Bandai Namco has shared the first details and screenshots for Code Vein, their recently confirmed Dark Souls-like action RPG set within a vampiric universe.
The game is described as a “dungeon-exploration” game with challenging RPG action, the game is being developed by the God Eater team. Code Vein is set for a 2018 worldwide release on unannounced platforms, and development on the game is currently 35% complete, with the game being developed within Unreal Engine 4.
The game’s story takes place in the near, post-apocalyptic future where players take the role of Revenants, vampires that naturally have supernatural abilities. You’ll fight with companions while also trying to discover the reality behind the world. A “Buddy” system will let you bring a partner with you as you explore dungeons.
The “Tempered Blood” ability lets you trigger various actions like buffing yourself, debuffing enemies, and even unleashing various attacks – depending on how much blood you fill your “Blood Veil” with. The “Blood Veil” is Revenant equipment that lets you acquire the blood of “Lost” Revenants. Appearing typically as ordinary clothes, the “Blood Veil” device will appear when you go to feed on blood, changing the user’s mask as well.
Here’s the game’s key visual:
Here are some screenshots depicting the characters and how they change up the look with the Blood Veil equipment:
The Revenants in the game live in a secluded, isolated society known as “Vein,” mostly because Revenants have lost the majority of their memories in their transformation from ordinary humans.
Once a Revenant gets low on blood, they revert into a monster known as the “Lost.” Weapons in the game mostly include melee weapons like swords, hammers, spears, and great swords.
“Code Vein provides a fresh anime aesthetic and blood-curdling gameplay twists to the popular 3rd-person action RPG genre,” said Eric Hartness, Vice President of Marketing for Bandai Namco Entertainment America Inc.
“The talented development team at Bandai Namco Studios is creating a tightly crafted experience filled with plenty of challenge that our fans crave along with a smart and engaging story that is sure to draw players deeper into the world of Code Vein. Let the feast begin!”
Here’s some combat screenshots:
Here’s the full rundown on the game, via Bandai Namco:
BANDAI NAMCO Entertainment America Inc. today announces CODE VEIN™ for release on major home consoles in 2018. Feast on the blood of enemies through a journey across a massive interconnected world to unlock its mysterious sanguine past in this thrilling action-RPG.
In the not too distant future, a mysterious disaster has brought collapse to the world, as we know it. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. At the center of the destruction lies a hidden society of Revenants called Vein. This final stronghold is where the remaining few fight to survive, blessed with Gifts of power in exchange for their memories and a thirst for blood. Give into the bloodlust fully and risk becoming one of the Lost, fiendish ghouls devoid of any remaining humanity.
CODE VEIN is a third-person action RPG that finds players assuming the role of a Revenant. After stumbling into Vein, players are tasked to embark into the world with a companion picked from the various residents of Vein to uncover lost memories and an exit out of this new demented reality. The world of CODE VEIN is dangerous, full of vicious enemies and monstrous bosses to put players’ combat skills to the test.
Revenants also have access to Blood Veils, devices capable of draining the blood of their enemies in order to enhance their own abilities. Exploiting these enhanced abilities known as Gifts, players can change their form to increase their strength, weaken enemies, and utilize new weapon abilities with overpowered attacks. Utilizing the vast array of weaponry along with each character’s Gift, players can adapt and strategize to a variety of battle conditions that suit their play styles.
