Code Vein is the perfect starting point for that friend that always wanted to try Dark Souls but couldn’t get into it because it was “too hard”. It is also a great choice for Souls veterans to whet your appetite while you eagerly await the next genuine From Software offering. There are so many unique and fun changes here that, although there is a definite difficulty decrease, you will really enjoy yourself.

If you go into Code Vein thinking that you're going to get something on the level of any of the Souls games (or Bloodborne) you're going to be a little bit disappointed.

What if there were a Dark Souls for people who want something to do instead of play the same boss fight over and over until I get lucky and don't die? Well, this is! And this is it!

An unholy union of anime, Dark Souls, and My Chemical Romance, Code Vein is as much about style as substance. If that sounds good to you, then you're in for a treat, even if it lacks some of the polish of the genre's best.

Code Vein should be applauded for doing something different with the Dark Souls formula. It's great to be able to switch out your classes at will and combine them, and the almost-constant presence of co-op is a real selling point for those who may not want to jump into the deep end of this emerging subset of the genre. The rest of the game, from the story to the level design, feels bland, and the combat falls apart when you suddenly have no AI companion by your side. If you don't mind a heavy dose of anime in your action game, Code Vein may be worth checking out.

Code Vein is an anime Souls-lite. It doesn’t have the same mystery or quiet contemplation found in the Souls series, but that also means it offers something different. The world is interesting, the story kept my attention, and the combat is smooth. If you have an itch for a new Soul-like, Code Vein is perfect for you.

It’s a shame that Code Vein doesn’t achieve what it’s trying to do with its very cool class system. With its skimpy environments and dated visuals, Code Vein as a nice gameplay but it never really shines.