Video Game Reviews

Code Vein Review

Code Vein is a soulslike made by Bandai Namco Studios and also published by Bandai Namco, thats right, the same people who published Fromsoftware's Dark Souls Trilogy, and the Elden Ring Games also made these games...

And...

Well...

Code Vein is... fine, I suppose, nothing really new, nothing really innovative, just a fun game for the most part and a very basic soulslike in my opinion, and what it is likely the easiest soulslike game out there. 

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Premise:

Code Vein is a soulslike game released in 2019. made by Bandai Namco Games who published Fromsoftware's hit series The Dark Souls Trilogy, and the Elden Ring games. Code Vein is a simple soulslike game that takes place in a modern world with a very unique take on Vampires and Anime, with the vampires being called Revenants, who were all once Humans who had all gone through some form of experimentation to become Revenants in order to survive in the new world they have found themselves in, however if a Revenant dies to much, and eventually loses who they are they can become a Lost, or they end up in a frenzy due to a lack of bloodlust making them Frenzy... so essentially we have the Dark Sign from Dark Souls and the Bloodthirst of a vampire... wonderful... Humans are still a thing, but most of them have become Revenants with the surviving Humans either being blood food for Revenants or kept in safe governmentant safe houses run by Military Revenants who are trying to fix the mess they are in.

Code Vein's story functions similar to Lies of P, with the story being told right to you, and not having to rely on item descriptions, and theories to fill in most of the dots. Code Vein has you create your own character with... how do I say this... anime inspired hair styles and character customization. I probably should have mentioned this.

Code Vein is essentially Dark Souls + Anime + Vampires rolled into one, and the games graphics is... now that I think about... a less impressive version of the art stlye First Berserker: Khazan, which I should play now that I think about it. 

After Code Vein's release, they created three DLC's that... don't really add much to the game besides three new bosses, new weapons, and new armor. The only thats added in some small new details in the lore about the Revenants Struggle against themselves and the Lost. 

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Gameplay:

The gameplay for Code Vein is fairly basic with some unique twists on the soulsborne/soulslike formula that does make Code Vein stand out from the other Soulslike games.

In terms of combat its largely the same, you have a light and a heavy attack along with dodging and sprinting, and... thats where the similarities end.

The gameplay besides the movement and attack options is very interesting, the weapons and armors of the game are all really good with a brand new type of weapon being introduced to the Soulslike genre... the bayonet, yup, you can use guns in Code Vein, which was really useful especially against ranged enemies, in areas you can't get to. 

The way Code Vein stands out is with blood codes, which are the 'builds' for Code Vein. The only thing that you can raise on your own is your HP, Stamina, and Attack Power... that's it. The only way to raise your other stats is via the Blood Codes, that affect your other stats like strength, dexterity and mind and depending on what blood code you equip it will shape the rest of your build with additional powers, and perks that can be equipped, to further strengthen your power. Each blood code has to be used until these blood powers and perks can be unlocked permanently that way you can use them with other blood codes if that blood code fits the requirements since each blood code has a different scaling. 

It's a very unique system and I think its one thats been used in maybe one or two other soulslike, I need to check this just to be sure. 

Throughout the game, you will be able to access more blood codes with each of them tying to a certain character, and the more you learn about said character, the more of there abilities you'll be able to unlock.

Another part of the game is permanent co-op, given the fact that the game encourages the use of other peoples blood codes, Code Vein allows the player to partner up with characters they've met and have chosen to work with the player, this can always be removed allowing you to do a 1v1 against the bosses, which most of the time won't even matter as most of the bosses are... kind of easy, some can be challenging at times, but most of the time, you won't have that much of an issue.

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Extra Content (Depths and DLC's):

There is one thing that this game has in common with the Soulsborne games and that is the depths, aka, the Chalice Dungeons from Bloodborne.

Every area, and some of the side quests award you with a map that shows you the Depths, which are a quick runthrough where you fight regular enemies as bosses or previous bosses that are brought back for a rematch with higher stats or with additional enemies to aid them.

This is how you access the DLC's which are... interesting.

Essentially you have access to three DLC Maps, that are found near the endgame of Code Vein. In the DLC, you clear the area and face off against a new boss that can be fought as many time as you want with challenges that you can do to earn new gear, new customization options and new looks for your companions. 

The bosses are... about as hard as the final boss(es), and shouldn't be taken lightly due to there powerful attacks, and AoE's but there going to give you more of a challenge then the other bosses in the base game will likely be giving you.

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Ending Thoughts.

All and all, Code Vein is a pretty alright game, and I am aware of Code Vein 2, which I might check out, along with Nioh 3, once I play Nioh 2. 

Anyway, this will be a 7/10 for me.

That's it, have a good day/afternoon/night everyone.