After the 2019 launch of Code Vein, Bandai Namco staked its declare in a style it helped popularize because the writer of video games like Darkish Souls. Code Vein married that Souls gameplay with its penchant for anime aesthetics to manifest a world of vampires and tough-as-nails motion. Now, years later, the workforce behind that freshman effort is returning with an expanded sequel that can give followers of the glossy anime souls-like extra to chew on.
Keita Iizuka, producer of Code Vein and its sequel, acknowledges that the style has modified since Code Vein launched, however sees it as a problem to rise to. “Sure, video games like Elden Ring are very praised,” Iizuka begins with a glint in his eye, “However I like to think about these video games our rivals.”
As a substitute, Code Vein’s narrative tells the story of a world the place people and revenants, the sequence’ title for vampires, should be part of forces to stave off a world-destroying drive that threatens them each. To take action, you as a revenant hunter should journey between the previous and the current to higher the world. That is additionally the driving drive behind Code Vein 2’s different main enchancment: a time-travel mechanic the place actions and quests prior to now have an effect on the longer term.
When pressed for examples, Iizuka talked about that saving a bridge repairman prior to now provides the participant entry to a dungeon they in any other case may not have been capable of attain within the current. If an NPC has a life aim of making a particular instrument, that character might not have survived into the current, however serving to them obtain their aim probably signifies that instrument is ready so that you can use years later.
Past these new mechanics, Code Vein 2 will not be trying to reinvent the wheel. Iizuka is clear-eyed on his imaginative and prescient: marrying glossy anime-style characters and motion with the extra considerate and pensive gameplay of a souls-like. As such, gamers will discover elements of Code Vein have been expanded, like a brand-new agile dual-wielding weapon sort to assault enemies whereas trying cool doing it.
Companions additionally as soon as once more play a serious position, which Iizuka believes units the Code Vein sequence aside from different video games. With it, gamers encounter and recruit NPCs to undergo dungeons and beat bosses with them. The choice of who to take with you is a strategic one, however even characters who might not make sense strategically may very well be a participant’s favourite or have story implications. Iizuka desires gamers to should assume laborious about who has their again.
“That sense of overcoming trials and attaining victory creates a novel sense of enjoyment,” he explains. “As a result of [Code Vein 2] takes place in a special world with new characters, even you probably have performed [Code Vein], I believe you’ll fall in love with these new characters.”
Code Vein 2 is releasing in 2026 for Xbox Collection X|S, PlayStation 5, and PC.