Some Toughts on Code Vein I (with spoilers) and Code Vein II

One thing which caught me by surprise during the SGF was the announcement of sequel to Code Vein, one of my favorite games.

Anyway, what is Code Vein? Well, it was a sort take on the Dark Souls genre, set in a post apocalyptic world, which was devastated by an event called “The Great Collapse”. Where Revenants, basically, humans with vampiric powers bought back to life thanks to the Bor Parasite, which reside inside the heart, this gives them great abilities, but at the coast of hunger for blood.

They were created for fighting against “horrors” which appeared during the “Great Collapse” when great thorns appeared all over the world. While initial successful, the Revenant problems with their hunger, lead to the emergence of “Lost”, Revenant which lost control and become frenzied.

To solve this, Project QUEEN was put in place, but didn't work and would set the event that now only cause the city, where it was, to become surrounded by the Red Myst, but also lead to the player and everyone else inside to become prisoners in an already ruined city now overflowing with Revenants becoming Lost.

Development

The game was released in September 2019, however it starts development in 2014 and seams stuck in development hell for quite a while, with at least one delay. For context, those which read my blog might remember a review of God Eater 3, where I mention that, while I was looking forward for Code Vein, God Eater 3 was released before it (2018 in Japan, 2019 worldwide), while this might be some random trivia, it will make sense later.

But for now what you also need to know, both game were developed by Bandai Namco and Shift (the creators of the God Eater) (https://www.giantbomb.com/shift/3010-5533/), however God Eater 3 was by Marvelous. Meaning that Shift was likely focused on Code Vein.

However, before it's official release, Code Vein had a sort of “early access” (I don't remember the exact term), which while not give the best impression, it could have helped them in unusual ways… you see trying to be like Dark Souls, sort put them a lot of expectations in it, more that it could handle, specially with a troubled development. Keep in mind, Dark Souls I and II were released around 2011 and 2014, Code Vein started development around 2014, so it was likely aiming to be the first Dark Souls I (it also means our understanding of what make a Souls-like work or not, still was in very early stages, meaning that many games aiming to be it, are more akin to trying to play a music by ear).

Like I said, the initial impressions, were not that good, due to a myriad of reasons, like it combat lacking impact and so on (however, the power of character creation were in full display), so people could easily laugh it off or dismiss it, as “anime dark souls” or something in between.

But… expectations are a f unny thing, everyone know that high expectations can be a problem, but lower ones, well, you can only go up… and that “early access” period might actually adjust expectations to the right point, and the issues could be solved, at least in part.

The Game itself

In the end, despite all struggle, Code Vein would sell very well, with 3 million copies and even got positive reviews in Steam.

Now, I am not going to recap everything about Code Vein, since it as a long ago when I finished it, the best I can say, it that it game where you do perform a lot of things we associate with Dark Souls (or use a lot of verbs and concepts) but maybe not very well, but perfectly doable, myself manage to finish the game playing on keyboard, and this was likely the first Souls-like game which I played, after Dark Souls I, on pc (but due to the nature of the original port, I never managed to go far). Again, Code Vein fell like someone playing a music by ear (on it more Dark Souls inspired elements) and part trying to do it own thing.

I enjoyed this game a lot, the story, the character, the way you use stuff like the Blood Codes and other stuff and so on, my only issues, were that while it featured a powerful character creation tool, there was very little in way of clothes and the few there was often felt disconnected, without a major theme.

Oh, before we move on, the game would have three DLCs, and while the game itself got positive reviews, the DLCs, not so much, they mostly feature a boss, a new map and some minor stuff, making them no so much worth, specially since they don't add new clothes for the player character (only some alternative visual for companions). For me, this would look odd, specially given the long time support, which God Eater often have, specially the third game, which would get a ton of stuff (all for free) including clothes for the player.

Now, with all of this out of the way…

...what I want to talk is about a certain connection, the “twist” which you might heard about.

Attention, Spoilers Ahead.

