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Code Vein
Critics Consensus (Skip It)
Code Vein takes some interesting chances for a Souls-like, but underwhelming combat and technical problems ruin the experience.
Game Info
Code Vein is set in the not too distant future where a disaster has brought the world to ruin and vampire-like beings battle for dominance.
0%
Recommended
0%
Average Score
Total Reviews: 98
RELEASE DATES:
GENRES:
- Action, RPG
DEVELOPER(S):
- Bandai Namco Studios
PUBLISHER(S):
- Bandai Namco Entertianment
SERIES/FRANCHISE:
- n/a
GAME MODES:
- Single player
GAME ENGINE:
- Unreal Engine 4
Where to Play
WHERE TO PLAY
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RATING & REVIEWS
Ratings & Reviews
98
Critic Reviews
74
Average Critic Score
Where to Play
CRITIC REVIEWS
All reviews are from professional critics. Learn more about the critics VSG aggregates.
High Score
95%
Median Score
75%
Low Score
40%
What did you think of Code Vein?
Player Reviews0 Votes
0
Austin Wood (GamesRadar+)
September 26, 2019
3/5 stars
Code Vein’s lackluster combat is held up by great character customization, and its boring world is driven by a memorable story. It’s clunky and uneven, but fun.
Mike Epstein (IGN)
September 26, 2019
7/10
Code Vein takes some interesting chances with Soulslike mechanics and finds mixed results, but there’s something worth sinking your teeth into here.
Richard Wakeling (GameSpot)
September 26, 2019
6/10
Code Vein adds its own spin to the Souls-like formula, but dull enemy encounters sap its combat of any life.
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Score Ranges
Read the Reviews (98 total)
| Outlet | Author | Score | Date | Quote | Read |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33bits | Rubén Rionegro | 75 / 100 | 10-17-2019 | Code Vein is safe and bets on a Souls-style gameplay as a claim, although its gameplay differs a bit. Unfortunately, neither the scenario design nor the theme are up to scratch, and a very simple gameplay takes the fun out of it. The soundtrack, anime style and extensive character customization are certainly the big claims. | Read review |
| 3DNews | Алексей Лихачев | 8 / 10 | 10-12-2019 | Obviously it’s a Dark Souls clone, but does it really matter if the game is good? Code Vein’s got unique art style and offers enough original things to hold your interest, without making you think too often about its roots. | Read review |
| Areajugones | Cristian M. Villa | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein manages to become a possible gateway to the complicated world of Souls-like. | Read review |
| Atomix | Alberto Desfassiaux | 75 / 100 | 09-27-2019 | Code Vein is a pretty good clone of Dark Souls, but it’s own ideas, dose not work that well. | Read review |
| Attack of the Fanboy | William Schwartz | 4 / 5 stars | 09-27-2019 | If you go into Code Vein thinking that you’re going to get something on the level of any of the Souls games (or Bloodborne) you’re going to be a little bit disappointed. | Read review |
| BaziCenter | Makan Alikhani | 7 / 10 | 09-25-2019 | Code Vein tries so hard to be more than a Dark Souls clone, and it succeeds when it comes to the story and character design. But gameplay wise, it fails to execute the successful Dark Souls formula and eventually lands somewhere between Soulslike games and Japanese Action RPGs, unable to fully satisfy fans of either genre. | Read review |
| Bazimag | Sina Golab Zade | 7 / 10 | 09-28-2019 | Code Vein is exactly what it was promised to be, an anime flavored vampiric Soulsborne but it lacks a certain kind of magic to blow us away. | Read review |
| Bloody Disgusting | Neil Bolt | 2.5 / 5 stars | 09-25-2019 | Mostly, Code Vein is underwhelming. It’s highly stylish, and has some really good enemy design and gameplay options, but more could have been done with the pitch of ‘Anime Vampire Action RPG’. This effort sadly falls short of its potential and somehow makes a gore-soaked game about vampires a bit boring. | Read review |
| Cerealkillerz | Gabriel Bogdan | 8.1 / 10 | 09-25-2019 | Code Vein is missing the final touch in some areas but Anime Fans as well as Soulslike Veterans will still get an extensive and interesting title with a thrillig story. | Read review |
| CGMagazine | Lane Martin | 8.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is some fun anime nonsense is a slickly designed package with some minor failings. | Read review |
| Checkpoint Gaming | Kieren Munn | Recommended | 10-15-2019 | …a game that combined the unforgivable gameplay of Dark Souls with the heart of a JRPG saga… | Read review |
