Code Vein 2 Dials Up Everything for a Bigger Soulslike Sequel

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The original Code Vein was a decent attempt at a soulslike game, heavily influenced by anime. While I enjoyed its take on the genre and the vampire theme, it didn’t quite become a major success for Bandai Namco. Now, the studio has a chance to improve on that with Code Vein 2.

At last year’s Summer Game Fest, I got a preview of Code Vein 2, and the developers’ aim was clear: to improve upon the original Code Vein and create a high-quality, triple-A game. After playing a significant portion of the sequel, it’s evident that Bandai Namco has both expanded on the features of the first game and stayed true to its core essence. While it’s too early to say if the final game will fully deliver on this promising start, I’m impressed with the direction they’re taking, especially when it comes to making the game challenging.

The second installment of Code Vein builds on the foundation of the first game. Players create highly customizable characters, known as Revenant Hunters, who can wield various weapons and combine light and heavy attacks with special abilities called Formae. These Formae can either boost the player’s stats or inflict damage, and can be seamlessly linked with regular attacks. The game features both dodging and parrying for flexible combat, and feels much smoother and faster-paced than the original Code Vein, which sometimes felt a bit rigid.

Fighting feels liberating, with tons of options for how you play. Even if you stick to one weapon, like a bayonet-equipped rifle, you can customize your character with many different Formae. I discovered some Formae worked better than others, and it was fun experimenting with how abilities paired with different weapons. For instance, if you’re using a slow but powerful greatsword, you’ll want to focus on abilities and Formae that maximize damage with each swing.

Code Vein 2 Doesn’t Skimp on the RPG

Code Vein 2 has a complex system called Blood Code that significantly affects your character’s stats. Depending on how you build your character, it can also provide powerful benefits, but potentially some drawbacks too. This preview only scratches the surface of its depth, but it’s clear players will have a lot of ways to customize their characters.

I’m really excited about the partner system in Code Vein 2! You can team up with these characters in two ways: they can fight with you, or you can add them to your Revenant Hunter to make you even stronger. But the coolest part? They basically act as a safety net. If you fall in battle while they’re active, they go on cooldown, but you get a little bit of health back! It’s just another clever way the game lets you customize your experience and avoid getting totally wiped out.

I was really impressed by how much Code Vein 2 embraces the RPG elements within its challenging, souls-like combat. This meant I always had options when facing tough bosses and could experiment with different builds, even making unconventional weapons like the bayonet surprisingly effective.

The boss battles in Code Vein 2 were a definite highlight. Even though I only faced a few, they were truly epic, demanding you learn their patterns and play with patience. The enemy designs were fantastic and each fight changed as the boss lost health, keeping things exciting. They were challenging, for sure, but overcoming those challenges felt incredibly rewarding – especially when I finally figured out the right strategy. That’s when the game really came alive for me.

Code Vein 2 features a compelling time travel story where players, as Revenant Hunters, journey to the past to change the present. The game truly embodies the “Anime Souls” style, and even if you’re not typically a fan of that genre, its storytelling is captivating. Be aware that the game has a complex world with a lot of unique terms and backstory, so you’ll need to focus to fully understand it.

You don’t need to have played the original Code Vein to understand and enjoy Code Vein 2, as it features a brand new, independent story.

During the game preview, I didn’t get to try out the open world, which appears to be a major new feature in Code Vein 2 compared to the first game. The preview focused on dungeon-style levels with shortcuts, similar to other soulslike games, and didn’t include the open-world exploration or motorcycle travel. I’m eager to see how these elements come together in the full game, and how much control players will have over the time-jumping mechanics, but I’ll have to wait until the game launches later this month to find out.

There are many games like Dark Souls now, but the ones with varied combat and challenging bosses really shine. Code Vein 2 looks like a great follow-up to the original, and a promising start to 2026. It’s still unclear if the story will be captivating, but the gameplay feels excellent, and I’m eager to see more.

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2026-01-05 17:04