Code Vein II

Platforms: PS5, Xbox Series X|S, PC

The future is dead. Humans and vampire-like creatures known as Revenants co-exist in an uneasy peace, forced to work together after an apocalyptic force known as the Resurgence ruined the world. A century prior, five heroes sacrificed themselves to seal the Resurgence away, but now those seals are breaking, and the true end may be unstoppable. But what if it didn’t have to be that way? What if you could go back, save those heroes, and restore the future? And what if you could hack your way through hordes of mutated Horrors in an anime-styled Soulslike in the process?

If the original Code Vein was “Dark Souls, but anime”, then this long-in-the-works sequel is trying to be “Elden Ring but, well, still anime”. It maintains all the typical Soulslike mechanics of the first game – a version of souls to collect from fallen enemies, the risk of losing them if you die before spending them to level up, equivalents of bonfires to rest at, enemies that respawn when you do, and a variety of combat styles to master – but adopts a similarly open-world approach to that of From Software’s 2022 masterpiece.

While there’s considerably more depth to the story here than in a standard Soulslike, which often leave you hunting for crumbs of lore, it’s not quite as bloated as a “regular” JRPG.

It’s another stab by developer Bandai Namco to create its own in-house take on the genre, one with a bit more JRPG flair to it. It makes the most of its open world too, with an achingly cool magic-powered, air-gliding motorcycle to explore it on (sorry Torrent-from-Elden-Ring, you’re getting put out to pasture) but like its predecessor, it never quite escapes its inspiration’s shadow.

Don’t worry if you’ve not played the original Code Vein though, as this serves as a soft reboot of the franchise. It keeps some of the same themes and a roughly similar feel for its techno-gothic world, but largely acts as a fresh start. While there’s considerably more depth to the story here than in a standard Soulslike, which often leave you hunting for crumbs of lore, it’s not quite as bloated as a “regular” JRPG. Apply your own value call to that, but for those who bounce off the typically opaque narratives of From Software’s genre-defining monoliths, having a bit more to sink your teeth into may be welcome.

Unfortunately, little of it feels centred on the protagonist. You play as the nameless Revenant Hunter, yet another silent, blank slate avatar, an approach that feels at odds with having a more defined narrative. At least you’ll look good while not actively contributing to the plot though – Code Vein II boasts one of the most comprehensive character creators in years. You can tailor every aspect of your appearance down to the smallest of details, a feat that’s all the more impressive given the game is entirely single-player – there’s not even anyone to show off for!

The game kicks off as you’re raised from the dead by the Revenant Lou MagMell, giving up half of her own heart to animate you but making you a Revenant/Human hybrid in the process. That could make for some interesting pathos with a more defined character, but for much of the game it feels as though you’re almost a passenger on your own time-twisting quest.

Thankfully, the supporting cast has more personality – and more utility. In a boldest shift for the genre, you’ll partner with various Companions throughout the game, creating something akin to a party system. While only one can be active at a time, you can summon them to assist in battle, taking some of the heat off and allowing you to set up your own attacks. Or, you can “Assimilate” them, storing them in your anime-appropriate giant weapon, called a Jail, and combining their power with your own. This delivers some immediate stat benefits but leaves you solo on the battlefield. Your Companion is also able to sacrifice themselves to resurrect you, a sort of “last chance” mechanic that adds a neat twist to Soulslikes’ usual death-and-rebirth cycle.

Another departure is not being tied a character class from the start. Instead, you can re-spec any time you like through equipping Blood Cores. These have their own stat specialisations, and favour certain weapons, and therefore play-styles. Combined with the effects that Companions can bring, Code Vein II allows you to switch things up on the fly. However, Blood Codes also level up through repeated use, so if you’re not swapping them around regularly, you’ll likely find yourself boxed into one style anyway, because it’s become disproportionately powerful.

There’s yet more flexibility through the weapons system, with seven different types to master, and each individual weapon able to equip up to four Formae, or special attacks. These Formae break down into support, attack, or defence types, with their skills powered by Ichor, the game’s answer to mana. This is drained from enemies – the vampiric nature of being a part-Revenant coming into play here – and is again meant to feed into an ebb and flow, attack and retreat, style-juggling approach to combat as a whole.

A Soulslike’s combat system is where it lives or dies though, and while Code Vein II definitely has its highlights, it doesn’t quite scale the heights of its competitors. Despite all of its ambitious new ideas, it lacks the sheer polish and precision that the genre demands. Enemy hitboxes feel just that teensiest bit off, affecting the range of effectiveness of your attacks or defensive rolls, while your recovery window often feels just slightly out of sync with ability timing. A good Soulslike feels tough but fair, punishing you for failure but never leaving you unsure why you’ve failed. In contrast, this often feels like it’s cheating you out of victories on spurious technicalities. It can be frustrating on grunt enemies, and maddening against bosses.

Fans of anime series such as Seraph of the End, Demon Slayer, or Jujutsu Kaisen will get the most from Code Vein II, but Soulslike purists will likely bounce off. It doesn’t suck, but this vampire action outing feels a bit anaemic.