Code Vein II Preview - The Past Is Prologue - Game Informer

"It received a mostly tepid reaction (including a 6.5/10 review score from us), so I don't think many will mind that Code Vein II offers a clean slate. It features a standalone story largely disconnected from the events of the original while introducing new gameplay mechanics designed to soften the Soulslike genre's inherent difficulty. After playing a few hours of the game during a recent event, I'm still not sure if Code Vein II will catapult the series into the highest echelon of Soulslikes."

"Like the first game, Code Vein II centers on Revenants, undead humans with vampire-esque abilities, though it takes place in a brand-new world. One hundred years ago, Revenants gathered to try to seal away a phenomenon known as The Resurgence, which transforms the living into mindless monsters called Horrors. They failed, which led to the birth of a threat called Luna Rapacis, and some Revenants became Horrors themselves."

"Speaking to the development team at Bandai Namco, the time travel premise was chosen because the team believes it allows players to have greater agency over their story, as they can choose how to manipulate past events to shape the present and future. Additionally, this is why Code Vein II is not a direct continuation of the first game, as messing with time would mean altering the events of the first game."

Code Vein II is a standalone action game set in a new world featuring Revenants, undead humans with vampire-like abilities. One hundred years earlier, Revenants attempted to seal The Resurgence, which turns the living into Horrors, but the attempt failed and gave rise to Luna Rapacis while causing some Revenants to become Horrors. In the present, a customizable Revenant Hunter must rescue the world, partnering with Lou MagMell, a mysterious girl who can travel through time. Players visit past and present locations and can influence past events to shape the present and future. New gameplay mechanics aim to soften Soulslike difficulty and increase player agency, and the time-travel premise separates the game from the first title.

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