Code Vein Reviews
Code Vein tries hard to overcome its flaws with anime style and flamboyance—and in many areas almost succeeds. The character creation and Code-based upgrade system are intriguing, but the combat and partner AI are too inconsistent to overcome the uneven pacing and difficulty. Code Vein has its positives, but is flawed as a single-player experience.
Mostly, Code Vein is underwhelming. It’s highly stylish, and has some really good enemy design and gameplay options, but more could have been done with the pitch of ‘Anime Vampire Action RPG’. This effort sadly falls short of its potential and somehow makes a gore-soaked game about vampires a bit boring.
Despite its attempts, Code Vein ends up being nothing more than just another Dark Souls clone.
Code Vein took the wrong lessons from the Souls series
I can't speak for anime fans, but die-hard FromSoftware devotees, as well as those who thirst for a really good vampire game – currently a malnourished bunch – are both parishes to which I belong. And I suspect both will wish for more bite.
A muddled and underwhelming Dark Souls clone that has a few unique ideas but fails to back them up with compelling combat or exploration.
Would I recommend Code Vein to someone who’s also a Soulsborne fan like me? Not really. It won’t give you the challenge you seek and the overall design feels like it falls short of achieving what it wants to emulate. What about recommending this to someone who’s never played or finished a single Souls game? Yes, I certainly would. It’s quite possibly the most accessible game in the genre so it might actually help you ease into the brutality of the other games.
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.
If you were waiting for a Dark Souls inspired game to set your heart aflutter with vampiric themes and pulse-pounding combat…then you might want to wait a bit longer, as Code Vein definitely isn't that game.
Although it attempts to try some new things to set it apart from other Soulslike games, Code Vein ultimately feels like just another wannabe in an increasingly crowded genre. But anime fans who love attractive, moody vampires will adore it.
Flawed though it may be, sometimes a distinctly B-tier game is exactly what the doctor ordered – especially at this time of year, in a sea of mega-hyped triple-A.
Code Vein adds its own spin to the Souls-like formula, but dull enemy encounters sap its combat of any life.
Code Vein's lackluster combat is held up by great character customization, and its boring world is driven by a memorable story. It's clunky and uneven, but fun.
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
CODE VEIN adds some nice mechanics to Souls formula, but falls short of efficiently use them.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Code Vein provides a very casual Souls-like experience which will be perfect for the right sort of person. Minor bugs, and clunky JRPG-style exposition aside the game is a breeze to play through.
The Souls games are some of my fondest gaming experiences ever, and while I never expected Code Vein to surpass them, it's hard not to be disappointed by its middling results. It's far from a bad game, it has systems and ideas that push the genre forward in exciting and innovative ways, but fumbles on the execution on some of the others that are core to the experience. If you have an interest in Code Vein's world or characters, or can't get enough Souls, you might find that the positives outweigh the negatives, but I can't recommend it to someone looking for the next transformative Souls-like experience.
Code Vein does a few things well, like the amount you can customize as well as how enjoyable it is to explore the world proper. However, combat lacks the kind of refinement needed for such a complicated battlefield, and companions prove either useless or render you useless. Code Vein features many heavy inconsistencies that hide away a few good ideas.
It promised more than it has finally been. Neither history nor difficulty are up to expectations and, in addition, it comes with technical problems that ruin the experience. It's sad, because we expected more from Bandai Namco's game.
Review in Spanish | Read full review