The Connection

Yes, Code Vein is in the same universe as God Eater, well kind is...

Now, you might know about this already, and people might even describe in a very cynical way, as a thing that came out of nowhere. But it is not that, far from it, as the game foreshadow it, but you might need to be very fresh on your knowledge of God Eater as a whole to notice it.

Remember I mentioned the release dates of both Code Vein and God Eater 3? You might even remember hearing news about people from the God Eater 3 development going to help Code Vein, and I think that is where the idea of the connection as a thing which came out of nowhere comes. In fact, I may believe in that, as narrative it makes sense. I mean, Code Vein was in trouble and then people for God Eater 3 had to come to the rescue and in the process the game become tied, but I start to question myself, is this real or correct? That was the line which made me write this blog.

We might not ever know exactly, but we could wonder...

In an interview on the Bandai Namco website (https://en.bandainamcoent.eu/code-vein/news/code-vein-challenges-met-the-production-team) one of the developers say the following:

“- How did CODE VEIN come about?

Yoshimura: When we finished developing GOD EATER 2 RAGE BURST and were working on GOD EATER RESURRECTION (2015), I said I wanted to take on a new challenge. At the time, the overseas market was also growing, and many popular titles were created in the "Action RPG" genre that we were exploring. My first motivation was to challenge this genre by using the technology and know-how that we had developed in our team.”

So it appears first that the whole thing was initially an original IP (other interview or videos go in this direction), however one thing I found people mentioning it, but I can't find a source, is that Code Vein project name was GEZ, or God Eater Zero. But, the only mentions I found is reddit threads and TV Tropes (but there it mentions the name appear on the game files).

But there is more, you see while the appearance of Dyaus Pita in one of the endings is when the twist is reveled, but he is not even it the only one! The three DLCs which the game have, all feature battles against the said “horrors” of the “Great Collapse” and guess what they are? Aragami! But that is not all, there is some foreshadowing of it:

Remember those “Thorns of Judgement”? In that same interview which I quoted, the following was also stated:

“- How did you come up with the world view of the game?

YOSHIMURA: We designed a post-apocalyptic type of world, which we already had experience with (= final view of the world after the collapse of civilization) but at the same time it was different from GOD EATER, something that doesn't exist in the world yet. The first thing I imagined was a scene like the key visual.

Yoshimura: The world is pierced by thorns, and the modern buildings we know are crucified. I first pictured the scenery as a grave of civilization. The vampire theme, which is recognized worldwide, is an additional layer, and I felt that it was completely linked. Vampires are immortal beings, so I thought they were an appropriate fit for the type of game we were creating (= no matter how many times they die, they will stand up and challenge themselves).”

However… if you watched the God Eater anime (Episode 8 – for a recap – https://godeater.fandom.com/wiki/God_Eater_(Anime)/Episode_8:_Sakuya_Tachibana). On the anime, if memory didn't fail me, they appear all over the world, and Aragami appear around it, and if you remember the plot of the game, you can see how the said “horrors” are in fact Aragami.

But that is not the only thing, one character appear to share a surname, the Amamiya, as there is one in God Eater, Lindow Amamiya and in CE we have Louis Amamiya. Then you have mentioned to the Bugurally doll (https://codevein.wiki.fextralife.com/Bugarally+Doll), something from God Eater (but that could be simply be an eastern egg). There maybe even more (I recommend checking out this video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuhJDnrPRYY&t=417s&ab_channel=Jamm3r where the person goes in more detail about these connections)

Then we have things which look similar, such as in CE you have the already mentioned Bor Parasite, while in GE you have the Oracle Cells, but those work different, the latter isn't a parasite, but rather, as the name suggest, “the semi-sentient single-celled organisms that make up an Aragami”(https://godeater.fandom.com/wiki/Oracle_Cells) capable of adaptation and specialization, meaning that the monster are in fact colonies of those cells around a core, if removed caused the creature to die (kind like Revenant are able to kill a lost by removing the Bor parasite from opponent).

