00:00Bandai Namco has developer FromSoftware's Elden Ring and Dark Souls franchises under
00:05its wing, but that hasn't stopped the publisher from pursuing other takes on the Souls experience.
00:11The upcoming Code Vein 2 is Bandai Namco's second go-round, with a particularly unique
00:16spin on the Souls-like, building off the original Code Vein's twist of an anime-inspired
00:21dark fantasy, where players and their chosen partner brave treacherous dungeons in style.
00:27The sequel focuses even more on building its cast of characters, and giving a greater
00:32reason to feel invested in a world that will be shaped by your actions across two time periods.
00:37Picture an anime-style Dark Souls by the way of Back to the Future.
00:41I recently had some hands-on time with Code Vein 2, learning more about the mix of sci-fi
00:46and dark fantasy, and how the developers want to build on the original's character-first
00:51action RPG stylings.
00:57Much like its predecessor, Code Vein 2 asked players to build up their custom protagonists'
01:03abilities and arsenals to defeat bosses and complete side quests in a sprawling world.
01:08The sequel carries many concepts and familiar lore from the original, such as vampire-like
01:13characters known as Revenants who wield powerful abilities.
01:17However, the second game is a standalone follow-up that builds up a story focusing on building
01:22a better future by setting things right in the past.
01:25Playing as a hunter of rogue revenants, you're tasked with saving the world following a cataclysmic
01:30event known as the Resurgence.
01:32After forming a bond with a mysterious ally named Lou, the protagonist gains the ability
01:37to travel between two time periods a hundred years apart to reverse anomalies in the past,
01:43in turn improving life in the present day.
01:45But some changes may lead to some unexpected consequences that could put the future in peril.
01:51The core concepts of Code Vein that I believe define it in the landscape of Souls-like games
01:56are really that character drama.
01:58The charm that you get from interacting with your partner, and overcoming these tough encounters,
02:03dungeons, and challenging enemies with your partner.
02:06Explains producer Keita Isuka during the extended preview, there's a keen focus on reshaping
02:12the world around you.
02:13The time travel element adds a cool wrinkle to the world, as you restore areas of the
02:18present to unlock new zones and side quests.
02:21These can also reveal hidden objectives and opportunities to discover, which is an intriguing
02:26evolution from the original's more rigid structure.
02:29Seeing the game world shift between two different eras, with the protagonist teaming up with allies
02:33from the past, and then seeing their impact in the future, is a cool concept for a Souls-like.
02:39The main quest we focus on during the preview sees the protagonist paired with Josie, a plucky
02:44mercenary from the past who seeks to purify a water source within the sunken pylon, which
02:49is heavily polluted in the present era.
02:51This sequence presents an intriguing setup for one of the early time travel escapades, as
02:55one of the core objectives is to uncover the root causes of the resurgence.
02:59This entails connecting with characters from the past who will eventually become corrupted,
03:03monstrous versions of themselves in the present era.
03:06In essence, Code Vein 2 actually has you bond and partner up with likeable human versions
03:11of Souls-style bosses before they become corrupted.
03:15Bonding with Josie during the dungeon crawl before seeing their eventual corruption offers
03:19a bit of context that you normally don't get prior to facing off against a boss in a
03:23Souls game, and the inevitable battle against Josie's corrupt form is an unexpectedly tragic
03:28boss battle to cap off the quest.
03:30I'm intrigued by the broader scope of Code Vein 2's main story, which feels more conscious
03:35of the world and the characters within it, but it also ties into the game's larger world
03:39to explore.
03:40Tying together the main dungeon and key points of interest are the large open zones to explore,
03:45filled with monsters, hidden quests, and other side tasks to uncover.
03:49It's not on the same level as Elden Ring's open world, but it's certainly more expansive
03:53than the original Code Vein structure.
03:54What I did find interesting about Code Vein 2's setting is seeing the larger world slowly
03:59healing after completing different milestones.
04:02After defeating the Metagen remnant, which poisoned the water in the past, the next major
04:07zone set in the massive city opened up, giving the impression that nature is healing and that
04:11your actions are slowly but surely building a better future.
04:15Unfortunately, I wasn't able to fully appreciate the scale of this world due to the guided nature
04:20of the preview session, and I'm also a bit annoyed that I wasn't able to try out the new motorcycle.
