Code Vein Reviews
You can have some fun with the stylish anime accoutrements, but Code Vein leans far too heavily on its inspirations and fails to capture any of the associated magic
There's a lot to like about Code Vein though it's definitely not the most original game. Not everything works and what does is a lot of what we've seen before.
Code Vein is a new soulsborne like game that gives a different take on the genre. While it has some great elements to be enjoyed, it also falters in some areas.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
It's really easy to compare Code Vein to Dark Souls, since pretty much everything stays the same, and the only key differences are Anime Graphics and your partner, who always stays with you and sometimes tells you where something is hidden and when you should be alert. Story also gives you that warm feeling, that you are doing something right in a world full of corruption, where two races can't live together, since one feasts on the other, but throughout the game, you work on finding the right path, so they could all live in harmony. But as long as you get to kill tough bosses and thousands of enemies, we can't complain.
Review in Czech | Read full review
Code Vein is exactly what it was promised to be, an anime flavored vampiric Soulsborne but it lacks a certain kind of magic to blow us away.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Flawed, but not a failure, Code Vein offers the same hardcore Soulslike action with less of a barrier of entry, making for a decent gateway into a growing genre.
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 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 tries so hard to be more than a Dark Souls clone, and it succeeds when it comes to the story and character design. But gameplay wise, it fails to execute the successful Dark Souls formula and eventually lands somewhere between Soulslike games and Japanese Action RPGs, unable to fully satisfy fans of either genre.
Review in Persian | Read full review
Code Vein is a pretty solid attempt at a formula that is tried and true and manages to bring some cool ideas to the table
I'm of two minds when it comes to Code Vein. On one hand, it's a serviceable and surprisingly delightful Souls-like game that comes with its own flair.
'Anime Dark Souls' was its billing, but it's not until Code Vein breaks free of the tried-and-tested formula that it shines brightly. With a difficulty balance that stretches from a leisurely stroll to hair-tearing madness, it's hard to know who this game is for. Code Vein is fun, though. Really, really fun, and a great place to start for anyone keen to dip their toe into a more chilled and relaxed Souls-like title.
Code Vein is a good Dark Souls Like, in a sexy and post apocaliptic manga universe. The RPG mecanics and the level design are pretty decent, but the fights are boring.
Review in French | Read full review
Code Vein features anime vampires and fast combat, but it's too reliant on the exact Soulslike formula to stand out on its own.
An unholy union of anime, Dark Souls, and My Chemical Romance, Code Vein is as much about style as substance. If that sounds good to you, then you're in for a treat, even if it lacks some of the polish of the genre's best.Jason Coles
Code Vein is pretty fun, but it's dragged down some by some rote characters and dialogue and mediocre, tedious level design. It's also probably too easy for genre fans, but it's a solid game in its own right.
Despite all the drawbacks, Code Vein is fun to play. Nice characters, fan-service and clear presentation of the story are great. The tightened sections with the story about the past of heroes, visual secondariness of locations, simple opponents and easy bosses can spoil impression to hardcore fans of a genre, but beginners have to be satisfied.
Review in Russian | Read full review
Code Vein is a stylish JRPG with an interesting combat system that just falls short in a few areas. Its inspirations are clearly worn on its sleeve, but it brings enough to the table to stand out on its own. This title has promise, and we think the developer could iron it out into a worthy franchise if it's given the chance to make future instalments.
Code Vein is a great game, but needs more polish.
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.