Code Vein Reviews
Code Vein makes the entry into the Soulslike genre relatively easy. But that doesn't mean that the game becomes a pleasant walk through the forest. You will die and not once or twice, but very often, but Code Vein takes the player by the hand. The story is served to you on a plate. You don't have to puzzle the story together with item descriptions. But the constant comparison with the titles of From Software is not really necessary, because Code Vein has its own features that are way ahead of Dark Souls. So the blood codes are an enormous enrichment in the game. You can adapt the game to the situation so that no frustrating moments arise. In my opinion, the title is more of a souls-lite. The game remains challenging to the end, but I never had the feeling to have such a subjective difficulty as in Dark Souls. If you have a soft spot for anime and want to try a game similar to Dark Souls, Code Vein is the right choice. It offers everything you need to get started in the genre.
Review in German | Read full review
Code Vein should be applauded for doing something different with the Dark Souls formula. It's great to be able to switch out your classes at will and combine them, and the almost-constant presence of co-op is a real selling point for those who may not want to jump into the deep end of this emerging subset of the genre. The rest of the game, from the story to the level design, feels bland, and the combat falls apart when you suddenly have no AI companion by your side. If you don't mind a heavy dose of anime in your action game, Code Vein may be worth checking out.
Code Vein takes some chances with the Soulsborne formula, and largely succeeds in making us loyal believers.
If you’ve never played a Soulsborne and you’ve been wanting to jump in but felt intimidated to do so, Code Vein’s NPC partner system and easy co-op play make it the perfect introduction to build up your confidence.
Although I enjoyed my time with Code Vein, it could definitely use some work to live up to its genre contemporaries.
Code Vein is an anime Souls-lite. It doesn't have the same mystery or quiet contemplation found in the Souls series, but that also means it offers something different. The world is interesting, the story kept my attention, and the combat is smooth. If you have an itch for a new Soul-like, Code Vein is perfect for you.
The combat in Code Vein is that of your typical hack and slash game with a stamina system inspired from the likes of Dark Souls, you have your heavy attacks and light attacks which you can combo together that occasionally in the right circumstances can activate a finisher with cool animations (note that these little animations can be deactivated in the system settings) the enemies vary in size and shape and hit hard...even at a higher level it is unwise to assume you can plough through enemies in the beginning areas of the game, as for the bosses they are awe inspiring, big and come with mechanics that must be mastered in order to beat them.
I enjoyed Code Vein a lot more than I thought I would going into it. The combat is challenging without being frustrating most of the time, the Code system allows you to mix and match jobs to your liking and the overall look of the game is outstanding. The maps could’ve used a little more detail in certain areas and some variety would’ve been welcomed. That’s honestly a very minor complaint, since of the game looks great. The music is outstanding and with three different endings and New Game+ there is a decent amount of replay value here for the 60 buck price tag. If you are a fan of Souls games, this is a must have title, and folks that wanted try out a Souls game but wanted something with a bit more story and character should definitely pick this up. You will be glad you did!
We’re through the initial burst of Blood/Souls enthusiasm and into the second era, when “It’s like Bloodborne/Dark Souls, but…” is the pitch on the lips of every would-be cash-in. Code Vein is one of those.
Code Vein brings many fun and interesting features to the souls-like subgenre, and even though it doesn't reach excellency in some aspects, it still stands out and entertains enough to stand amongst the big ones as a possible new franchise to become a reference.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Japan dystopia with Souls system in world of destruction works very well. Just story should be more attractive.
Review in Slovak | Read full review
Code Vein is a fun game that mixes anime themes with Souls-like mechanics but it needs more polishing on many aspects and absolutely demands for a protagonist voice actor, and more importantly the game deserve more love and care from Bandai Namco which sadly it didn't get.
Review in Arabic | Read full review
Code Vein is going to be divisive. Out of the box, it's not a very good game. The balance in difficulty is a mess, with certain classes and abilities feeling hugely overpowered; the partners making even the most challenging encounter easy, until the difficulty spikes massively towards the conclusion. It's in that conclusion that Code Vein shines at its best. For the players willing to invest the time to get there, and good enough to learn how to master the considerably complex system, there is a superb experience waiting. It's just a shame it takes so long to get there.
Code Vein isn't the anime Dark Souls that many people were expecting, and I'm all the more happy for it. Instead, we get something that borrows from the Souls-like genre but still ends up being its own unique beast. There's nothing quite like Code Vein on the market, and few games are as satisfying from beginning to end.
Code Vein is safe and bets on a Souls-style gameplay as a claim, although its gameplay differs a bit. Unfortunately, neither the scenario design nor the theme are up to scratch, and a very simple gameplay takes the fun out of it. The soundtrack, anime style and extensive character customization are certainly the big claims.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Code Vein is an enjoyable Souls-like hack and slash game. Whilst its combat might not be too-complex it remains fun all the same - think Phantasy Star Online. With pleasant visuals and a semi-interesting story tying it all together Code Vein is a recommended game for action role playing fans. With more updates and extra planned further down the line, it's also worth investing in for the long-haul support.
overall, the game is neither flawed enough to recommend it to anyone nor empty enough to say its experience is a must. If you want a challenging anime with anime atmosphere, Code Vein with all its flaws will probably meet your needs.
Review in Persian | Read full review
...a game that combined the unforgivable gameplay of Dark Souls with the heart of a JRPG saga...
Code Vein is a brilliant evolution of the soulslike style. With fun combat, a well done AI partner system and a wealth of build options. Each area permeates that distinct desolate feeling, while still managing to remain unique. Even the story manages to keep being interesting enough to continually draw the player forward to discover more, with an elegant system to experience memories of past events to flesh out the story. Anyone who enjoys both anime style games, and soulslike games has plenty to enjoy in Code Vein.