As sequels go you couldn’t get much better than Blasphemous II. Building on the intricate platforming and punishing combat, the developers, Game Kitchen, have expanded on the original, adding greater exploration, improved the game mechanics and pushed the narrative with a deeper story steeped in religious iconography.

You play as the Penitent One, who must stop an apocalyptic event

As in the previous game, the narrative tells a dark and surreal story, heavily influenced by Spanish Catholicism, full of unnerving religious iconography. With the Catholic themes to the fore, it’s not going to be a surprise that the game deals with guilt, penitence and redemption.

As before, you play as the Penitent One, who must embark on a mission to stop another apocalyptic event. This time the game adds three new weapon types, a balanced sword, a powerful flail and twin blades for rapid attack.

Combat is at the heart of the game and remains as challenging as ever. Your new weapons contain unique abilities which help the player move around the side scrolling platforms, also effecting combat which still needs demanding doges, parrying and stamina management.

The platforms have also been expanded and improved, offering the player a choice of paths, which in turn provide hidden paths, short cuts and hidden upgrades. They have also beefed up the RPG element of the game, adding in NPC’s, custom abilities and prays as well as new relics to collect.

Combat is at the heart of the game

Blasphemous II fills its world with beautiful, if grotesque, hand-drawn pixel art. The detail is impressive filled with richly designed, religious and gothic environments which range from eerie cathedrals to desolate wastelands, providing a creepy and unsettling experience.

The bosses are well conceived and executed, looking like they have been pulled from some medieval fevered dream. The voice acting is also unnerving.

The game runs well on the PS5, at 60 FPS, offering seamless movement throughout. Combat and movement are fluid and responsive.

Ultimately, this is a major improvement on the original game with improved combat, deeper exploration, stunning pixel art and a rich atmosphere.

All that said, this game is challenging and not for the faint of heart

9

Charles Packer