stance trivializes most encounters, rendering the increased enemy presence in later stages ineffective. The game attempts to artificially lengthen combat sequences by having defeated enemies resurrect as mutated creatures, but this only adds to the frustration.

Lackluster Presentation and Underutilized Potential

Beyond the core gameplay, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood continues to disappoint. The environments are repetitive and visually uninspired, resembling generic industrial facilities. Dialogue choices have minimal impact on the narrative, serving primarily as exposition dumps. Even the werewolf form, a key element of the game, feels underutilized, primarily employed for traversing vents or moving quickly.

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood

The game’s AI is rudimentary, further hindering the experience. Overall, Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood squanders the potential of its source material. The repetitive gameplay, shallow narrative, and lackluster presentation make it a forgettable entry in the World of Darkness franchise.

Conclusion: A Disappointing Adaptation

Werewolf: The Apocalypse – Earthblood fails to capture the essence of its tabletop counterpart. The game’s numerous shortcomings, from its repetitive gameplay and shallow narrative to its technical flaws, ultimately overshadow its few redeeming qualities. While the core concept holds promise, the execution falls flat, leaving players wanting more. Hopefully, future World of Darkness titles will learn from these mistakes and deliver experiences that truly do justice to this rich and fascinating universe.