| COGconnected | Stephanie Sung | 79 / 100 | 10-02-2019 | Even though I died a lot and there were slight quality issues, CODE VEIN is a game I definitely see myself going back to again and again. | Read review |
| Critical Hit | Darryn Bonthuys | 6 / 10 | 10-07-2019 | If you were waiting for a Dark Souls inspired game to set your heart aflutter with vampiric themes and pulse-pounding combat…then you might want to wait a bit longer, as Code Vein definitely isn’t that game. | Read review |
| Cubed3 | Drew Hurley | 7 / 10 | 10-20-2019 | Code Vein is going to be divisive. Out of the box, it’s not a very good game. The balance in difficulty is a mess, with certain classes and abilities feeling hugely overpowered; the partners making even the most challenging encounter easy, until the difficulty spikes massively towards the conclusion. It’s in that conclusion that Code Vein shines at its best. For the players willing to invest the time to get there, and good enough to learn how to master the considerably complex system, there is a superb experience waiting. It’s just a shame it takes so long to get there. | Read review |
| Cultured Vultures | Ashley Bates | 7 / 10 | 09-27-2019 | Flawed, but not a failure, Code Vein offers the same hardcore Soulslike action with less of a barrier of entry, making for a decent gateway into a growing genre. | Read review |
| Daily Star | Aimee Hart | 4 / 5 stars | 09-26-2019 | Ultimately, Code Vein is a somewhat campy, but fun, breath of fresh air in a genre that has felt a little stale outside of games like Sekiro. The companions are fun, if a little one-note at times, and the combat is brutal, but exhilarating. If you like what you’ve seen so far of Code Vein, there’s no reason not to try it out. | Read review |
| Darkstation | Jukka Piira | 4 / 5 stars | 10-14-2019 | Not to mention your character is actually someone with a purpose in the story’s luscious context and not just some putrid-faced nobody fighting for whatever unclear reason. | Read review |
| DASHGAMER.com | Dan Rizzo | 9 / 10 | 10-04-2019 | It’s interpretation of the Souls category relies on it’s established past, but brings in elements from many other Role-Playing titles, but conveys an uncommon commitment. From its amazing level and dungeon design, its vast and beautiful world, its insane cast of characters, and addictive gameplay, Code Vein will no doubt be remembered as one of 2019’s best. | Read review |
| Destructoid | Josh Tolentino | 7.5 / 10 | 10-06-2019 | Ironically for a game about undead vampires, there’s a strong pulse and beating heart at Code Vein’s core. | Read review |
| Digital Chumps | Steven McGehee | 7.7 / 10 | 02-10-2019 | Code Vein is a pretty strong entry into the genre and it’s always refreshing to see new IP. While it has a few (mostly patchable) drawbacks, Code Vein is one I would recommend with just a little bit of hesitation. | Read review |
| Digitally Downloaded | Pierre-Yves Lanthier | 4 / 5 stars | 10-01-2019 | Code Vein is worth every moment. | Read review |
| DualShockers | David Gill | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein features anime vampires and fast combat, but it’s too reliant on the exact Soulslike formula to stand out on its own. | Read review |
| Easy Allies | Bradley Ellis | 3.75 / 5 stars | 10-05-2019 | Though Code Vein starts off slow, nearly every aspect develops over time, gradually becoming more interesting and engaging. | Read review |
| EGM | Mollie L Patterson | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | There was a lot of potential for Code Vein to end up little more than a mediocre Dark Souls clone dressed in anime clothing, and yet, it’s actually kinda, sorta, pretty good. The game mixes some long-established gameplay qualities with a totally engrossing class system and a story that’s more enjoyable than it has any right to be. Code Vein won’t be for everyone, even if you’re a Souls fan, but if the overall idea sounds appealing, the execution might surprise you. | Read review |
| Electric Bento | Drew Meadows | 9 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is a great game that sets itself apart from its Dark Souls inspiration with plenty of fighting customization and fast paced battles. | Read review |
| Everyeye.it | Antonello Bello | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein can definitely be considered an ambitious and very successful experiment. | Read review |
