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| The world of Code Vein II blends brutal combat with anime-inspired visuals. |
Code Vein II caught me off guard. I went in expecting a sequel that mostly stuck to what the first game already did well, with a few upgrades layered on top. You do get that familiar foundation, but it doesn’t take long before the game starts showing you it’s aiming for something bigger.
The opening hours give you space to settle in. You’re dropped into a world that’s already in rough shape, but the game isn’t constantly shoving you to the next objective. You can take your time, poke around, get your bearings, and figure out what kind of approach fits you best.
Once you start getting comfortable, you’ll notice how much more flexible things feel compared to the first game. You’re not locked into one narrow path, and switching up how you play doesn’t feel like you’re being punished for trying something new. It still expects you to pay attention, but it doesn’t feel like it’s trying to wear you down just to prove it can.
After a few hours, it’s clear Code Vein II isn’t only here to repeat the first game. It’s built to let you move through the world at your own pace, and it gives you enough room to make your own choices along the way.
Code Vein II Details
Platforms: PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC
Reviewed on: PS5
Developer: Bandai Namco Studios
Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment
Genre: Action RPG
Game Mode: Single-player
A Story Built Around Choice and Consequence
Code Vein II handles its story with a lighter touch this time around. Instead of throwing everything at you up front, it lets the world explain itself as you move through it. You’re given just enough to understand what’s going on, then trusted to fill in the rest by paying attention to what you see and who you meet.
You step into the role of a Revenant pulled back into a world that’s already on the brink. Lou acts as your guide through different points in time, but she isn’t there to spell everything out. The game lets moments breathe, and a lot of the story’s impact comes from noticing how places and people change as you move between past and present.
What makes this work is how closely the story ties into exploration. Revisiting the same locations at different points in time adds meaning to even simple areas. You start to recognize what was lost, what changed, and what choices led things down that path. It gives weight to your actions without relying on long explanations.
The cast plays a big part in grounding everything. Characters feel like they exist beyond their role in the story, and spending time with them makes later moments hit harder. The game doesn’t rush emotional beats, and it doesn’t overplay them either.
By the time everything comes together, the story feels more focused than in the first game. It’s not trying to overwhelm you. It’s trying to pull you in slowly, and it succeeds by letting you experience the world instead of explaining it to you.
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| Exploring the ruined cityscapes in Code Vein II helps sell the weight of its story and shifting timeline. |
Combat That Rewards Trying Different Approaches
Combat in Code Vein II feels more open and less restrictive than before. It still carries some of that familiar action RPG structure, but it gives you more freedom to find a style that actually works for you instead of forcing one approach.
What stands out quickly is how much your setup matters. Weapons, Formae, Blood Codes, and Jails all play off each other, and even small changes can shift how a fight feels. You’re encouraged to test things out, swap gear, and adjust your approach instead of locking into one build early on. Some setups push you toward speed and pressure, while others work better if you play defensively and manage space.
That flexibility keeps combat from feeling stale. When something isn’t working, the solution usually isn’t to grind or brute-force your way through it. It’s about changing how you approach the encounter. The game does a good job of pushing you in that direction without stopping to explain every system in detail.
Enemy encounters support that design. Regular fights are easy to read but still demand attention, while bosses ask you to watch positioning, manage resources, and react to patterns. Not every fight feels perfectly balanced, but most of them reward paying attention and adapting rather than repeating the same tactics.
Having someone at your side changes how fights play out. The extra help can give you room to recover or press an advantage, and deciding when to rely on that support becomes part of the moment-to-moment decision-making.
Overall, combat in Code Vein II feels more flexible and more welcoming without losing its challenge. It rewards experimenting, paying attention, and finding a rhythm that fits the way you want to play.
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| Combat in Code Vein II focuses on timing, positioning, and adapting to aggressive enemy patterns. |
A World With Its Own Identity
Code Vein II commits fully to its visual style, and that commitment goes a long way. The world is made up of collapsed cities, empty highways, and wide-open areas that feel worn down by time, but still carefully put together. It isn’t trying to look realistic, and it doesn’t need to. Everything fits within the game’s tone, which helps the world feel consistent even when things start getting strange.
Characters and enemies are easy to read during combat, which matters once fights get hectic. Attacks are clear, animations communicate intent well, and the screen rarely feels cluttered. It makes fights easier to follow, especially when things get crowded.
The character creator remains one of the strongest parts of the presentation. It gives you plenty of options without feeling overwhelming, and it’s easy to spend more time than expected tweaking details before jumping back in. Being able to change your appearance later is a small thing, but it makes a difference if you like experimenting.
There are some technical issues that show up from time to time. Performance dips can happen in larger areas, especially when effects stack up during combat. Pop-in is also noticeable on occasion when moving quickly through open spaces. None of this breaks the experience, but it does remind you that the game is pushing its limits in places.
Sound design helps tie everything together. Weapons have enough impact to make fights feel satisfying, and the soundtrack does a good job setting the tone without drawing too much attention to itself. Boss themes, in particular, add weight to big encounters. Voice acting is solid across the board and fits the game’s style without going over the top.
Even with its rough edges, Code Vein II holds together well visually. The art direction does most of the heavy lifting, and the world remains engaging enough that the technical hiccups rarely pull you out of the experience.
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| Lighting and environmental detail do a lot of the work in selling the mood of Code Vein II’s world. |
Code Vein II Comes Together in Ways You Don’t Expect
Code Vein II left a stronger impression on me than I expected going in. It starts in familiar territory, but the more time you spend with it, the clearer it becomes that this isn’t just a repeat of the first game. It’s more comfortable with its own ideas and more willing to let you move at your own pace.
What works best is how everything connects. Combat, progression, and story all support each other in a way that feels intentional. Trying different builds, adjusting how you approach encounters, and watching the world change as you move through it keeps things engaging without feeling forced. The game rewards curiosity and experimentation rather than perfect execution, which makes it easier to stay invested over time.
There are still issues that hold it back a bit. Performance dips show up in larger areas, and a few sections feel like they could have used more refinement. The lack of co-op will also stand out for players who enjoyed sharing the experience in the first game. None of this breaks the experience, but it does keep Code Vein II from fully reaching what it feels capable of.
Even with those flaws, Code Vein II succeeds where it matters. It gives you a world worth exploring, gameplay that encourages trying different approaches, and a story that stays with you after the credits roll. It’s not perfect, but it’s engaging, well paced, and shows real growth for the series.
Code Vein II Review Summary
Liked
- Major story moments that connect directly to where you go and who you meet
- Build flexibility that makes trying new approaches feel worthwhile
- Companions feel genuinely useful in fights, not just along for the ride
- Strong art direction that gives the world a consistent look
- A character creator that’s easy to get lost in
Didn’t Like
- Performance dips in larger areas when the screen gets busy
- Pop-in that shows up more often than it should
- No co-op, which may disappoint if you played the first game with a friend
- Some areas feel like they needed a bit more polish
Overall Assessment of Code Vein II
Gameplay: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Presentation: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Performance: ⭐⭐⭐½☆ (3.5 / 5)
Story: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Fun Factor: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
Overall Value: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆ (4.0 / 5)
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