Code Vein II: PS5 Review

Developed by Bandai Namco Studios
Released by Bandai Namco
Platform: PS5

Already saddled with From Software comparisons, Code Vein II has much to fight against from the get-go.

A sequel to the 2019 game, this latest only loosely builds on what's happened before, this sees you taking control of a Revenant Hunter, who must fight against Horrors, beings corrupted by a mysterious entity known as the Luna Rapacis.

But the only way to save the day is to go back into the past to battle against what has already happened - it's a familiar trope and perhaps in some ways, that's one of the reasons Code Vein II doesn't quite lend itself to the hype that it deserves.

Following the usually prescriptive RPG path, with customisation at the heart of what you do, Code Vein II offers a solid base to build from. Along with your AI companion, the game more or less plunges you straight into the heart of proceedings, and the combat begins - as well as exploration.

Destroying plants opens up the world around you, and it's a nice touch that shows something different from the game that really does not quite enough to make you feel like it's tried something new. Combat's chunky but largely perfunctory and even though the AI companion can aid you in fights, it's still largely up to you to do most of it.

Graphically the game's art helps it stand out more than anything and while Code Vein II isn't a massive departure for the genre, its delivery of something different means it's a credible if not entirely worthwhile entrant into the pantheon of RPGs.