| Fextralife | Castielle | 8.6 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is not Dark Souls. It lacks the polished combat and stellar world design of the legendary franchise. However, it makes up for these things with it’s brilliant character customization, a deep narrative with twists and turns, and Skills and Abilities that challenge the player to defeat enemies in a way they never would have thought of before. On top of that, the cooperative multiplayer should keep you playing well after you’ve finished the game, and adds significant value to a game that was already worth the price tag. If you’re a Dark Souls fan, Code Vein is a must buy game! | Read review |
| Game Informer | Daniel Tack | 6.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | You can have some fun with the stylish anime accoutrements, but Code Vein leans far too heavily on its inspirations and fails to capture any of the associated magic | Read review |
| Game Revolution | Jason Faulkner | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-26-2019 | If you’ve ever wanted a Souls-like without most of the baggage that comes with playing one, Code Vein is right up your alley. | Read review |
| Gameblog | Jonathan Bushle | 7 / 10 | 09-30-2019 | Code Vein is a good Dark Souls Like, in a sexy and post apocaliptic manga universe. The RPG mecanics and the level design are pretty decent, but the fights are boring. | Read review |
| Gamefa | Saeed Aghababaie | 8.6 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | Code Vein is a very unique mixture of anime art style with dark souls gameplay elements. Beautiful anime dark world, nice story-teeling, some great characters, challenging deep gameplay and combats, high replay value and also high amount of various contents (specially because of dungeons), made Code Vein a very valuable souls-like with its own characteristics. There are issues like unbalance of difficulty in some parts of the game and some repeated level designs and locations, but in the end, good aspects of the game are way more natable than these issues and you may not even feel those problems in the amazing course of the game. Code Vein is one of the best choices for every gamers that are looking for an amazing “high quality hardcore action-RPG” | Read review |
| GameMAG | Unknown | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Despite all the drawbacks, Code Vein is fun to play. Nice characters, fan-service and clear presentation of the story are great. The tightened sections with the story about the past of heroes, visual secondariness of locations, simple opponents and easy bosses can spoil impression to hardcore fans of a genre, but beginners have to be satisfied. | Read review |
| GamePro | Maximilian Franke | 80 / 100 | 09-27-2019 | Code Vein scores as anime souls with a clear story and solid gameplay, but it lacks a bit of innovation. | Read review |
| Gamers Heroes | Blaine Smith | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is an exciting, rewarding, and tenebrous venture into the Souls-like space with a fantastic class system, explosive combat, and dark narrative – hindered only by its lack of visual prowess and odd UI design. | Read review |
| Gamersky | Unknown | 8 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | Code Vein is unique between all kinds of souls-like games because of its anime style but fails to stand out. | Read review |
| GameSkinny | Jordan Baranowski | 8 / 10 | 09-25-2019 | Code Vein is an anime souls-like featuring great customization and a wonderfully bizarre world. | Read review |
| GameSpew | Richard Seagrave | 8 / 10 | 10-03-2019 | ‘Dark Souls with anime vampires’ is a good way to describe Code Vein, but in reality there’s so much more going on beneath the surface. | Read review |
| GameSpot | Richard Wakeling | 6 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein adds its own spin to the Souls-like formula, but dull enemy encounters sap its combat of any life. | Read review |
| GamesRadar+ | Austin Wood | 3 / 5 stars | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein’s lackluster combat is held up by great character customization, and its boring world is driven by a memorable story. It’s clunky and uneven, but fun. | Read review |
| GamingBolt | Billy Givens | 8 / 10 | 09-30-2019 | Code Vein invents as much as it mimics, and while it doesn’t pull everything together perfectly, it manages to be an exceptionally fun Souls-like romp through a post-apocalyptic anime world. It’s just a shame the developers didn’t spend a little more time polishing the game’s balance and less time on its unstimulating story. | Read review |
