As a refresher, Code Vein takes place in a desolate post-apocalyptic world where “Revenants,” the game’s term for vampires, fight one another over the dwindling supply of blood they need to avoid becoming mindless feral monsters known as the Lost. Beyond the plot, the game seems to hue closely to the gameplay formula established by the Dark Souls series, with intense methodical combat and a grim world full of secrets to uncover. However, it does offer a few unique tweaks of its own. Besides granting players an AI companion to help them fight, the game places a greater emphasis on character customization through its “Blood Code” class system and the various special abilities known as “Gifts” that come with it.
But is that enough to do justice to a successful formula, or does it just make for a halfhearted copy? Let’s see what the reviews have to say:
Twinfinite (Hayes Madsen)
“Code Vein is the rare type of game that only gets better and better the further you get into the experience. Like I said before, it can take a while for things to really “click,” but once they did boy was I hooked. The story goes some surprisingly emotional places, and the sheer variety of gameplay styles is a huge strength. Code Vein is easily one of the sleeper hits of the year, and it’s an experience that’s a joy to sink your teeth into.”
Score: 4.5/5
Game Informer (Daniel Tack)
“Everything in Code Vein feels like an off-brand knockoff. Combat, which is one of the foundational components of this genre, is lifeless; attacking enemies feels as if you’re beating on a rudderless chunk of meat with a blunt object. Bosses and stages don’t have flavor, impact, or style. The occasional framerate drops do nothing to help, and further drag down the core experience. These major issues put a limit on how much anyone – even Souls-like veterans – can enjoy Code Vein. But surrounding these critical failings are some interesting ideas that keep the experience from becoming a total loss.”
Score: 6.5/10
ShackNews (Sam Chandler)
“It’s like experiencing the genre for the first time. While you know the main rules, there are subtle differences that set it apart. These differences give you pause and cause you to stumble. But as you learn these new rules, you begin to feel proficient, even powerful. You’re able to grow and swell with strength, almost to match the power your own character absorbs over the course of the game.”
Score: 8/10
IGN (Mike Epstein)
“Despite building itself on well-tread ground, Code Vein definitely moves to the beat of its own drummer, but that beat can lose its rhythm when you need it to be steady. Some changes like being able to easily switch around and experiment with classes on the fly are great, while others like its inconsistent AI partner could be more trouble than they were worth at times. But in both the good and the bad, I appreciated its enthusiasm for mixing things up and getting a little weird. If you’re looking for a unique take on a familiar type of challenge, and are open to loving and hating a game for its many mechanical quirks in the same breath, Code Vein is worth sinking your teeth into.”
Score: 7/10
EGM (Mollie L Patterson)
“There was a lot of potential for Code Vein to end up little more than a mediocre Dark Souls clone dressed in anime clothing, and yet, it’s actually kinda, sorta, pretty good. The game mixes some long-established gameplay qualities with a totally engrossing class system and a story that’s more enjoyable than it has any right to be. Code Vein won’t be for everyone, even if you’re a Souls fan, but if the overall idea sounds appealing, the execution might surprise you.”
Score: 4/5
GameSpot (Richard Wakeling)
“Code Vein doesn’t have to adhere to Dark Souls’ challenging difficulty, but it also misses the mark by never forcing you to learn or deepen your understanding of the game to progress. Combat devolves into a mindless task where the only thing you need to watch out for is enemy placement and quantity. Difficulty is contrived by throwing numerous enemies at you at once which feeds into a focus on cooperative play. You can traverse through Code Vein’s world with another player or by using one of its many AI companions. The latter can more than hold their own in a fight, proving especially useful when you’re overwhelmed by multiple enemies–though their presence against singular opponents doesn’t do much to quell the simplistic routine of defeating them.”
Score: 6/10
DualShockers (David Gill)
“Overall, Code Vein offers an experience that’s a bit too similar to the FromSoftware games that established the genre. Its combat doesn’t stray far from other Soulslike games but with features such as the Blood Code system, it does offer some variety that could lead to wanting to complete multiple playthroughs. The anime art style and story can be both absurd but also entertaining to watch at the same time. If you love Soulslikes and want an experience that will be very similar to past games, then maybe Code Vein is right for you. However, if you’re looking for a new take on the subgenre, you may have to wait a bit longer.”
Score: 7/10
Game Revolution (Jason Faulkner)
“If you’ve ever wanted a Souls-like without most of the baggage that comes with playing one, Code Vein is right up your alley. It has all the great exploration and combat without going too far into frustrating territory. It can get tough, and you’ll likely die a few times, but the experience here is more focused on world-building and keeping your moving forward.”
Score: 4.5/5
In conclusion, it looks like some shortcomings like weaker combat and other technical hiccups aren’t enough to really undo Code Vein’s efforts to do something fresh among the growing field of Soulslike games not from From Software. That said, there may be enough detractors present that some may want to save their money for other games coming out this year, even if they’re still interested.
Luckily, there’s a way to get the game without putting down any money. Anyone in San Diego, CA tomorrow will be able to head to a promotional blood drive run by Bandai Namco and the American Red Cross, where anyone who donates blood will receive a free copy of Code Vein.
Code Vein is out on September 27 for PC, PS4, and Xbox One.
MORE: Code Vein: How Long to Beat [UPDATED]