The God Arc, the weapons which God Eater use, are in fact composed of those cells, meaning they are, in a certain degree, an Aragami. Meanwhile, the God Eater are humans that have a potential compatibility with one of these weapons, if the person is found, and agrees to become a God Eater, a bracelet will be provided and infused to the person, this device allows the God Eater to control the God Arc, without the risk of being eaten by its own weapon.

I talked a lot about, but what is God Eater?

On a very surface level, would be easy to mistake God Eater as a Monster Hunter like game, but that does not work, or rather saying, GE is sort own thing, as its stories are about the God Eaters fighting against Aragami, the later aren't just simple creatures of the world, but abominations created by humanity hubris, which threaten the whole world (and the ecosystem), meaning that is story is less about men vs monster, and more men vs men, as they explore the character ties to the event which lead to the birth of Aragamis, the personal tragedy of those which fought against Aragamis and so on.

COde Vein follow the same structure, is a tragedy brought by people ambition and hubris, it about the people which end forced to begin Revenants and the reasons which lead to this point.

With all that said, the connection was always in sight, or it was out of nowhere?

I can't say for sure, and will likely never exactly know why. Like there is several scenarios which could have happened, from “it starts as it own thing, but halfway return to GE”, something which could happen during development (and remember the long and likely troubled production); to maybe “start as a GE, become it own thing, then return to GE”; to a maybe “it was always a GE, the people behind the game where just coy to keep the twist” and so on.

But what it means?

That is the fun part. It could mean that both stories happen sort world, but place on the timeline is hard, but maybe not that important. You see, one way to look is that CE, tell the story of some alternative method that people attempted to use to fight the Aragami, meaning that there was sort of several way people were trying a lot of things, until the God Eater.

But could Revenants fight against Aragami in the same level as a God Eater? That is the trick part, because the whole “we need to destroy the core” aspect. Plus when that Dyaus Pita show up, if memory didn't fail me, he does trash some other minor Revenants. However, on the story, it is clear, that Revenant managed to expel the Aragami from the city and maybe trap some which would later become the DLCs bosses, which the player would defeat.

There is also a little implication, which is quite fun, you remember I told that Oracle Cells are capable of adaptation? Let me explain a bit more, Aragami can adopt an aspect of everything which they eat, that way they sometimes look like a mishmash of stuff, part animal, part weapon and so on. So what happens if an Aragami eat a Revenant?

At the end of the day, it is just a simple fun thing to wonder about, both in its lore implication and on what happened during the game development.

End of the Spoilers

And then, they announced Code Vein 2.

Like I said above, Code Vein getting a sequel was something which I didn't see it coming, because while it made success, I could see them wishing to do another GE, but then again, maybe what they want was really a new IP. So what we know about it?

On the steam page:

“In a future world where humans and Revenants coexist...

Due to the sudden appearance of the Luna Rapacis, Revenants have transformed into mindless monsters called Horrors. As a Revenant hunter, the player shall halt the world's inevitable collapse by traveling to the past with a girl called Lou who possesses the power to manipulate time.”

Ok, this is interesting, so Revenants which become mindless used to be called Lost, however we now are back to Horrors? But let's go back a bit, humans and Revenants coexist? None of the endings of CE exactly match this, maybe except “Dweller in the Dark” (often seen as the “true ending”).

On an interview with Keita Iizuka on Anime New Network (https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/interview/2025-06-16/producer-keita-iizuka-code-vein-2-story-will-be-darker-than-the-first/.225594)

“Why did you decide to not continue the storyline between Code Vein 1 and Code Vein 2?

Iizuka: As you might be familiar with the first game, there are multiple endings. As the development team, we felt that the story was complete as a result. We wanted to deliver a new experience to audiences and fans of Code Vein, so we thought about changing the world, introducing new gimmicks, and new characters that would serve as the perfect platform for that.”

