Compared to the original, the stakes (metaphorical and literal) are much higher in Bandai Namco’s Code Vein 2. As a Revenant Hunter, you need to travel back in time with the mysterious Lou Magwell to prevent the Resurgence, a world-ending event. The 100-year journey revolves around meeting different companions, but your actions in the past have repercussions on the present.
“When you intervene in the past and return to the present, relationships with characters or the world itself will change,” said producer Keita Iizuka to PlayStation Blog. As a result, there are multiple endings, but if you’re not satisfied with one, “You can go back in time to alter it.”
“It’s a pretty unique structure,” added director Hiroshi Yoshimura. “There are multiple endings, but the way players approach them is different. What really defines this game is how players actively shape the story through their own choices.” Of course, if you want to carry over progress into a fresh playthrough, New Game+, a Souls-like staple, is available.
Despite how much more intriguing the narrative becomes, the time-travelling made the writing process “far more challenging than expected,” per Iizuka. “I want to create living, breathing characters, so I refused to make them act like puppets that were convenient to the game’s system. Maintaining narrative consistency was tough, but character integrity mattered even more.”
“My core rule was ensuring that player experiences were reflected without any contradictions. The complexity made it difficult to convey my vision clearly to the team, so I just powered through it myself.”
While the story had to go through “extensive” rewrites, Yoshimura says, “The final version achieves solid consistency and a smooth flow, making the history alterations feel seamless without any sense of disconnect.”
Code Vein 2 launches on January 30th for Xbox Series X/S, PS5, and PC, retailing at $69.99. A free character creator demo will be available on January 23rd, allowing players to customize their hunter and import them into the game at launch. You can also venture into Magmell Institute, which features a relaxing hot spring, and pose about in Photo Mode, showcasing your characters in the best possible light.
Check out our feature for everything you should know about the action RPG, and what helps it stand out from the original.
