Code Vein
By Chad Sapieha,
Common Sense Media Reviewer
Common Sense Media Reviewers
Tough tale with vampires, lots of blood, objectified women.
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Code Vein
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Based on 1 parent review
Fun game
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What’s It About?
CODE VEIN imagines a world destroyed by a thorn-like calamity rising from deep within the earth that has wrecked every city on the globe. Many people have been transformed into revenants -- vampire-like creatures with only partial memories of their human past who feast on blood. Some of these revenants treat people like food while others feel a connection with them and want to help them survive and thrive. Complicating matters, a red mist has descended on the world, and exposure to it without the proper breathing gear will transform even humane revenants into the Lost, mindless monsters that attack on sight. Combat's challenging and complex, with players able to choose between a variety of gradually earned and upgradeable weapons, gear, fighting classes, and gifts. Success requires caution, strategy, and deft timing while blocking and dodging incoming attacks. Players can freely explore labyrinthine ruins as they move from one objective to the next, and will often be encouraged to revisit completed areas to look for secrets or find new non-player characters. Resting at a save point will respawn all monsters in the area, forcing players to think about whether saving is necessary or if they should push on. Death also causes enemies to respawn, and results in players losing all of their unspent haze -- experience points -- since their last save. A series of side dungeons called the Depths allows players to take breaks to grind levels and practice fighting techniques before heading back to the main story levels.
Is It Any Good?
This tough action role-playing game is clearly inspired by Dark Souls -- a so-called "Souls clone" -- but that's not necessarily a reason to write it off. Code Vein isn't as polished as From Software's famous series. Its world isn't as beautifully drawn or as intricately crafted, and its combat lacks the delicate balance of a Souls game. And yet, there's still something compelling about Code Vein. Part of it might be that its story is blissfully comprehensible, highlighted by sequences in which players get to explore the memories of important non-player characters, giving them more personality than you might initially expect. While the combat's undeniably complicated and tough, it doesn't feel quite as daunting as it does in From Software's games, making it a little more accessible to the masses. Plus, the online co-op system is a bit simpler, allowing players to connect with friends and tackle quests together.
Still, devoted Dark Souls fans are bound to find certain elements disappointing -- particularly the fighting system, which, while sophisticated, doesn't feel quite tight enough. Blocks and dodges feel almost delayed at times, and occasional issues with game performance result in control interruptions that can mean the difference between a successful hit and a miss. Add in some questionable design decisions -- there's really no good narrative reason to include female enemies with comically enormous breasts -- and Code Vein is clearly inferior to the games that served as its muse. It might help hold over people waiting for From Software's next game, but it will also make them appreciate why those games are so special.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in games. Is the impact of the violence in Code Vein affected by the kinds of monsters that you fight? Do you consider the backgrounds and stories of the enemies you're pitted against? What made them who or what they are, and why they are the hero's enemy? Do you ever sympathize with them?
Why do you think this game's makers decided to sexualize female characters? What was their objective, and is it defensible?
Game Details
- Platforms: PlayStation 4, Windows, Xbox One
- Pricing structure: Paid
- Available online?: Available online
- Publisher: Bandai Namco
- Release date: September 27, 2019
- Genre: Role-Playing
- Topics: Magic and Fantasy, Adventures, Monsters, Ghosts, and Vampires
- ESRB rating: M for Blood, Violence, Partial Nudity
- Last updated: April 2, 2021
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