| GamingTrend | Austin Fern | 70 / 100 | 10-29-2019 | Code Vein is an anime Souls-lite. It doesn’t have the same mystery or quiet contemplation found in the Souls series, but that also means it offers something different. The world is interesting, the story kept my attention, and the combat is smooth. If you have an itch for a new Soul-like, Code Vein is perfect for you. | Read review |
| GBAtemp | Krista Noren | 9 / 10 | 10-15-2019 | Code Vein is a brilliant evolution of the soulslike style. With fun combat, a well done AI partner system and a wealth of build options. Each area permeates that distinct desolate feeling, while still managing to remain unique. Even the story manages to keep being interesting enough to continually draw the player forward to discover more, with an elegant system to experience memories of past events to flesh out the story. Anyone who enjoys both anime style games, and soulslike games has plenty to enjoy in Code Vein. | Read review |
| GearNuke | Humad Ali Shah | 7.5 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | It can be termed as Anime Souls but Code Vein is far from it. This feels like more of an attempt to bring the same gameplay experience but without the polish and detail that From Software is known for in their games. As a result, Code Vein is a decent albeit flawed action RPG that doesn’t bring anything exciting to the genre. | Read review |
| Geek Culture | Jake Su | 7.6 / 10 | 11-22-2019 | Code Vein takes some chances with the Soulsborne formula, and largely succeeds in making us loyal believers. | Read review |
| Generación Xbox | Unknown | 7.8 / 10 | 10-07-2019 | Code Vein gives us a good JRPG of those who do not often get to Xbox One. The game is a great proposal similar to the Souls’ formula but with enough differences to attract us to your purchase knowing that then the game has its own personality. | Read review |
| God is a Geek | Mick Fraser | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Despite a number of performance issues and combat that feels just a little too loose and mashy compared to its genre-mates, Code Vein presents a unique take on the Soulslike formula | Read review |
| GotGame | Kieran Toovey | 8 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | The good definitely outweighs the bad in Code Vein. The character customization, character loadout flexibility, and general visual style separate it from the bunch. It’s also easier than others in the genre. Newcomers shouldn’t feel the pressure of overcoming too immense of a gameplay hurdle to succeed. Time will tell if this is the beginning of a long running series, but it’s a promising start. | Read review |
| Hardcore Gamer | Adam Beck | 3.5 / 5 stars | 09-26-2019 | I’m of two minds when it comes to Code Vein. On one hand, it’s a serviceable and surprisingly delightful Souls-like game that comes with its own flair. | Read review |
| Hobby Consolas | David Martinez | 80 / 100 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is a perfect RPG for newcomers. It keeps every element in the “souls like” genre, but combat is easier (thanks to a second character) and narrative seems more traditional. Anime style and vampires suit perfectly this kind of gameplay. | Read review |
| IGN | Mike Epstein | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein takes some interesting chances with Soulslike mechanics and finds mixed results, but there’s something worth sinking your teeth into here. | Read review |
| IGN Italy | Alessandra “Aelinar” Borgonovo | 8.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is an anime soulslike with a huge focus on character build and an endearing story that could relate to the God Eater series. | Read review |
| IGN Middle East | Zaher Albalbisi | 7.4 / 10 | 10-20-2019 | Code Vein is a fun game that mixes anime themes with Souls-like mechanics but it needs more polishing on many aspects and absolutely demands for a protagonist voice actor, and more importantly the game deserve more love and care from Bandai Namco which sadly it didn’t get. | Read review |
| IGN Spain | Luis López Zamorano | 6.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | It promised more than it has finally been. Neither history nor difficulty are up to expectations and, in addition, it comes with technical problems that ruin the experience. It’s sad, because we expected more from Bandai Namco’s game. | Read review |
