Code Vein 2 Review – Back to the Past

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I recently revisited the original Code Vein to prepare for the sequel, and I’m impressed with how Code Vein 2 improves upon the first game. It keeps everything that was good about the original while adding some welcome new features, making it a better game overall.

The improvements are significant enough to justify the wait, and it quickly becomes clear that this version is a bolder and more expansive take on the original.

Plus, the game draws inspiration from popular titles in the same genre, but adds its own creative twist with some really interesting and original gameplay features.

Code Vein II offers a larger and more polished experience overall. However, while it’s a strong game, there’s still room for improvement if the developers choose to make a third installment.

As a fan of Souls-like games, I’m always excited to try titles that offer a challenging experience while also being a good RPG. Code Vein II succeeds in doing just that. It also learns from other popular games in the genre and adds its own creative twists with some really interesting gameplay mechanics.

Let’s start with the story. The first game, while subtle in how it tells it, was a fantastic experience with plenty of action. The sequel takes a big risk by adding time travel, letting you jump between the past and present. But just because it’s a bold move doesn’t guarantee it’s an improvement. Let me explain why.

The game frequently shifts between flashbacks and the current story, focusing on the characters you encounter as a Revenant Hunter. It retains the world-building fans loved in the original game, but the time travel aspect primarily serves to tell a fresh story. If you enjoy anime and character-driven narratives where you form close relationships with your companions, you’ll likely find this game appealing.

The story frequently jumps between past memories and current events, often focusing on the people you encounter while working as a Revenant Hunter.

Overall, I really liked it, though I felt the story relied a bit too heavily on the relationships you develop with your companions. This wasn’t a bad thing, as it fit well with the game’s main plot and felt integral to the experience, not just added for show. You genuinely grow to care about these characters, and you feel driven to learn about their histories to help them overcome the challenges they face.

The game would be much stronger if it didn’t try so hard to manufacture emotional moments – they often feel unearned and artificial. The writing also isn’t quite up to par, and relationships between characters tend to fall into predictable patterns. The use of flashbacks is also questionable; while some fans of the original game might enjoy them, I think they’re a shortcut that holds the game back from reaching its full potential, especially considering it’s meant to be an improvement over the previous title.

I know most of you are eager to hear about what made Code Vein II so enjoyable for me, beyond just the story and characters. Let’s get straight to the exciting parts!

I was immediately blown away when I started the game – the character creation is seriously detailed! You can change practically anything, from your eyes and ears to all sorts of facial features, and even pick out a hairstyle and how long it is. Plus, there’s a great selection of outfits, and you can even customize the textures and materials of those outfits! It’s a really powerful system, and honestly, if you love making characters, you could easily lose yourself in it for a good hour just perfecting your look.

The game features a wide variety of skills, both familiar and brand new. This lets you play however you like – whether you prefer fighting enemies directly or attacking from a distance.

The fighting feels just as great as before, and maybe even smoother with improved animations. It’s still challenging, but fair – you’ll be tested by clever enemies and bosses, all brought to life with excellent animations.

One of the best parts of this game, especially given its challenging, ‘Soulslike’ style, is how much more dynamic the combat is. Everything feels faster and more responsive, letting me confidently dodge and attack in ways the original game didn’t allow. Both my character and the enemies move incredibly smoothly, making it really satisfying to learn attack patterns and figure out how to fight back effectively.

I’m really loving how much flexibility there is in building my character now. The way they’ve updated the Blood Code system lets me switch between playing super aggressively and playing it safe, depending on what I’m up against. Blood Codes basically give you different fighting styles, and as I play, I unlock even more, letting me create some seriously unique character builds. It’s awesome!

The game features a wide variety of both familiar and brand new skills, letting you choose between fighting enemies directly or attacking from a distance. The returning weapons feel much improved thanks to their smooth handling, but I especially enjoyed the new twin blades.

As a fan, I really love how much you can customize your strategy in this game! It’s super satisfying to change up how you play depending on the enemies you’re up against – it feels a lot like a classic RPG.

Dude, these dual blades are incredible! You can totally tell the developers looked at similar weapons in other games like this, but they really nailed their own version. They’re super quick and pack a serious punch, letting you stay on the attack with some cool moves. Once you get the timing down, you can just chain attacks together and absolutely destroy enemies. They’re a real offensive weapon, honestly! There are other options like the Rune Blade, Halberd, and Bayonet, but I’m all about those twin blades – they’re my favorite, hands down.

One of the best parts of Code Vein II for me is how quickly you can put together a character build. It’s way faster than in most other Souls-like games. They really changed up the Blood Code system, and with the Formae and drain attacks – which depend on your Jail gear – I can really customize my playstyle. I can focus on being super defensive, go for ranged attacks, or anything in between. It’s really satisfying as an RPG fan to be able to adapt to each enemy I face and build my character accordingly.

The game’s already great combat is made even better by how your teammates function. They can join you in battle to help defeat enemies and even bring you back to life if you fall. However, after assisting you, they need a short time to recharge before they can fight again, which prevents players from relying too heavily on simply ignoring enemy damage.

The game features a Traits system where building a close relationship with your partner unlocks special bonuses. These can include temporary improvements to your stats and other advantages in battle. You can also use Assimilation to merge with your partner, gaining powerful combat benefits that are particularly helpful against challenging enemies and bosses.

Beyond the fighting, I really like the new level designs. Exploring feels more natural now, thanks to the Forma Motorcycle – a cool and useful spell that summons a supernatural bike. It’s similar to the Master Cycle Zero from The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, but on a smaller, more focused scale, and is a great way to get around the world in this game.

Discovering new areas remains important because you’ll need resources to create stronger attacks and defenses for upcoming challenges.

The game features a dark and immersive world with diverse environments, from eerie, haunted forests to cities drowning in pollution. These areas are richly detailed, making exploration feel rewarding and encouraging players to soak in the atmosphere.

The game features dungeons to explore, but they’re designed more for experiencing the gameplay and learning about the story than for challenging combat. While the dungeons have interesting vertical designs and a unique post-apocalyptic setting that some players will enjoy, I personally found them a bit dull.

While no open world game quite matches Elden Ring in scope and depth, exploration is still key in this game. You’ll need to gather materials to craft new attacks and defenses, helping you overcome future challenges.

I really appreciated the boss designs, even though I generally dislike overly long fights. The impressive visuals were enough to keep me engaged, pushing me to defeat them as quickly and strategically as possible, carefully balancing my attacks and stamina. A few bosses were so well-made that I even considered calling in my companion for help, which is high praise coming from a long-time fan of Souls-like games.

The updated visuals really capture the speed and energy of the battles, and I’m impressed with how the game now uses 3D for its environments and characters. While some players might miss the original game’s classic anime look, that really comes down to personal preference.

Does Code Vein II succeed as a Soulslike game when it comes to difficulty? It has the core elements of the genre, but like the first Code Vein, it seems to prioritize being approachable over extreme challenge. I think this is a positive – games that are too difficult can discourage players, as we saw with the completion rate of Sekiro.

Okay, so is Code Vein II worth playing? I definitely think so! It’s a big step up from the first game, and it’s really satisfying to learn all the combat systems. That being said, if you’re looking for something totally revolutionary, it doesn’t change things too much. But honestly, if you’re into action-RPGs with tons of stuff to do, and you love a tough fight where you really need to understand the mechanics, you’ll probably love this game.

This game is a great follow-up to an already good title, and I enjoyed playing it even with a few small flaws.

This game was reviewed on PC.

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2026-01-27 22:43