‘Code Vein’ review: Battle mechanics heavily carries this game but it’s still worth picking up for Souls fans

Now that “Code Vein” is out, it’s time to review this Souls-inspired dungeon crawler that heavily features anime-style design. The general impression of the gaming community is that it’s an okay game, but a lot of could’ve been done to improve it.

One of the main criticism thrown at “Code Vein” is its AI gets in the way of combat rather than provide assistance when getting crowded. Indeed, companions often overextend themselves when fighting through hordes of enemies.

That said, its over-aggressiveness could also result in punching through a level rather easily, especially if you’re someone who’s skilled at this sort of game. The problem is when trying to kill bosses in “Code Vein.”

Code Vein AI easily dies to a boss

It’s clear from your first encounter with a boss that “Code Vein” is designed to fight it with a companion. And since the AI is rather aggressive and isn’t as observant as a human player, they usually end up dead before they can contribute anything significant.

This leaves you to kill a rather strong monster all on your own, which can be frustrating since bosses have been outfitted with gimmicks that hit like a Hulk Buster. Of course, for anyone who’s up for a challenge, this aspect can actually be fun on its own. Casuals, on the other hand, might find this a frustrating element of “Code Vein.”

Code Vein’s strength heavily ties with its battle mechanics

Moving to the combat system, the game offers a wide variety of approach to any particular situation, Gamespot reported. “Code Vein” provides players the freedom to quickly switch between classes, allowing for a robust style of gameplay that can be mix and match to take out a boss. Learning these combinations is a treat on its own and can be quite satisfying once you find a rhythm that works for you.

The plot of “Code Vein” is also expansive. At least, when compared to other Souls-like games out there. This isn’t to say that the writing is high caliber, unfortunately. The plot falls flat and doesn’t deliver a gripping narrative despite robust dialogue injected into the game. It’s even hard to root for a companion’s story due to how generic they are, which is a shame since some of them can be quite interesting.

The environment also becomes monotonous after a while, leaving you to feel that you’ve traversed the same path before. But discovering its hidden nooks and crannies is still a fun experience all the same.

The character creation is also another strength of “Code Vein” as it offers a wide variety of options for players to tinker around. One can easily spend hours modeling a character, and you would enjoy every single minute of it.

So is it worth buying the game? Again, if you’re a fan of Dark Souls and games like it, picking up “Code Vein” is an easy choice. Sure, the story is a bit bland, and the environment isn’t all that imaginative, but the battle mechanics offer a unique experience that overshadows both of that.