| Impulsegamer | Sean Warhurst | 4.1 / 5 stars | 10-15-2019 | An entertaining story, extensive character customisation and stylish anime presentation elevates Code Vein above just another Souls-like. | Read review |
| INDIANTVCZ | Lukáš Andrys | 7 / 10 | 10-12-2019 | It’s really easy to compare Code Vein to Dark Souls, since pretty much everything stays the same, and the only key differences are Anime Graphics and your partner, who always stays with you and sometimes tells you where something is hidden and when you should be alert. Story also gives you that warm feeling, that you are doing something right in a world full of corruption, where two races can’t live together, since one feasts on the other, but throughout the game, you work on finding the right path, so they could all live in harmony. But as long as you get to kill tough bosses and thousands of enemies, we can’t complain. | Read review |
| Just Push Start | Mark Fajardo | 3.75 / 5 stars | 10-01-2019 | Code Vein is an interesting game that falls short of what it is trying to be. The intriguing storyline can’t overcome the bland combat and lack of challenge. To buy into the idea of Code Vein, you really need a love of anime and an understanding it just isn’t as challenging or fascinating as those games. But, if you can come to that understanding, it manages to shine in its own ways. | Read review |
| Leadergamer | Alper Dalan | 8 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | They actually did it. | Read review |
| Metro GameCentral | Unknown | 5 / 10 | 09-27-2019 | A muddled and underwhelming Dark Souls clone that has a few unique ideas but fails to back them up with compelling combat or exploration. | Read review |
| MMOGames | Nick Shively | 9.5 / 10 | 10-18-2019 | Code Vein isn’t the anime Dark Souls that many people were expecting, and I’m all the more happy for it. Instead, we get something that borrows from the Souls-like genre but still ends up being its own unique beast. There’s nothing quite like Code Vein on the market, and few games are as satisfying from beginning to end. | Read review |
| MonsterVine | Shannon P. Drake | 3 / 5 stars | 10-23-2019 | We’re through the initial burst of Blood/Souls enthusiasm and into the second era, when “It’s like Bloodborne/Dark Souls, but…” is the pitch on the lips of every would-be cash-in. Code Vein is one of those. | Read review |
| New Game Network | Stephen LaGioia | 72 / 100 | 10-13-2019 | This sometimes convoluted action RPG won’t be for everyone. Still, Code Vein should draw in anime fans looking for a gripping, challenging gaming experience. Souls fans should enjoy this too, assuming they’re seeking combat that’s a tad less stressful, with additional colorful twists to the old formula. | Read review |
| Niche Gamer | Tyler Valle | 8 / 10 | 09-24-2019 | Code Vein has incredible promise and I hope that it sells well enough to warrant a sequel because the issues that I do have with it can easily be solved. I honestly believe that Bandai Namco has something big on their hands here. I can only hope that the future holds good things for Code Vein. | Read review |
| OnlySP | Rebecca Hills-Duty | 2 / 5 stars | 10-03-2019 | Code Vein tries hard to overcome its flaws with anime style and flamboyance—and in many areas almost succeeds. The character creation and Code-based upgrade system are intriguing, but the combat and partner AI are too inconsistent to overcome the uneven pacing and difficulty. Code Vein has its positives, but is flawed as a single-player experience. | Read review |
| Oyungezer Online | Onur Kaya | 6.5 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | CODE VEIN adds some nice mechanics to Souls formula, but falls short of efficiently use them. | Read review |
| PC Invasion | Andrew Farrell | 7 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | Code Vein is pretty fun, but it’s dragged down some by some rote characters and dialogue and mediocre, tedious level design. It’s also probably too easy for genre fans, but it’s a solid game in its own right. | Read review |
| PCGamesN | Jason Coles | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | An unholy union of anime, Dark Souls, and My Chemical Romance, Code Vein is as much about style as substance. If that sounds good to you, then you’re in for a treat, even if it lacks some of the polish of the genre’s best.Jason Coles | Read review |
