The upcoming Code Vein looks like someone poured anime into Dark Souls and added a vampire topping. The game releases at the end of September, but folks eager to give it a try before then can download a free demo of the game next week.
Developer Bandai Namco revealed Code Vein all of the way back at E3 2017, and since then fans of tough-as-nails Souls-likes have eagerly anticipated its release. The game, initially slated for September of 2018, got pushed back an entire year in order to allow the team more time to polish the experience. Finally, players will get a chance to try out the game.
To announce the date of the demo, Bandai Namco released a new trailer for Code Vein, which looks as Dark Souls-y as ever. The trailers leans into the vampiric theme of the game with lots of leather straps and fountains of blood. In the game, players will play as Revenants in a post apocalyptic world. Revenants are vampire-like creatures that must continuously search for Gifts of power in order to remain on the edge of life. The Revenants will fight against mindless vampires called Lost.
The game will allow players to partner with a friend or AI companion for help taking on the Lost. Back in May, Bandai Namco did an online beta test for Code Vein that gave fans a chance to try out the co-op action. Only players who had signed up ahead of time had access to that beta. This upcoming demo will allow anyone with a PC, Playstation 4, or Xbox One to try the game out. The trailer doesn’t say for certain whether or not the demo will include co-op functionality, but it does advertise co-op as a game feature during the trailer, so most likely players will get to team up in the demo.
The trailer shows off some of the towering Lost boss battles in the game. While Code Vein looks a lot like Dark Souls, it has some differences. It features a much brighter, more cartoony art style that feels more similar to something out of PlatinumGames. It also appears to run at a much higher frame rate, something that fans of the Souls series have wanted for a long time. This makes Code Vein look much more fluid, which can easily be seen in gameplay. The trailer also talks about some of the many character customization options and teases a little bit more about how the “Gift” mechanic will help players upgrade.
It looks like an interesting take on the Souls concept. Players will have a chance to see how the whole thing works when the demo drops on September 3rd.
Code Vein releases September 27, 2019 on Xbox One, PlayStation 4, and PC.
