Code Vein 2 makes all the same mistakes as the first Code Vein, adds a bland open world, and misunderstands what makes Soulslikes good.
Sequels carry certain expectations with them, like the promise of building on the promise of what came before and correcting past mistakes. Bandai Namco’s Code Vein 2 is exceptional in that it manages to repeat its predecessor's mistakes and throw in fresh ones of its own, all while sticking to outdated design principles for no evident reason. It's a bizarre mashup that leans further away from what made the original Code Vein distinct and loses its identity in the process.
