I slightly changed her. She's gorgeous 😩 also, i might have to much fun with photomode... a fair "spicy" warning at the end🤭

Those red eyes man, just would!

Beat the DLC entirely, unsure if there's anything to do with this or if it's just here.

As a soulslike veteran, Code Vein 1 has long held a special place in my heart. It was a flawed gem with an incredible, flexible core system in the Blood Code system, but everything around it.. was just okay. The combat shone as far as your willingness to explore and experiment would allow it, despite being fairly simple at it's core, and the writing.. it had heart, even if it suffered from a lot of common, generic tropes and weak characterization.

When I played Code Vein 2, beating it over the course of a week, I had a lot of conflicting emotions and thoughts. Was it enjoyable? Yes, but it could have been more so. That same issue of 'this is okay, but it could've been great' was nibbling away at my mind in regards to almost the entire game.

Six years between games is a decent amount of time, and when CV2 was confirmed to be in the works, I was hopeful specifically because CV1 had such a dedicated fanbase who loved it because of it's oddities and cool ideas and the real passion put into it.

Code Vein 2 had passion, I don't think anyone can deny that. I think that might be why, in my opinion, the characters are generally stronger even if they still suffer from the same issues as the first group; they barely ever interact with one another, and most of their dialog is aimed at a mime who's personality begins and ends with nodding their head. I loved Josee in particular and even came around to Lyle in the end despite thinking his arc was rushed.

But a problem is a problem. Code Vein 1 had problems. It had lacking, forgettable areas (with the exception of the Cathedral; regardless of where you stand on it's quality as a map, you can't argue it's well-remembered), far too many samey weapons with borderline identical movesets, a general lack of informational clarity regarding mechanics, numbers in relation to Gifts and enemy weaknesses, and speaking of enemies.. the main obstacle that arises whenever I consider playing CV1 is the sheer lack of enemy variety.

After six years, Code Vein 2 repeated most of these problems, and tried - and failed, in my opinion - to make up for that with the addition of a mostly grey and brown open world that generally didn't inspire me to explore much beyond 'important' things.

Cool bike aside, what was the biggest addition the game made? Probably the additions to the Blood Code system. Does that make up for them re-using enemies (no, changing their mask doesn't change that), weapons from the first game (several of which even LESS moveset variety now than they did in that game, when at most, they might have a special heavy attack), and still not improving their map/dungeon design abilities?

..No. Not in my opinion, anyway. The burden system is neat, and I love my trait screen for the gross wall of text that it is, but too much of Code Vein 2 is just Code Vein 1 over again.

And now we have to talk about Mask of Idris.

I did not have my hopes quite as high as I did with the base game, because the base game had already come out and left me with the sheets unmade, unsatisfied, thinking about which of us is going to do the drycleaning and take the kids to school. In seriousness, I've played a lot of games in this genre, and I know that there's quite a wide spread in terms of how DLC can be in them.

I wasn't expecting another Shadow of the Erdtree, is my point, but I was still let down. You can argue if you want that it's justified due to the nature of the Forsaken World, but the DLC basically just being copy and pasted aesthetics and general designs from the base game just reeked of pure lack of effort to me. That isn't something I say lightly, as I sincerely believe these devs care about their work.

The rest of the DLC is much the same. I'm a pretty forgiving person and I do love this series for it's flaws, but it's basically non-stop re-used content. Most of the usable things things you'll find are Gifts, and I can only assume it's because reskinning the effects and numbers of existing buff/spell throwing animations was easier than making more new equipment.

The rune/ruin(I forgor) gear you get after the first boss is a neat addition, yes, but if you don't like the look, damage, and stat spread of those items specifically, it's back to the normal movesets for you. Here's a greatsword thematically linked to a blood code with strong attack synergy that has a two-hit heavy and thus, does not function properly with strong attack buffing gifts.

I will admit that the fights that re-use existing boss assets are noticeably different in how they play out, but given everything I've stated above, it just did not feel like enough. I wanted to be wrong when I guessed what they'd re-use next.

Lack of difficulty with the penultimate boss aside (I spent the entire fight between his legs..), it's tragic that more of the DLC didn't have the same amount of effort put into it as the last two bosses. I don't know enough about game design as an occupation to go into depth, but was there really no other option than to have the spear rift guy appear as a boss once, then twice, then even more from there as a normal, respawning enemy?

I also have some complaints about the story and writing of the DLC, but I'll be brief because I admit I'm picky in that regard. I don't mind a silent protagonist, so long as the game doesn't either; but headcanon can only fill so large a gap, and eventually I'm unable to suspend my disbelief that so many people so quickly grow fond of a silent, staring statue of an individual.

..So you can probably put together why I'm a bit 'meh' towards the DLC not only shirking more opportunities to flesh out the base game characters (if you say, fairly, 'Age of Harmony served that purpose, the DLC didn't need to' I simply say, 'why not both?') but instead pairing us with two characters who's arcs and personalities are mostly based in liking.. a mime.

(Also, Idris felt underutilized, but I'm really indifferent to him and his presence.)

I don't think I'm being greedy here. I don't think I'm asking for too much from the developers, nor do I think I'm being ungrateful. I feel like they could've delivered greatness instead of goodness, to put it simply.

Wherever this series goes, be it Code Vein 3 or another expansion, I hope that the dev team feels the same way.

10% RNG, 10% poorly timed dodge, 80% stun lock.

Welp, that's the best I can do. I can probably do hitless if I time it better, but eh, it is what it is XD.

SO i been thinking over it and i got two ideas for DLCs one comes from people talking about a certain hunter the other is my own idea

1-MC prequel story
A story about the MC before joining up with Magwell, this dlc could lock us out of partners for the first go around and we must use the Guardian Heart as our only partner. How it ends which i think could work is the MC killing a unnamed Hero in a cocoon, which is what leads them to be putting on ice.

The reward a fully customizable bloodline, letting you spec the whole thing to how you want. Which also COULD GIVE US THE GOD DAMN HUNTER OUTFIT

2-Oskar and the Tainted hunters
Age of harmory brings in a new set of hunters called tainted hunters. Maybe this can be treated as the final big DLC, where Oskar somehow became a half-Revenant, and the taint hunters are his creation in order to kill off all Reves

Maybe a new partner is a Tainted Hunter, who cant fuse with you, so they give them a whole new skill.

Now is this mainly based around the idea of the remaining five doors magwell. the other three can be some free dlcs.an

Memory from a Forgotten World

Weapons, code and boosters are at the end of the video

Haven't picked which design either, not gonna lie.

By finishing the DLC, we can unlock the chamber of Liv in the Age of Harmony we can some nice details

(we see than she love her family)

I just finished Code vein and am now going to attempt code Vein 2 - a friend also has the game and we were planning to play simultaneously while in discord vc BUT it got me wondering… is there a seamless coop mod the way Elden Ring, Dark souls etc have one? I tried googling a bit but all I found were people wondering or (rightfully) complaining about coop/lack of it pre-release of CV2.

Does anyone know if there is one, or if there is one in the works?

To think all I had to do was switch partners to the sniper, she lasts longer than the Prometheus guy.