CODE VEIN II

Code Vein II picks up the blood-soaked, anime-drenched baton from its predecessor and runs with it through a post-apocalyptic wasteland full of grotesque enemies, dramatic character moments, and the kind of gothic fashion sense that makes Dark Souls look like it shops at a farmer's market. If you bounced off the first game, this sequel is unlikely to convert you. If you loved the original's blend of Souls-like combat and JRPG aesthetics, there is real meat here to sink your teeth into. At its core, this is a third-person action RPG built around the Blood Code system, which functions as the game's class and ability framework. You swap Codes to access different stat spreads, active skills called Gifts, and passive buffs, and the best builds come from mixing and matching abilities across multiple Codes. It rewards experimentation in a way that keeps hour 20 feeling different from hour 5. That build variety is the game's strongest argument for your time, especially if you enjoy theorycraft and incremental character optimization. Combat leans into dodge timing, stamina management, and reading enemy attack windows, so the Souls comparison is not cosmetic. The partner system returns and remains central to how the game plays out. You bring an AI companion into every encounter, and your choice of partner affects both combat dynamics and story beats. The writing around these relationships is where Code Vein II makes its clearest bid for JRPG credibility. Character arcs have weight, dialogue rewards attention, and the overarching narrative, which involves memory, sacrifice, and the cost of survival, lands its emotional notes more often than it fumbles them. That said, the world itself is not always as rich as the characters populating it. Environmental storytelling is functional rather than inspired, and some mid-game areas feel like they exist to pad the runtime rather than expand the lore. The mixed Steam review score, sitting around 64 percent positive, is worth unpacking honestly. Common criticisms point to performance issues on PC at launch, some repetitive dungeon design in the back half, and a camera that can get combative in tight spaces. These are real complaints, not noise. Players sensitive to technical rough edges should check recent reviews before committing. On the other hand, a meaningful portion of the positive reviews come from fans of the first game who feel the sequel meaningfully expands what worked. If you are already in the Code Vein camp, that tracks. For RPG players who prioritize narrative and character investment alongside mechanical depth, Code Vein II sits in an interesting middle space. It is not competing with the structural ambition of a Western CRPG, and its world is not built for explorers who want every corner to whisper secrets. But for players who want anime protagonists with good hair, a combat system that punishes button-mashing, and a story that earns at least a few emotional reactions, it delivers more than its mixed score might suggest. Go in knowing what it is, and it holds up.

Monika · Scout Team

RPGs

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