"Worse Than the Original" – Players Greet Code Vein II with Mixed Reviews
On January 30, developers from Bandai Namco Entertainment will release Code Vein II. Meanwhile, gamers who splurged on the pre-order of the deluxe edition can already start playing thanks to early access.
On its first day after launch, the game gathered just over 700 reviews on Steam, of which only 51% were positive.
For the most part, users complain about optimization issues, the lack of co-op, clunky animations, and a lifeless open world:
This is the Dark Souls II of the Code Vein world. The combat system is very slow and even clunkier than in DS2. Attacks lack weight, and the animations are terrible. It feels like "Gothic", but in the worst possible sense. The open world feels empty, with items scattered randomly. It's simply astonishing how they managed to ruin everything when the first part was fine.
Performance isn't the absolute worst. I have a 3090 Ti and I get an average of 50 FPS on max settings at 1080p, but it's far from ideal. Overall, the game is disgusting and not worth buying. It's censored, outdated nonsense. I was a HUGE fan of the first game, but guys... this is not it at all.
Meanwhile, journalists have also left rather restrained reviews. At the time of this news publication, Code Vein II has an average score of 73 on Metacritic (PS5 version) and 74 on OpenCritic with a 53% recommendation rate.
Below, we have collected several random reviews with different scores:
TheSixthAxis — 90/100
Code Vein II is a thrilling and unforgettable action game. It is more than the sum of its individual mechanics or the titles that clearly served as its inspiration. The game has its own identity that transcends the souls-like genre and never wavers from this unique vision.
Pros:
- Incredible character customization possibilities;
- Unique, captivating, and simply gorgeous post-apocalyptic atmosphere;
- Many nuances in gameplay and combat system;
- A truly interesting implementation of time travel.
Cons:
- Frame rate stutters in open areas;
- The developers' decision to drop the co-op mode is a bit disappointing.
GameSpew — 80/100
Code Vein II is an ambitious sequel where players get to explore a vast open world. It can sometimes feel a bit lifeless, but it's still interesting to explore. Everything you do helps you level up your character, and this activity becomes the highlight of the game, along with manipulating time to strengthen bonds with your companions.
Pros:
- Fun and spectacular combat system;
- Huge open world to explore;
- Engaging character development mechanics.
Cons:
- The open world sometimes feels a bit lifeless;
- There are some performance issues.
Loot Level Chill — 70/100
Despite all the spectacle, the game is not particularly smooth or balanced. Exploring the world is certainly fun, and character progression is always enjoyable, but the multi-layered systems seem too convoluted, and the world is often empty and lifeless. I can't even say for sure what fans of the first game will think, so you really should try it for yourself.
Pros:
- The companion system is really good;
- Various secrets in the open world;
- Many gameplay systems.
Cons:
- Enemy hitboxes are quite janky;
- The open world lacks substance;
- Awkward camera.
IGN — 60/100
Several times I caught myself thinking that I was really enjoying parts of Code Vein II, but almost every time it was accompanied by a reminder that the game struggles to maintain its momentum. The combat demands a precision and finesse that Code Vein II itself, unfortunately, lacks. The story has a few bright spots, and despite the shortcomings closer to the end, I was drawn to the very idea of restoring a ruined world by changing its past through time travel. Souls-likes have changed significantly since the original Code Vein was released, and unfortunately, even after switching to an open world, the sequel couldn't keep up with them.
GamesRadar+ — 50/100
Code Vein II feels like the first souls-like trying to achieve the scale of Elden Ring, which forced the developers to make too many compromises. The excitement is lost against the backdrop of bland, monotonous, and overly bloated gameplay. If I can recommend anything, it's to travel back six years and play the original Code Vein.
Pros:
- It's fun to experiment with special attacks;
- The companion revival system rewards risk-taking;
- One great character towards the end of the playthrough.
Cons:
- Boring and monotonous dungeon design;
- Frequent reuse of enemies and bosses;
- Less interesting visual design compared to the first game.
Code Vein II is announced for PC (Steam), PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series with Russian text localization.