Ok, isn't a direct sequel, which is great! I agree that CE story with is multiple endings, end in a good spot and exploring something new is a good path to follow. But there is more:

“For this game, was there a story aspect the team couldn't explore in Code Vein 1 but is in Code Vein 2? Or is this an entirely new story? Earlier, you mentioned the worlds are not connected, but did the team want a similar story to the first game?

Iizuka: This is its own story and starts from a completely different point. I want players to enjoy this as its own standalone experience.”

All indicates, that we are getting a standalone sequel, maybe this time as a proper new IP.

The story will be about both past and present, as the player, with the help of Lou, can travel between it, to change it, on the Steam page says:

• A Tale Across Time Embark on a journey that spans both the present and the past as you search for clues to prevent the world’s destruction. Alter the fates of key Revenant characters you encounter in the past, while uncovering lost histories and the hidden truths of the world.

On that interview on ANN, they also say…

“Because the players have choices that impact the rest of the story in the game, was the intention for the story to be darker or lighter than the first game?

Iizuka: I would say the story is heavier than the previous one in terms of entrusting what the player can do to the world.”

It appears we might have multiple choices based on what we do in certain time periods, and the tone might be different.

But, look at this:

“Much of the team for Code Vein 1 came from God Eater 3. Was there any discussion about incorporating some of God Eater 3 into Code Vein 2?

Iizuka: I wouldn't say those two are that connected. Rather, people threw out ideas like, 'Wouldn't it be nice to do this with Code Vein?'”

Hum, I am curious about this, might mean more on gameplay aspects… I am trying to think what exactly they could bring from GE 3…

When I was just finishing writting this post, Bandai Namco released a new info about the game Lore and Story, shall we give it a look ?

Overall, it confirms stuff which we already know. But there are some cool details, that once, 100 year ago (the Past), Revenants maintained order in the world after an event called "Resurgence", later (the Present) however, due Luna Rapacis, they would themselves become horrors.

The protagonist will be revived by a mysterious girl, called Lou MagMell, a Revenant, which will give her heart to the player, turning him a "Revenant Hunter" and together they will go on a journey.

Besides this, the text does mention two terms, Jail and Formae, the first is "Equipment for Revenant Hunters that stores a Revenant’s heart in their back, harnessing its power." and the latter is "... supernatural powers that Revenants have possessed since ancient times".

My best guess is that the first is akin to Blood Code or class, and the later are the abilities. Code Vein had a lot of praise dues to the customization it allowed it, so I guess is similar. The blog does mention one of the "Formae", which is the "Bequeathed Formae", which would allow you to summon special weapons (there they show the protagonist using a bow, but no idea if have anything to do with it),

Anyway, what more we know about the game:

First the companions will return, and maybe it was their best idea, since helps a lot, and a way to adjust the game difficult, if you wish for more challenge, go alone, otherwise, bring someone. I often think this was a small differential aspect which Code Vein had a slightly edge (I don't remember if other souls like at the time had this), that like I said made the game more easy, since unlike Dark Souls, where you could have an summon or another player, but this was a more involved process, here is always out of the game.

But more important, the character customization is in:

“One of the highlights from the first game is the customization for the character's visual aesthetic. From what was shown in our session, there were more options for customization. Is this because of the feedback you received from the first game?

Iizuka: Yes, and compared to Code Vein 1, there are a lot of different parts that can be customized concerning the attire. In terms of the face, the placement and the balance of the face can all be adjusted. We wanted to encourage people to make the coolest anime-style character they can imagine.”

“We wanted to encourage people to make the coolest anime-style character they can imagine.” YES, they should put this on the game list of features, never a game spoke so clearly to me. I just hope they got more clothing options.

There are some screenshots around, let's give it a look?

The new designs and visuals look great, evocative and cool, but with more variety than Code Vein and without the God Eater 3 weird usage of flex tape.

Ok, this place reminds of the intro to God Eater 3, but might have nothing to do it.

So to finish this, I am really looking forward for Code Vein II.