04:24I would have liked more time to explore them and get a better contrast between the different eras,
04:28but given that this was a focused preview, that'll have to wait for the larger game.
04:35Despite the larger scope, the dungeon crawls and focused combat encounters are still very much in play
04:42in Code Vein 2.
04:43The sunken pylon hits all the beats of a classic Souls-style dungeon.
04:46Trapped in a flooded area, I had to defend myself against spiked monsters darting around,
04:51barely making it out alive with the treasure hidden inside.
04:54This area really got me up to speed on Code Vein's improved combat.
04:58It carries the fundamentals of the original with a far better flow that feels much more responsive
05:03and satisfying than the previous game.
05:06According to the developers, this was a particular area they wanted to improve upon from the original.
05:10We got some not-so-good feedback in terms of the quality of the encounters from the previous game.
05:15The action in the battles and the way we adjusted the difficulty compared to other Souls-like games,
05:21says Isuka.
05:22There was certainly room for improvement, so including upgrading the partner system,
05:26we really wanted to lean into our strengths of style and improve some of the areas that needed improvement,
05:32and to really make battles feel more threatening and keep players on the edge of their seat.
05:36The second game largely sticks with the original's approach to character building and power progression,
05:41emphasizing selecting builds and weapon styles and using your partner's skills rather than tinkering with stats.
05:48Code Vein kept the familiar combat flow and style of many Souls-likes,
05:51but what truly set it apart from other games was its offering of more opportunities to experiment with class archetypes,
05:58called Blood Coats.
05:59Instead of allocating points to individual stats, level-ups are all predefined stat buffs,
06:04letting players focus more on selecting play styles and skills to use.
06:08Combat in Code Vein 2 feels far more punchy and precise.
06:12I really take to its flow, landing my weapon strikes and combat arts,
06:16entering into a third-person aiming mode for my ranged weapon,
06:19and utilizing finisher attacks against stunned enemies.
06:22In a way, Code Vein 2's flashy, stylized action leans further into the concept of the series being the so
06:28-called anime Dark Souls,
06:30the Souls community's endearing way to describe its look and tone.
06:34Even though I have a lot of options in fights, I still feel the tension of that underlying Souls-like
06:39experience.
06:40I develop a particular fondness for my twin swords and polearm weapons, with each having its own combat arts to
06:46utilize.
06:47But what really impresses me is the expanded partner system, which is more versatile and helpful this go-around.
06:53In addition to gaining stats and ability buffs from your chosen partner, who does a solid job of holding their
06:58own in a fight,
06:59they're also able to revive you if you get knocked out by an enemy, at the cost of their own
07:03life before they revive on cooldown.
07:05This extra life, of sorts, comes in clutch in the more challenging boss battles,
07:10giving me a much-needed second win to power through Corrupted Josie.
07:14You can also assimilate your partner, giving the protagonist heightened attack and defensive abilities.
07:19It's an exciting option to have, especially for players who feel more comfortable playing solo.
07:23I generally kept my partner by my side, but in some of the more challenging battles,
07:27I find the assimilate option to be helpful in a pinch,
07:30especially while whistling down the last slivers of Metagen Remnant's health bar to close out the sunken pylon dungeon.
07:39Sol's likes tend to be very isolating by design, so it's neat to see Code Vein 2 lean into its
07:45partner
07:46system to make those dungeon crawls and boss battles more of a bonding experience with supporting characters.
07:51Playing Code Vein 2 already makes me feel more engaged with its setting, much more than the original game.
07:57I get the sense that the stakes of the adventure are much greater.
08:01A time travel story that focuses on cause and effect is a fascinating concept for a Sol's like.
08:06While the game does hit many of the standard beats of a Sol's like,
08:10the sequel is so far building further upon the original's character-focused
08:14Sol's like spectacle in an interesting way.
08:17Even with Bandai Namco being the core publisher of From Software's Elden Ring,
08:22Code Vein 2 makes the case for more story-driven takes on a Sol's like that moves away from isolation
08:27and more towards bonding with allies.
08:30Hopefully, this sequel will stick the landing and embrace its oddities for the larger adventure ahead.
08:36So, will you be playing this anime Sol's like sequel?
08:40Have you played the first?
08:41Let us know and stick with GamesRadar for the latest on the greatest games.
