The first Code Vein didn’t really grab much of my attention when it released back in 2019, but I had gotten around to it some time later, with some surprisingly pleasant results. I wouldn’t go as far as to say it broke new ground within the Souls-like genre, but it certainly did enough to warrant its place within the sphere of recommendations, if you were looking for something else to play.
Funnily enough, Code Vein 2 is actually a better game compared to its predecessor, but one I would now find harder to recommend. Paradoxes aside, Code Vein 2, as functional and engaging as it can be at times, hasn’t necessarily brought much else to the genre in its sequel, and as a result, feels a step behind some of the more refined and unique games within the Souls-like genre.
In many ways, the combat can be quite fun and engaging, and the story relatively well-paced and presented, but too often, long-winded cutscenes, repetitive encounters and bland patches of exploration hold down the overall experience. In the same breath, it’s also evident that for as futuristic as Code Vein 2 is, it’s not bringing much new to the table in a genre that feels increasingly busier with each passing month.
Find Your Fate
I can appreciate that Code Vein 2 feels more like a spiritual successor to the original game, featuring both a new world and new characters, which helps this feel more accessible to those who had not played the first game.
But before I jumped into the story of this sequel, I just wanted to take the time to shout out the massive amount of customisable character creation options here, which honestly made my head spin. I’m not normally big on the specifics, and while I respect the ability to be able to adjust your cheekbone position and the size of the bridge of your nose, I was more impressed by the sheer amount of stylish items of clothing, from jackets, pants, gloves, boots and even entire outfits that were ready to go.
Code Vein 2 tells a time-travelling tale that is initially set in a post-apocalyptic future, where humans and Remnants (who are essentially vampires) now coexist. You’re essentially told by your leader, Lady Lavinia, that things are about to get much worse once again, unless you go back in time and alter the destinies of three fallen heroes in the process.
While you will meet a few more interesting characters along the way than just the story’s three main heroes, I found they were all unique and mostly engaging. From their personalities, mission objectives or just dialogue throughout the game, I generally enjoyed my time with them, and you do get the chance to come to know them quite well. Lou and Holly were real standouts, and I think they were also aided by some fantastic voice performances.
At certain points, Code Vein 2 will also prompt you to make decisions based on these characters, and while I won’t go into more detail for the sake of spoilers, I will say that these decisions can actually affect the ending of the game. As a result of the game’s pacing and various timelines, the general world-building is also great, as you’re given various perspectives of certain locations throughout the ages, as you jump back and forth through time.
I’m also a huge fan of how certain side quests weave between the fabric of the main story, taking you in and out of timelines and eras with fluidity and ease. As a result, I would recommend taking on a few side quests at a time in between main missions for the best results.
The only real gripe I had with Code Vein 2’s story was its long-winded cutscenes. There are simply too many moments where the story feels it has to pump the brakes for an important conversation that shows two or more characters standing around for minutes at a time. Some more interesting cutscenes aren’t as boring, but they are also so incredibly long that they basically ruin the game’s pacing at certain points.
The Art of Combat
As far as Code Vein 2’s gameplay is concerned, things mostly feel solid. I won’t go as far as to say it’s as diverse and challenging as something like Elden Ring, but with a mix of light, heavy and spoecail aattacks balancved by a stamina bar, most fans of the genre will feel at home.
Instead of the traditional points system, however, players gain and upgrade Blood Codes, otherwise described as equippable statistical abilities, which ultimately determine your character’s overall build. Like most Souls-like games, you’re not locked into using certain Blood Codes you may have previously invested in, but as they upgrade, the more you use them, it can be a little harder to respec later in the game, as they may need a little more time to get them to the level of your previously preferred Blood Cores.
Fortunately, there are plenty of enemies to find and fight, even if the game’standard enemies can be a little too easy. Code Vein 2 certainly increases its difficulty when it comes to boss fights, as these battles generally come with their own attack patterns to overcome and mechanics to utilise. That being said, you could see this as a massive difficulty spike, which makes plenty of deaths in these moments feel a little cheap.
Along your journey, you’ll also accrue a handsome list of companions that can follow you around on command and help you during battles. They can also help you boost your Weapon Formae, which are essentially specific skills that can be assigned to certain weapons for statistical boosts. It does add a unique level of depth to combat and can also be applied to your Magic and Support abilities.
There is a pretty big open world to navigate, and the game does a great job at presenting a rather overwhelming sense of scale and freedom from the very start. Fear not, however, as you do get a bike to ride and glide around with, but as convenient as it sounds to have, it unfortunately feels really awkward to use. It feels too stiff and, at times, unresponsive, which gets annoying fast.
Finally, there are certain dungeons that you can take on for certain rewards, and while they’re challenging, get quite repetitive all too soon.
All of this comes together to provide an experience that’s certainly functional and at times, fairly cohesive and expansive. The main issue here is that none of it feels particularly fresh, given how much the genre has developed and expanded over the last few years.
Look the Part
Visually, Code Vein 2 isn’t really setting itself apart from any other anime-inspired, vibrant approach to both character models and general environments, but I feel it all comes together well enough.
My main issue is the performance. Even on the PS5 Pro with performance settings in mind, Code Vein 2 dips wildly at the most random times. While the game runs at 60 FPS for the most part, I can’t quite figure out what causes it to dip, especially within moments that don’t feel as chaotic or demanding. A qualiuty-focuysed modes increasees the resolution and locks the gameplay at 30 FPS, but that doesn’t really feel like the answer for these kinds of games either.
Final Thoughts
While Code Vein 2 is far from terrible, and at times quite fun, it simply doesn’t do enough to set itself apart from the ever-expanding list of Souls-like games that are bringing new and fresh experiences to the table.
I wish that the repetitive dungeons didn’t bog down the functional combat, or that the engaging story and unique supporting characters weren’t subjected to such long, drawn-out cutscenes and conversations that steal any sort of agency from the player.
For that reason, while it’s a better game than the first, it still feels like it’s a step behind.
THREE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Functional combat; Unique and engaging companions and supporting characters; Standalone story that’s easy enough to follow along; In-depth character customisation
Lowlights: Long-winded cutscenes ruin story pacing; Random frame rate drops; Repetitive dungeons; Bike controls are incredibly stiff and unrespoisiove
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC
Available: Now
Review conducted on PlayStation 5 Pro with a launch code provided by the publisher.
Featured header image also provided by the publisher.
