“Anime Souls” is a time period typically used to explain the unique Code Vein. And whereas that may be a quite simple however honest descriptor – it’s in spite of everything one of many only a few soulslike video games with an undeniably anime aesthetic – it additionally doesn’t actually describe what was really cool concerning the 2019 motion RPG. As an illustration: the emotional storylines of your companion characters, delivered in these glorious sequences the place you relive their most tragic reminiscences; the exceptional rating by the fantastic Go Shiina; the versatile Blood Code system that allowed gamers to modify up their stats and playstyle with out having to respect their complete character whereas additionally with the ability to decide and select abilities from different “courses.” There was definitely room for enchancment within the core fight and stage design, but it surely had nice concepts, and would profit from some refinement and iteration.
And that’s what Code Vein 2 appears to be all about: Refinement and iteration. Primarily based on the three or so hours that I’ve performed, Code Vein 2 felt acquainted, however altogether way more assured and targeted on the strengths of the unique, whereas additionally getting off to an instantly extra attention-grabbing begin because of a model new story with some intriguing time journey twists.
Like the primary sport, on the coronary heart of Code Vein 2’s plot is a disaster that occurred many, a few years in the past. This time round, it’s referred to as the Resurgence, a calamity that corrupted every little thing it touched and gave rise to a brand new being referred to as a Revenant. In some way, the Revenants managed to seal the Resurgence, however the victory was short-lived, as quickly after, the Resurgence… effectively, surged once more. This led to a battle that grew to become referred to as the Upheaval, by which a number of heroes gave their lives to seal the Resurgence as soon as once more. 100 years later, that seal is weakening, inflicting existence-erasing explosions everywhere in the world, and this time, the means to save lots of every little thing exists not within the current, however up to now.
And thus the stage is about for Code Vein 2’s time-hopping story that sees the anonymous protagonist teaming up with Lou Magmell, a Revenant with the facility to leap forwards and backwards by way of time as they hyperlink up with the heroes of the previous to attempt to discover a approach to cease the upcoming world-ending threats of the long run.
It’s a fairly good hook! As somebody who by no means actually received invested on the planet of Code Vein 1, exterior of studying extra about my companions, I used to be fairly blissful that I used to be instantly invested this time round. I appeared ahead to seeing how the heroes of the previous fought again in opposition to the Resurgence and what finally led to their fates. I received an opportunity to ask Code Vein 2’s director, Hiroshi Yoshimura, if he appeared to any particular sources of inspiration with reference to their interpretation of time journey, or the principles that govern it, and he mentioned, “I wouldn’t say there’s one movie or work specifically, however one golden rule that we had inside the improvement was that after the participant has noticed or seen one thing occur inside the sport, then that turns into reality, or that turns into locked within the sense that it may possibly’t be overturned.”
Thicker Than Blood
On the gameplay aspect of issues, a lot of the core of Code Vein 1 remains to be intact within the sequel. It’s nonetheless a stamina-governed fight system with a giant deal with particular talents tied to numerous Blood Codes, which basically decide your class or playstyle. Switching to a brand new Blood Code adjustments your stats, protection, and your max Ichor, which is actually the mana that powers your particular talents. One of many attention-grabbing new twists of Blood Codes is that additionally they now include a sequence of traits that may dramatically have an effect on the way you method fight. For instance, historically, the way in which fight works is you assault an enemy to inflict stacks of bleed, after which use a particular method referred to as a jail assault (beforehand referred to as “Drain Assaults”) to gather that blood, which then will get transformed into the Ichor that you just use to make use of your particular abilities.
But when that doesn’t sound like your fashion of play, you would as an alternative use Josée’s Blood Code, which helps you to acquire Ichor just by attacking, however that boon comes with a catch. In the event you acquire greater than your most Ichor, you are taking a big chunk of injury. This was my most popular technique of play, because it meant that I didn’t should fish for alternatives to make use of my jail assaults to regain my Ichor, and it helped me be additional vigilant about utilizing my talents repeatedly so I didn’t find yourself overflowing with Ichor. In fact, my consideration would often wane, and this is able to often be the loss of life of me, however regardless, I appreciated the added twist to the gameplay.
