V Rising Review

Sinking Your Teeth into a Darkly Satisfying Survival Adventure

A veil lifts from the shadows, revealing a world shrouded in mystery. You awaken, a creature of legend reborn into a realm both beautiful and perilous. This is no ordinary awakening; it’s a call to destiny, a promise of power whispered on the wind.

V Rising invites you to embark on a thrilling journey from the perspective of a vampire. This review delves into the heart of this unique experience, unveiling the secrets that lie within. So lift the lid of this coffin, step in and embrace the darkness – you’re in for one heck of a ride!

A Blood-Soaked Power Trip

V Rising‘s narrative unfolds subtly. Scattered lore entries and boss encounters paint a picture of a once-powerful vampire weakened by hunters and a mysterious blood curse. You awaken in a weakened state, driven by a thirst for both blood and power. Survival becomes your primary objective, and blood acts as your fuel, which makes sense. Feeding on animals and unsuspecting humans grants you strength, unlocks new abilities, and fuels your vampiric prowess.

The core gameplay loop revolves around exploration, combat, crafting, and castle building. You’ll venture out into the gothic world, hunting for blood to sustain yourself while battling a variety of enemies. 

Progression hinges on defeating powerful V Blood carriers – human bosses scattered across the map. These encounters are challenging and often require specific strategies. Although difficult, each V Blood carrier that you vanquish grants you access to their unique abilities and crafting recipes, propelling you further up the power ladder.

Castle building adds another layer of depth. You’ll gather resources, design your gothic abode, and research new technologies. Your castle serves not only as a safe haven from the scorching sun but also as a production hub for crafting weapons, armour, and powerful gear.

While the overarching narrative is light, the joy comes from piecing together the lore and experiencing the world through a vampire’s eyes. The constant struggle for survival, the thrill of the hunt, and the satisfaction of building an impressive castle create a compelling gameplay loop.

Blood, Sweat, and Spooky Splendours

V Rising features numerous mechanics at its core, one highlight of which is the blood system.  The blood system is an ever-depleting supply of blood that your character uses as fuel.  It is up to you to keep the level of this supply as high as possible because once it depletes fully, your character dies.  

One way to keep the supply level above zero is to drink from animals and humans whenever the opportunity arises.  Feasting on humans grants temporary buffs and unlocks permanent abilities, forcing you to actively hunt to maintain your strength.  However, you should always be aware of what time of day it is because when the sun comes out, things get bad for you.  Very bad.

The sun acts as a constant threat, forcing you to seek shelter during daylight hours or risk debilitating damage. It is very easy to tell when you are exposed to sunlight because what appears as a small flurry of golden light hovering above your character’s head suddenly turns into a laser death ray, depleting your health rapidly!  At this point you need to seek cover immediately, otherwise you will quickly perish! This vulnerability adds a layer of strategic planning to exploration and reinforces the feeling of being a creature of the night, drawing you further into the world.

Crafting offers a wide variety of options, from basic weapons and armour to powerful siege engines and elaborate decorations for your castle. The progression system is well-paced, constantly rewarding you with new tools and abilities to keep the gameplay fresh.

The castle-building mechanics are surprisingly deep. You can customise your abode to your liking, creating a sprawling fortress or a minimalist haven. Functional considerations like proximity to resources and crafting stations blend seamlessly with aesthetics, allowing players to express their creativity.

Combat is action-packed and satisfying, with a mix of melee attacks, ranged weaponry, and vampiric abilities. Each weapon type has its unique feel, and mastering combos is crucial for taking down stronger foes.

Sharing the Bloodbath

V Rising offers server options for those seeking a multiplayer experience. You can choose from cooperative PvE servers or player versus player (PvP) servers.  Cooperative servers allow you to team up with friends to conquer the world together. Hunting parties become more efficient, boss encounters more manageable, and castle building transforms into a collaborative effort. The social dynamics add a new dimension to the gameplay, fostering teamwork and camaraderie.

PvP servers introduce a risk-reward factor. You’ll compete with other players for resources and dominance, raiding their castles and battling them for supremacy. While cooperation still exists within factions, the constant threat of betrayal keeps you on your toes, adding a layer of tension and excitement for those who enjoy competitive play.

Both of these multiplayer options tie in perfectly with the general mood of V Rising, allowing you to either foster relationships with fellow vampires or slaughter your foes as you see fit – the choice is yours!

Blood and Beauty

Put simply, V Rising is beautiful to look at, boasting a visually striking art style. The gothic world is a blend of dark fantasy and horror, with towering castles, sprawling forests, and sun-drenched plains creating a diverse and immersive atmosphere. The character models may seem simple at first, but on closer inspection are highly detailed.  The spell effects are flashy, with each one feeling unique and powerful, further adding to the visual spectacle.

The audio design further enhances the experience. The haunting soundtrack perfectly complements the gothic setting, with chilling orchestral pieces during exploration and dramatic crescendos during combat. Environmental sounds add to the immersion, from the rustling leaves in the forest to the eerie groans of the undead. The voice acting, while limited, complements the characters and lore entries.

Overall, V Rising appears simple at first glance but players will quickly notice the detailed visuals, incredible audio and just how beautifully complex the entire world really is.

Sinking Your Teeth In Again

There are several reasons to return to V Rising, all of them good ones!  The open world encourages exploration, with procedurally generated elements creating a new experience each time, meaning that each playthrough will feel slightly different to the previous ones.

The diverse skill trees and weapon types allow for experimentation with different playstyles. Additionally, the server options cater to various preferences. Cooperative servers offer a fresh take on the experience, while PvP servers provide a constant challenge and the thrill of competition.

The endgame content provides a solid foundation for continued play. Defeating powerful Blood Carriers unlocks new challenges and areas to explore. Honing your combat skills, perfecting your castle design, and dominating the server in PvP all contribute to the extended lifespan of the game.

A Darkly Satisfying Adventure

V Rising is a compelling and unique survival adventure that successfully blends classic mechanics with a fresh vampire theme. The core gameplay loop of exploration, combat, crafting, and castle building is engaging and rewarding. The blood system is highly intuitive and makes perfect sense, adding a strategic layer, while the vulnerability to sunlight reinforces the vampire fantasy. The combat is action-packed and satisfying, and the castle-building mechanics offer surprising depth for creative players.

While the overarching narrative takes a backseat, this isn’t a particularly big deal because the lore entries and boss encounters create a constant, fun sense of mystery and world-building. The online options cater to both cooperative and competitive players, adding a social layer to the experience. V Rising isn’t without flaws, with a somewhat repetitive grind in the early stages and a lack of a deep, central story, but these are vastly overshadowed by the game’s strengths.

Final Thoughts

V Rising is a polished and engaging survival experience that offers something for both solo players and those seeking a social adventure. The well-crafted mechanics, immersive world, and satisfying gameplay loop make it a worthwhile experience for fans of the genre and those interested in a unique vampire adventure. While a somewhat repetitive early game and a lack of a central story hold it back from achieving greatness, V Rising delivers a deeply satisfying experience that will keep you hooked for hours to come (possibly even extending into the afterlife)!

Grade: 8.5/10