In the near future, an unpredictable catastrophe causes the fall of civilization as we know it. From the remains of the ancient world emerge a new kind of human – The Revenants – in exchange for their previous life memories, they obtain incredible power and the capacity to collect various gifts making them even stronger. A group of Revenants called the Vein unite their power in order to retrieve their lost memories and discover the source of the collapse...

Code Vein is a 3rd person action role-playing game which opens in the ruins of a once thriving city. Towering skyscrapers, once symbols of prosperity, are now lifeless graves of humanity’s past pierced by the Thorns of Judgment. It's only inhabitants, it would seem, are beasts that are keen to attack you on sight.

At the centre 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. Wandering aimlessly in search of blood, the Lost will stop at nothing to satisfy their hunger. Team up and embark on a journey to the ends of hell to unlock your past and escape your living nightmare.

I have to admit that 5 mins into the game play I was a little concerned that this was going to get dull real fast. At first glance it appears to be a fairly run-of-the-mill - be it pretty - hack and slash game. However, the deeper into the game I got, the more caught up I became. The graphics and animation are well polished as is the voice acting.

This is in a similar vein to Dark Souls, without the relentlessly punishing game play. The early stages of the game act as a simple tutorial, although be warned, there's quite a lot of information to digest and the controls can, at first, appear confusing. But stick with it and everything soon starts to take shape.

As you progress you'll start to unlock different classes which allow you to perform different tasks and abilities as you plod through the environments.

Another nice touch, which will only really appeal to hardcore players who like to squeeze every ounce of playability out of games, is the ability to customise your character. While this is certainly not a new element, the sheer level of customisation is something special. I'd go as far as to say that this is one of the most intricate and rewarding character creation engines that I've encountered to date.

If you're the sort of gamer who loves to explore all the nooks and crannies of your environment, ensuring you don't miss anything, then you'll get lost in this game for months. A solid and enjoyable outing with a difficulty level that's pitched just right.

8

Nick Smithson