Code Vein (PC/PS4/Xbox one) Review and Gameplay Explanation.

Hello role-playing games and anime fans, my name is Vladislav, and as always I glad to have here on my channel. So in today's video, we going to take a look closer at "Code Vein". Yeah, better late than never i know, but before even consider making this video, i really wanted to finish this game first.

And i tell you, that was a long long journey to do so. But okay, let's start from very beginning. "Code Vein" is a Japanese Action Role Playing Game, or "Souls Like" style game, as people may call it today, that was developed and released by "Bandai/Namco" in 2019 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox one.

Yeah, as you can see, this game was heavily inspired by "Souls" series, or i say, even more "Demon's Souls". So most of mechanics in "Code Vein" will work absolutely same as in those games. Nearly same hardcore difficulty, lot's of areas to explore, and it's needless to say, that all areas and dungeons in this game, are filled with a lot's of deadly enemies, that will always respawn upon player's death, or when player decide to catch his breath at nearest bonfire.

Oh, did i just called it a bonfire? In this game, resting points called a "Mistle", but works absolutely same. But despite "Code Vein" being inspired by "Souls Series", this game i say have it's own soul, and lot's of interesting gaming mechanics , that i'm going to explain throughout video.

But for now, let's start with game's storyline. Events of game take place in a post apocalyptic world, in which an event known as "The Great Collapse" has occured. In order to fight the monsters, that begun emerging around the world, humanity has created the "Revenants", a humans that is brought back to life, by implanting a "Biological Organ Regenerative Parasite" within their heart, which turn the carrier into immortal and powerful creature.

As a result of being resurrected, "Revenants" are lost their memories, and just like vampires, constantly require human blood. Or otherwise, they will go "Frenzy", and turn into the "Lost", which are basically enemies, that we going to fight throughout entire game.

However, beside those undesirable effects, there are also few very positive ones, such as super human strength, and near immortality. "Revenant" can die, only if their heart was destroyed, because otherwise, they will just turn into ash, and resurrect near last "Mistle", that they were in contact with.

Yeah, this i say is nice explanation of player's constant resurrection, that is perfectly tied with a gameplay. So as you guess, we play as one of "Revenants", but our hero is very special one, and have unique powers, that allows him to do certain things, that other "Revenants" can't.

And here, let's slowdown a bit with a story, and proceed to very first important game element, a character creation. Yeah, in very first menu, which is a character costumization, players can spend a lot's of time. And even myself, while not being fan of long character costumizations, i did spend good twenty minutes in this menu only.

And yeah, i highly doubt, that you can make an ugly character in this game, no matter how hard you will try. Soon after character has been created, he will appear in training area, where we going to learn very first, but same time most important basics of game, which i'm going to explain now.

First important game mechanic called a "Blood Code". So "Blood Code" is a name for character class system in this game. Right at start of game we have only three "Blood Codes" available, which is a "Warrior", "Ranger", and "Caster", but as player advance through storyline, more "Blood Codes" will be unlocked.

Each "Blood Code" have different characteristics, that allow player to use different types of weapons, armor, but most importantly different skills. And skill system plays a very major role in this game, because in "Code Vein" it is possible to learn, or master skills and traits from one class, and then use them on any other at will.

So basically, even if initial characteristics of some "Blood Codes" may look limited at start. Combined with skills and traits of other classes, those "Blood Codes" may become, like a best in game. Yeah, of course that depends from player to player, but this very first mechanic, makes this game a very unique experience for everyone.

So, soon as player will finish with training area, storyline cutscene will start to roll, that will introduce us to main character, and will gradually explain the situation about events that happening around. But since all "Revenants" lose their memories after resurrection, our main character is no exception.

After introduction cutscene, our characters will appear in abandoned parking lot, which is look more like a dungeon, and that's where finally true "Code Vein" experience begins. As you may already notice by gameplay footage, i always play with a partner, and that is second important mechanic in game.

During adventures, player by default may be assisted by "A.I." controlled character, or if you have any friends, it is possible to game in online mode. Once again, something like you could see in "Dark Souls" series, where one player can assist another.

But if you don't want to bother with online mode, "A.I." partner will be more than enough. Or after first boss, when our party will move to hideout location, you can disable partner at all. But i wouldn't recommend that, since "A.I." can not only play very well, but also can be useful to distract enemies, tank bosses for some time, and even throw some heals in dangerous situations.