| Player.it | Graziano Salini | 8 / 10 | 10-03-2019 | Code Vein is one of this year’s little surprises, an RPG action video game that manages to make soulslike mechanics appealing to virtually all types of gamers thanks to very interesting insights from a playful point of view. The title is destined to make a breakthrough in the hearts of many players thanks to the narrative sector much more standard than that of his putative father, son of years and years of Japanese animation and strong of a plot that with the continuation manages to intrigue a bit ‘every type of player category. The intelligent and interesting gameplay, despite some slippage from the point of view of animation and character design, manages to deliver this title to the list of things to rediscover over the next few years; a successful attempt by Bandai Namco to create a new IP. | Read review |
| PlayStation Universe | Timothy Nunes | 6.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein does a few things well, like the amount you can customize as well as how enjoyable it is to explore the world proper. However, combat lacks the kind of refinement needed for such a complicated battlefield, and companions prove either useless or render you useless. Code Vein features many heavy inconsistencies that hide away a few good ideas. | Read review |
| PowerUp! | Leo Stevenson | 6.7 / 10 | 10-14-2019 | There’s a lot to like about Code Vein though it’s definitely not the most original game. Not everything works and what does is a lot of what we’ve seen before. | Read review |
| Press Start | Harry Kalogirou | 6.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | The Souls games are some of my fondest gaming experiences ever, and while I never expected Code Vein to surpass them, it’s hard not to be disappointed by its middling results. It’s far from a bad game, it has systems and ideas that push the genre forward in exciting and innovative ways, but fumbles on the execution on some of the others that are core to the experience. If you have an interest in Code Vein’s world or characters, or can’t get enough Souls, you might find that the positives outweigh the negatives, but I can’t recommend it to someone looking for the next transformative Souls-like experience. | Read review |
| PSX Brasil | Caique Barsil | 80 / 100 | 10-22-2019 | Code Vein brings many fun and interesting features to the souls-like subgenre, and even though it doesn’t reach excellency in some aspects, it still stands out and entertains enough to stand amongst the big ones as a possible new franchise to become a reference. | Read review |
| Push Square | Jacob Hull | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is a stylish JRPG with an interesting combat system that just falls short in a few areas. Its inspirations are clearly worn on its sleeve, but it brings enough to the table to stand out on its own. This title has promise, and we think the developer could iron it out into a worthy franchise if it’s given the chance to make future instalments. | Read review |
| Reno Gazette-Journal | Jason Hidalgo | 8 / 10 | 10-07-2019 | Calling Code Vein a Dark Souls clone is a bit unfair as it certainly adds its own unique spin to the genre. It doesn’t quite nail the purposeful gameplay that’s perfected by Dark Souls and Bloodborne. At the same time, its anime-style visuals combined with its more free-form class swapping makes it a fresh alternative for folks hungry for more Soulsborne-style games. All in all, Code Vein is a solid first effort that establishes a promising franchise. | Read review |
| Rock, Paper, Shotgun | Matt Cox | Recommended | 09-26-2019 | The only good part of Code Vein is its combat, but for me, that turns out to be enough. | Read review |
| Saudi Gamer | مشعل الصعب | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | An excellent game, despite a few technical issues and voice acting problems, the game is extremely enjoyable and excels in applying simplified souls concept. I recommend this game to beginners who want to try the souls concept or previous players who couldn’t handle the difficulty but wants to try the concept in a more simplified manner. | Read review |
| Screen Rant | Scott Baird | 2.5 / 5 stars | 09-27-2019 | Code Vein took the wrong lessons from the Souls series | Read review |
| SECTOR.sk | Ján Kordoš | 7.5 / 10 | 10-22-2019 | Japan dystopia with Souls system in world of destruction works very well. Just story should be more attractive. | Read review |
| Shacknews | Sam Chandler | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | If you’re looking for a unique Soulsborne experience, this is it. | Read review |