Actually, just about each facet of Code Vein 2’s fight is extra customizable than earlier than. Whereas Drain Assaults was once tied to your Blood Codes, they’re now received their very own equippable slot in your stock, and there are a ton of various varieties. You’ve received the returning Ogre claw for a quick and brief ranged choice; Hounds for a strong two-hitting mid-range assault; Stinger to nail enemies from afar; and you then’ve received a handful of utterly new assaults like Ivy, which precipitated spikes to emerge from the bottom and could be positioned by charging the assault and shifting the concentrating on circle; Bat, which causes you to develop wings and sends out a swarm of bats, and Reaper, which is a scythe that may be swung round to hit enemies in an AOE.
Along with Jails, you may also equip highly effective subweapons referred to as Bequeathed Formae, and you may also select a Defensive Formae as effectively.. Almost about the Bequeathed Formae, I solely received to see two of those in my demo: a Battle Axe referred to as Idris’s Conceit, and a Longbow known as Statesman’s Longbow. I opted extra for a energy construct all through most of my demo time, so I primarily used the Battle Axe, and it definitely was a difference- maker in fights the place I might get swarmed by enemies. All I wanted to do was create some area to account for the prolonged windup, and increase. As soon as it hit, it could create a temporal discipline that slowed every little thing down, making it simple to wash up the survivors.
As for the Defensive Formae, you’re capable of principally select whether or not you need a typical block, a parry, or a dodge, with a few others thrown in there with some slight variations in how they carry out. Im an enormous fan of all these adjustments, as they permit even finer tuning of a construct to your private choice with out turning into too overwhelming or difficult.
The Large Query
Probably the most frequent issues that all the time will get mentioned anytime there’s a brand new soulslike on the town is how troublesome it’s, so let’s discuss it. For probably the most half, I received by way of this demo with out a lot challenge. Granted, this was a offered save, so it’s laborious to say how issues would have been if I received up to now by myself playthrough with my very own loadout, however Bandai Namco was very beneficiant in giving us a big selection of weapons, Blood Codes, and jails, and I by no means felt like I used to be significantly under- or overlevelled.
Code Vein 2 additionally well enables you to resolve on whether or not you need your companion to comply with you and take part in fight like an AI coop companion, or whether or not you’d desire to have them be assimilated into you, offering you with particular buffs, however with out providing you with the good thing about one other physique to deal harm or distract enemies. It’s an excellent trade-off that enables Code Vein 2 to take care of the companion component that makes it such a definite soulslike within the first place, whereas additionally permitting gamers who get pleasure from tackling these challenges as a solo participant to take action with out feeling like they’re being severely punished.
The place the problem actually turned up a number of notches was within the two boss battles that I received to expertise. These had been true checks of abilities and reflexes and took practically half of my allotted three hours of playtime, and that’s with out even delivering the ultimate blow in opposition to the second. The primary boss may merely wipe out my well being with only one or two hits, whereas additionally afflicting me with the acid standing impact, which might deal harm over time. My home windows to punish had been very small, making me go for a strength-oriented construct so I may land a strong and chargeable overhead slash with my greatsword to take advantage of out of these alternatives. Ultimately, I prevailed, solely to be laborious caught in opposition to the second boss. This boss was quick, had a particularly harmful second part that I didn’t get to see sufficient of to actually study its new assaults, and had the nasty behavior of electrifying the ground and inflicting bind on me, which might paralyze me lengthy sufficient for the boss to land one other free assault.
Regardless of the problem spike, I cherished each these encounters, and whereas I am a bit salty that I couldn’t end the job on the preview occasion, I’m wanting ahead to the runback as soon as I get the total sport in my palms and may try the boss with my very own private construct. General, Code Vein 2 is shaping as much as be a marked enchancment over the unique in nearly each space. We’ll see if Bandai Namco is ready to stick the touchdown when this soulslike sequel releases on January 30, 2026 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Collection X|S, and PC.
Mitchell Saltzman is an editorial producer at IGN. You could find him on twitter @JurassicRabbit