Speaking of bosses, from boss battles in "Code Vein", you can expect no less challenge, than it was in "Dark Souls". I myself is not super pro "Souls" player, so very first boss, i defeated with only third attempt, and second one, after fifth, i turned game off until next day.

So boss battle wise, and world exploration wise, game offer same tough experience. Next important moment, that i want to explain about this game, is a hideout. Remember i did mentioned, that game reminded me more "Demon's Souls" instead of "Dark" ones.

After first boss, your party will move to hideout, that later you will have to visit a lot's of times throughout game. So there is actually a lot of important things, that we can, and even must do in this area. And very first simpliest things that we can do in hideout, is that we can switch our party members.

Also in hideout we have two shops available. "Item Shop", to restock some helpful items, that we can use while in field. And "Weapon Shop", where aside of buying new gear, we can also upgrade existing one, which is very important, because level up system alone in this game, won't help player, if he not equipped well with a proper gear and skills.

Now i think, it is good time to talk about "Haze", which is a equial to souls in "Dark Souls" series. In "Code Vein", "Haze" serves to player not as only experience points, but as currency in general. Oh yeah, do i need to remind you, that if you die in this game, you will lose all "Haze", until you recollect it at place, where that horrible incedent happened.

So because "Haze" serves as general currency in this game, at very first locations, you may find that you have to spend it wisely, and even sometimes, maybe farm for some more, well at least i did, just like when i played "Demon's Souls" and "Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice".

But for real, at second half of game, enemies will provide player with so much "Haze", that it be even pointless to farm it. Just check it out, how much i have in this footage. And i even don't know where to spend it. And yeah, just in case if you interested, i finished "Code Vein" at level 145 i think, with all skills unlocked, but not all mastered ofcourse.

But ok, let's back into hideout once again, for two more vital game mechanics. One of unique abilities of our main character, is to restore memories of other "Revenants". And in order to do so, during adventures, player time to time going to find fragments of "Blood Vestige".

And soon as you fine some, you just bring it to "Io", yeah this girl in white from very begining of game, and then she will transfer you inside memory fragments that you found. Why this game mechanic is so important? Well first, because each restored memory fragment, will unlock fragments of character's "Blood Code", yeah remember "Character Class System" that i already mentioned.

And also, restoring certain memory fragments before enter certain boss battles, is very important to achieve best ending, yeah just in case, we have three endings in this game. I think it's already obvious, that only because those fragments, it is best to search like every inch and corner, while in field and where it's only possible.

Next important hideout activity, or i say important "NPC", is this "Revenant", yeah named Davis. Davis is responsible for teleporting player into the "Depths". And "Depths" is a series of optional mini dungeons, with great challenges inside them, and even greater rewards.

But ofcourse for 100% completion of game, you will want to beat all of them, and with latest game update, new "Tower of Trials" content was added in addition to already existing "Depths". So how do you unlock "Depths"? While exploring world during storyline, or by doing sidequests, time to time players may find maps of "Depths".

So soon as you find one, you bring it to Davis, and he will teleport you in. So since i already mentioned sidequests, sidequests in "Code Vein" are given by certain NPC's, that may appear in area, soon after you beat main boss of this location, and then re-enter it after some time.

Usually sidequests is very easy, and just serve as time wasters, but few NPC's will provide player with "Depths" maps, so because of that, it maybe worth to re-check older locations time to time. And so that was basically all main mechanics of this game, all main things about gameplay, that i wanted to show you.

Other than that, game plays very close to "Souls" series, well maybe slightly easier, because of assist of NPC, and resting points, which are allmost always located near boss room, so you don't have to run all way back upon death. Aside of that i can tell, if you like anime style graphics, which i actually do, then well, that's a big plus.

And combine it with a interesting story, that totally packed with video cutscenes and dialogs, and all gameplay elements that i did show you in video, all this makes "Code Vein" a very good Action Japanese Role-Playing Game, that is absolutely worth to be played.

And also it worth to mention that, "Demo Version" of this game, is available for free to check out, on all platforms where game was only released. But yeah, that was it for today. That was my "Code Vein" sort of review and game explanation video. Thank You Everyone who did watch this video, especially till to the end.