Code Vein 2 criticized as a misfire that loses the original’s identity

Polygon says Bandai Namco’s Code Vein 2 is a misfire that repeats its predecessor’s mistakes and drifts away from what made the original distinct; the game is due Jan. 29 for PlayStation 5, Windows PC and Xbox Series X.

The review faults the game for a convoluted time-travel plot and extensive dialogue that the critic argues fails to generate emotional investment, with companion missions that provide facts about characters rather than depth. It also criticizes character designs—particularly the sexualized treatment of women—while noting the character-creator tools offer unusually granular customization. Maps are larger than the first game but often empty, and environments are described as uninspiring compared with other Bandai Namco titles and recent open-world benchmarks.

Combat includes many systems centered on Blood Codes, yet the review says most systems can be ignored without penalty; the critic cites an example in which 16 points in strength raised a greatsword’s attack to 275 versus 262 at 10 strength. The reviewer adds the game can be fun when players build extravagant combos, but overall found it lacking; the review was conducted on PlayStation 5 using a prerelease download code provided by Bandai Namco.

Key Topics

Culture, Bandai Namco, Xbox Series X, Blood Code, Character Creator