Code Vein 2 Is Not Just “More Code Vein” – 15 Big Gameplay Changes

by

The 2019 game Code Vein combined challenging combat inspired by the Souls series with a unique anime art style and extensive character customization. The upcoming Code Vein II aims to improve on this successful formula by refining the combat, adding more strategic options, and giving players even greater freedom to create their own characters. Here are fifteen key ways the sequel will change and expand upon the original Code Vein experience.

More Versatile Suite of Combat Abilities

Code Vein II builds upon the engaging combat of the original game, offering players even more ways to fight. It adds new weapon skills, powerful blood abilities, and unique techniques tied to ‘Formae’. The goal is to move away from simply repeating attack patterns and instead encourage strategic thinking and using the best ability for each situation. Players can look forward to more ways to customize their characters, improved movement options, and a wider variety of powerful weapons.

Blood Codes Can Now Be Swapped Mid-Fight

The Blood Codes from Code Vein are back in the sequel, letting you customize your character’s fighting style, weapon stats, and abilities. What’s new is much more freedom and ways to personalize your approach. Unlike the first game, where you picked a Blood Code before each fight, Code Vein II lets you change them during combat. This means you could start a battle defensively, then switch to a more aggressive or supportive style once you understand the enemy’s moves. This system encourages you to experiment and rewards quick thinking and adaptability.

Expanded Blood-Draining Attacks

I’m really excited about how they’ve changed things up in Code Vein II! They’ve replaced the old Blood Veils with something called the “Jail” system, which basically means we’ll get more chances to grab useful stuff from enemies. The cool part is, you can specialize your gear, and that unlocks awesome new attacks where you drain an enemy’s blood to build up your Ichor. These aren’t just flashy moves either – they actually tie into how you play and customize your character, giving you buffs, letting you learn enemy patterns, or even opening up opportunities to use incredibly powerful finishers with new weapons like the Rune Blade. It sounds like it adds a lot more depth to the combat!

Greater Emphasis on Positioning

I noticed a huge difference between this game and the first one. The original could feel like a straight-up damage trade, but Code Vein II is way more about carefully moving around, timing your dodges, and really learning what the enemies are going to do. The animations are so much smoother, which makes it easier to react. Instead of just mashing buttons, you actually have time to respond to attacks with well-timed counters. And it’s not just about dodging – good positioning lets you conserve resources, open up opportunities for powerful attacks like Jails and Veil Breaks, and just generally stay alive longer. It feels a lot more strategic!

Weapon Formae Introduces New Combat Depth

In our recent feature, we briefly touched on the new Formae attacks in Code Vein II, and here’s a closer look. Weapon Formae is a major addition to the combat system, letting you change how your weapons work on the fly. It goes beyond just upgrading stats, offering three specializations: Combat Formae for strong attacks, Magic Formae for ranged and ability-powered strikes, and Support Formae to buff yourself or your weapon, giving you more control in battle.

Bequeathed and Defensive Formae Add Even More Variety

In addition to standard weapon skills, Code Vein II introduces Bequeathed Formae – powerful inherited techniques that let you summon huge, devastating weapons for finishing moves – and Defensive Formae, which emphasize blocking, parrying, dodging, and special evasive actions. This creates a dynamic combat system where offense and defense aren’t simply about choosing one or the other, but flow together in a series of attacks, defenses, and strategic maneuvers to turn the tide of battle.

Partner System Goes Deep

Trait Links and Bonuses Enhance Partner Synergies

Your AI companions aren’t just there for show; they actively enhance your character through linked traits and bonuses. By choosing companions with complementary skills, Blood Codes, or Formae, you can unlock shared advantages, making team composition a strategic element. This adds a layer of RPG-style party building without sacrificing the game’s fast-paced action. Although the removal of co-op from Code Vein might disappoint some, the developers have clearly put effort into making the AI companion system in this sequel a thoughtful experience.

Six Companions Confirmed So Far

I’m so hyped for Code Vein II! Bandai Namco has revealed that you’ll have six AI companions to team up with: Lou, Josee, Lyle, Holly, Noah, and Valentin. Each one is totally different, both in personality and how they fight. Some are all about attacking, while others are better at defense and supporting you. It sounds like choosing who to bring along will be a really big deal – almost as important as picking your weapon! – and it’ll let you play the game in a bunch of different ways depending on who you partner with.

Parry Mechanics Return as “Veil Break”

Code Vein II brings back parrying, but with a new twist tied to how you manage resources. Called “Veil Break,” it’s a risky move that requires perfect timing, but landing it weakens enemies, restores your energy (Ichor), and unlocks strong bonuses. Keep in mind that each Blood Veil changes the parry timing and animations, adding an extra layer of skill to master.

Deeper Build Customisations

Building on what players loved about the first game, Code Vein II offers even more ways to customize your character. You can now enhance weapons using Formae, and Blood Codes are still highly adaptable with new skills that let you create a truly unique playstyle. This allows for a lot of flexibility in creating specialized characters, whether you prefer fast and agile fighters, heavily armored tanks, or magic-focused combatants.

Motorcycle Supports Semi-Open World

One of the biggest changes in Code Vein II is its more open world design, something we hinted at previously. We didn’t mention then that a new motorcycle will be key to getting around and connecting the different areas of the game. While the first Code Vein felt somewhat open, the sequel really expands on that feeling, and the motorcycle is essential for exploring the environments.

Visual Evolution Improves Combat Fluidity

While the first Code Vein had a striking anime look, its graphics weren’t always well-received, sometimes making it hard to see what was happening during fights. Code Vein II improves on this with clearer details and textures, making characters and effects stand out more. This makes moving around and fighting much easier to follow, all while keeping the original game’s unique art style.

Vertical Environments Change How Fighting Unfolds

Building on the first game’s exploration, Code Vein II features much more vertical level design. Battles take place in multi-layered arenas with complex routes, and the environment itself is more interactive and dangerous. This focus on height and depth encourages players to think strategically – they can use traps, gain advantages by attacking from above, and always be aware of enemies approaching from any direction.

Improved Target Lock-On

In Code Vein, players could select enemies to attack, but the game sometimes struggled to automatically switch targets after defeating one, even with the “swap on defeat” option enabled. The upcoming sequel will bring back automatic target switching and attack auto-trailing, but with improvements to make tracking enemies smoother and more reliable. These changes, along with better camera controls, will help players seamlessly follow their attacks and maintain the fast-paced, action-focused feel the game aims for.

Read More

2026-01-19 16:44