| Softpedia | Cosmin Vasile | 8 / 10 | 10-13-2019 | Luckily, many aspects of the game are well above average, such as the anime artwork and the story. If you can get past the somewhat clunky combat and boring world, Code Vein can be appealing more often than not. | Read review |
| SomHráč.sk | Róbert Herda | 80 / 100 | 10-09-2019 | Code Vein wears its inspiration on its sleeve, which is its biggest strength, curiously enough. The core of the gameplay is enormously enjoyable, challenging and rewarding. The game isn’t without its faults, though. | Read review |
| SpazioGames | Domenico Musicò | 7.2 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is an interesting mix between a soulslike and an anime, but fails to stay close to the top of the genre. | Read review |
| TechRaptor | William Worrall | 6.5 / 10 | 10-02-2019 | Code Vein provides a very casual Souls-like experience which will be perfect for the right sort of person. Minor bugs, and clunky JRPG-style exposition aside the game is a breeze to play through. | Read review |
| The Digital Fix | Yannis Vatis | Recommended | 11-03-2019 | If you’ve never played a Soulsborne and you’ve been wanting to jump in but felt intimidated to do so, Code Vein’s NPC partner system and easy co-op play make it the perfect introduction to build up your confidence. | Read review |
| The Games Machine | Alessandro Alosi | 8.4 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is a good dark anime-style action RPG. There are some flaws like the AI or various technical/graphic imperfections, but the articulated combat system, the versatile gameplay, the co-op and a plot that holds up to the end despite stereotypes and clichés manage to give to novices and experts 40+ hours of brutal souls like fun. | Read review |
| TheSixthAxis | Miguel Moran | 7 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is addictive, yet frustrating. It’s promising, yet unpolished. There are a lot of interesting ideas here that come together to craft a unique and engaging experience. I just wish that the flaws here weren’t so glaring, because they keep Code Vein from being a great game instead of just a good one. | Read review |
| TrueGaming | محمد جابر الصهيبي | 8 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is a great Souls-like experience distinguished by its unique style and interesting story. | Read review |
| Twinfinite | Hayes Madsen | 4.5 / 5 stars | 09-26-2019 | Code Vein is easily one of the sleeper hits of the year, and it’s an experience that’s a joy to sink your teeth into. | Read review |
| Unboxholics | Νικόλαος Δερλός | Not Recommended | 10-11-2019 | Despite bringing some fresh ideas to this sub-genre, in the end Code Vein is not a really enjoyable ‘Souls-like’ experience, owing that to its repetitive environments and lifeless enemies. | Read review |
| VG247 | Alex Donaldson | Not Recommended | 09-27-2019 | Flawed though it may be, sometimes a distinctly B-tier game is exactly what the doctor ordered – especially at this time of year, in a sea of mega-hyped triple-A. | Read review |
| VGChartz | Kelsy Polnik | 8 / 10 | 10-09-2019 | A stunning take on a tried and true formula. | Read review |
| Video Chums | A.J. Maciejewski | 7.3 / 10 | 11-01-2019 | Although I enjoyed my time with Code Vein, it could definitely use some work to live up to its genre contemporaries. | Read review |
| VideoGamer | Joshua Wise | 5 / 10 | 10-01-2019 | I can’t speak for anime fans, but die-hard FromSoftware devotees, as well as those who thirst for a really good vampire game – currently a malnourished bunch – are both parishes to which I belong. And I suspect both will wish for more bite. | Read review |
| Wccftech | Rosh Kelly | 7.5 / 10 | 09-26-2019 | While Code Vein has a lovely art style, the story is the boring kind of bonkers. The combat is fun and the exploration satisfying, but the locations feel repetitive, the sidekicks annoying and in the end, it feels like Dragons Dogma’s edgier cousin. | Read review |
| We Got This Covered | Todd Rigney | 3 / 5 stars | 10-02-2019 | Although it attempts to try some new things to set it apart from other Soulslike games, Code Vein ultimately feels like just another wannabe in an increasingly crowded genre. But anime fans who love attractive, moody vampires will adore it. | Read review |
Code Vein Credits
CREDITS
DIRECTOR(S):
Hiroshi Yoshimura
PRODUCER(S):
Keita Iizuka, Takeshi Miyazoe
DESIGNER(S):
Yuta Yamamoto, Kasumi Nakayama
PROGRAMMER(S):
Akihiro Kayama, Masato Ito
ARTIST(S):
Kurumi Kobayashi, Koichi Itakura
WRITER(S):
Hiroshi Yoshimura, Masato Kurata, Yuta Yamamoto
COMPOSER(S):
Go Shiina
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