During a time when the Soulslike genre pioneered by FromSoftware is enjoying immense popularity due to the success of Elden Ring, Bandai Namco's 2019 entry Code Vein still manages to fill its own particular niche. Although Bandai Namco's stylistic choices stand out significantly in a genre dominated by bleak photorealism amid brutal medieval fantasy settings, Code Vein checks all the boxes expected of a true competitor in the Souls-like market.
The game is a truly faithful celebration of all things anime and Soulslike. Code Vein's distinct stylization, while certainly its most obvious anime inspiration, is accentuated with narrative and design elements that have clear anime influences. Its synth-infused metal tracks are seemingly pulled from a greatest hits album of modern anime intro themes with a sonic intensity that perfectly accompanies its fully illustrated anime-style cinematics. Its gruesome post-apocalyptic wasteland is comparable to the decrepit castles and shabby dwellings home to the miserable denizens of Souls games, while the crumbling stone towers are substituted for Code Vein's blown out skyscrapers. Code Vein assuredly deserves its classification as a Soulslike game due to its art style, atmosphere, and challenging gameplay.
Code Vein Appears to Have Been Designed by Anime Fans for Anime Fans
One of Code Vein's most distinguishing features is its robust character customization system, making it exceptionally appealing for anime fans wishing to design their ideal character. The sheer number of options and the depth in which each aspect can be customized is mind-boggling. Customization staples like hair and eye color are further augmented by color palettes, iris shapes, and extra hair pieces, along with hundreds of accessories and outfit choices that can be moved about in creative ways. Many players have admitted to spending hours simply designing characters without even moving on to the game itself. Non-player characters haven't been neglected either, as the game features a strong cast of characters occupying a number of familiar anime tropes.
Code Vein's memorable narrative is delightfully anime, featuring a near-future apocalyptic setting focused on Revenants, immortal vampiric beings implanted with scientifically engineered parasites that drive these once-human creatures to consume the blood of the living in order to sustain their powers and sanity. The player character is one of these Revenants, and from the very beginning, they're forced to deal with their unquenchable thirst for blood. Without a steady supply of blood, Revenants enter a frenzied state and irrevocably become part of the Lost. Thankfully for both Revenants and their potential human victims, this bloodlust can be sated with Blood Beads, a sort of hemoglobin-infused fruit that grows from plant-like Bloodsprings.
Code Vein Wears Its Soulslike Inspiration On Its Sleeve
Code Vein's game mechanics are, of course, the main reason the game is considered Soulslike. Central to any Souls game is its bonfires, which serve as checkpoints for players to rest, recover, and level up at the cost of respawning previously defeated enemies. Code Vein's equivalent is the glowing white Mistle plants scattered throughout the game, which give the player a chance to save, level up, and adjust their equipment. The buildup and release of tension as players struggle to reach the next Mistle is key to the satisfaction of progressing through each hostile area.
Combat in Code Vein is methodical and punishing, demanding the player to carefully observe the attack patterns of enemies lest they get obliterated by an avoidable combo. Healing is limited to the Regeneration ability which is restocked only by visiting a Mistle, similar to Dark Souls' Estus Flasks. Death is punished by losing one's Haze, Code Vein's experience points akin to Dark Souls' Souls. Defeated players must return to where they died to recover their lost Haze or opt to retrieve only half by visiting the hot springs back at their base. Boss fights are a satisfying yet deadly dance of pattern recognition, and similar to many Souls games, the player may call upon a Co-Op partner for assistance.
Code Vein's combat leans into both its anime and Souls-like origins, with a versatile range of weapons to master and deep character building thanks to its Blood Code system. The game offers both familiar and novel mechanics, ensuring that even longtime fans of the genre will face a learning curve as they master the Code Vein's systems. With the option of an ever-present AI companion along with generally easier -- though certainly not easy -- combat than other Souls-likes, Code Vein remains especially accessible to curious anime fans dipping their toes into the genre for the very first time.
Code Vein is available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
