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One of the best modern Metroidvanias gets an even better sequel - Blasphemous 2 Quick Review

7K View2023-08-18

Blasphemous 2

9.2

Lore-RichPixel GraphicsMetroidvaniaSide ScrollerDifficultAction RPGActionRPG

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SHOULD I PLAY BLASPHEMOUS 2?

This is the easiest “YES” I’ve given in ages, unless you can't handle how nasty it is. Blasphemous 2 is a sequel to what was already one of the best and most memorable Metroidvanias of the modern era. But much more than just retreading the exact same territory, this sequel builds wisely on the strengths of the first game. It’s not just a long adventure and not just a return to the disturbing, gothic world of 2019’s Blasphemous; it’s a tighter, better-designed game with improvements in basically every aspect.

TIME PLAYED

I’ve spent five hours delving back into Blasphemous 2’s deeply screwed up world of Cvstodia. In game progression terms, that has meant exploring large portions of around four or five areas, fighting the first couple major bosses, and unlocking a small handful of upgrades to the Penitent One’s offensive arsenal and his traversal options. Both the map and the in-game story being told seem a fair bit grander than the first game, which already took me well over twenty hours to finish, so I’m sure I have lots left to go.

WHAT’S AWESOME ABOUT BLASPHEMOUS 2?

• More combat variety. If there’s one complaint about the first Blasphemous that felt totally valid to me, it was that the game lacked combat options. The Mea Culpa, the same sword that the Penitent One picked up at the beginning of the game, remained his weapon at the end.

Not so in this sequel, where players begin the game by choosing between one of three weapons—a sword that feels similar to the first game, a faster duo of daggers, and a slow but powerful mace-type thing. Before too long, I earned access to the two options I hadn’t picked and could swap between them on the fly, leading to much more exciting and dynamic combat encounters.

• An utterly gorgeous rendering of a deeply ugly world. The developers at The Game Kitchen have got to be some of the best in the business when it comes to pixel art. Blasphemous 2’s grim world is showcased with an incredible level of detail, and the animations for both the Penitent One and his enemies constantly blew me away. Visual execution on this level manages to make even this dismal world come across as one I wanted to spend time in.

• A more robust in-game economy. Compared to its predecessor, Blasphemous 2 gives players a lot more stuff to purchase with their Tears of Atonement, Cvstodia’s version of money. There are a lot more upgrades to buy, powers to unlock, and key items to purchase. In fact, the sequel even introduces a second, less common type of currency, Marks of Martyrdom, which are used for biggest upgrades, such as new attack skills.

All of this means that character progression and growth in the game generally feels a lot smoother and more consistent, and less like you’ll be hitting walls where you don’t have anything to spend money on. It’s a small change that helps the game feel a lot better.

• Tighter controls. Speaking of the game feeling better, Blasphemous 2’s controls have received an upgrade in responsiveness. Blocking and dodging in particular felt like they happened much faster than in the first game, and I didn’t feel like I got locked into attack chains as often. This was especially noticeable in the boss fights, which, well...

• Incredible boss battles. The big bad guys in Blasphemous 2 take on epic, grotesque forms. Beyond simply being challenging—which they certainly are!—these bosses often left me stunned when I first encountered them simply due to how huge and imposing they are.

Just consider Great Preceptor Radamés (pictured in the gif above), the first boss I ran into. He’s an old priest in a jagged glass cage carried on the back of a giant skeleton, also dressed in priest robes. Did I mention that the skeleton also wields a pole with several sinners strapped to it as a weapon? And that halfway through the fight he eats those sinners to regain some health and power up? It’s a wonderfully sick little fight that I won’t be forgetting anytime soon.

WHAT SUCKS IN BLASPHEMOUS 2?

• Vague storytelling. As much as I love Blasphemous 2’s world, there’s no denying that this is the kind of game that cares more about giving off vibes than presenting a clear, easy-to-follow plot. Similar to Dark Souls or Elden Ring, the residents of Cvstodia seem to speak entirely in riddles, to the point that it almost becomes laughable. I didn’t mind the ambiguous approach to storytelling, but if you asked me to explain the story in detail, I don’t think I could tell you much.

• Difficulty may hold some players back. This is more of a general warning than something that actually sucks. I don’t think Blasphemous 2 is that difficult, and it actually feels easier than the first game to me so far. But it’s still tough, and I still died plenty of times while playing, especially during boss fights. If you aren’t a fan of hard games or get easily frustrated, you may want to look elsewhere.

💬 Are you ready to face your sins and confront the Miracle in Cvstodia, or does all this quasi-religious stuff just give you the creeps? Share your thoughts below!