More than six years after the release of the first game, Bandai Namco Studios returns with CODE VEIN II, the sequel to the Soulslike action RPG that sold over three million copies across all platforms. While not a smashing success, the game undoubtedly garnered a sizable following. However, the developers are still making changes to several aspects in this new iteration; for instance, it is set in a completely different world with new characters. The first CODE VEIN also allowed co-op multiplayer, whereas this new entry focuses on expanding the Partner System that powers AI companions.
Following a recent press event where we went hands-on with the game ahead of the scheduled January 30 launch on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series S|X, we sent a few questions to Bandai Namco Studios to uncover more details about CODE VEIN II. The answers were provided by CODE VEIN II producer Keita Iizuka-san and game director Hiroshi Yoshimura-san. As a reminder, a Character Creator demo will be released on January 23, one week before the full game's debut.
What were some of the challenges your team faced when it came to overhauling the combat and giving it more impact in CODE VEIN II?
Keita Iizuka: In the previous game, players opted to play without a partner to focus solely on combat. To give players the option to explore alongside a partner while focusing on enemy encounters, we’ve introduced a new “Assimilation” mechanic to the partner system in this installment.
We rebuilt the partner system from scratch to ensure players can choose between the traditional “Summoning” mechanic and the newly added “Assimilation” mechanic, while also incorporating cooperative elements such as the Restorative Offering mechanic.
If Code Vein II is in a separate universe with no connections to the first title, why go with a numbered sequel rather than calling it something different?
Hiroshi Yoshimura: This second installment in the series continues the core concept of CODE VEIN: challenging, exploration-focused action alongside a partner character. By introducing time travel and the idea of intervening in a character's past, we felt that we could powerfully depict the drama of two species—humans and Revenants—living in different timelines.
However, we also considered that if players experience returning to the past and altering it, and then ultimately encounter the continuation point of the previous game, they might feel the urge to intervene in that world as well. We felt that if we allowed this, it would negate the lives of the characters from the previous game, and the stories players experienced themselves.
Considering these points, we ultimately decided to create a new story in a world distinct from the previous one. For these reasons, while this is the second installment in the series, it depicts a story set in a different world.
What was the design philosophy your team had in mind when it came to creating the levels and encounters in CODE VEIN II? Is this intended to be more difficult than the original title?
Keita Iizuka: We've taken care to prevent unreasonable melee encounters from occurring, allowing players to stay focused on combat. Even when group battles do occur, this game features an enemy group-behavior control system that maintains a satisfying level of challenge while letting players enjoy the back-and-forth combat against enemies.
How much player agency will there be when it comes to the time travel? Can players choose not to change events in the past?
Hiroshi Yoshimura: Travel between the present and past worlds is relatively unrestricted. Even while progressing the story in the past, you can return to the present world and explore it. As the story advances, you will encounter several major turning points where you must choose whether to return to the past. At these points, it is possible to advance the story without intervening in the past more than necessary.
How many routes/endings will there be in CODE VEIN II?
Keita Iizuka: While we can’t share specific numbers, we can say that the game includes multiple scenario branches and endings that reflect the choices and changes players make throughout their journey.
Thank you for your time.
About the author: Kai joined the gaming team of Wccftech in 2016 and has since penned over a hundred reviews and interview pieces, covering a bit of everything from one-man indie gems to AAA masterpieces and whatever lies in between. Over the recent months, Kai has expanded into preview and interview coverage of not only the gaming side of the industry but also tech and consumer electronics.
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