PLATFORM: PC, PS4/5, SWITCH, XBOX ONE/SERIES (REVIEWED) | RELEASE DATE: OUT NOW
Taking place a thousand years after the original game, the Penitent One reawakens and is thrust into another endless cycle of life and death as they attempt to prevent the birth of the Child of the Miracle. Blasphemous 2 follows in its predecessor’s footsteps with its Metroidvania layout, grotesque characters, use of religious iconography, Spanish-themed setting and heavily stylised retro-inspired pixel art, but makes several gameplay tweaks to enhance the overall experience.
The most immediate change is evident right from the start. Faster and more agile than before, the Penitent One’s movements are much more fluid, making it easier to close in on enemies and get a few hits in before quickly dodging out of the way. Where combat in the previous game often involved biding your time and waiting for an opening, you’ll still need to plan your attacks wisely but the increased speed means that everything flows in a much more satisfying way. You’re also now given three weapons to play with, each with their own unique (and upgradeable) attacks and abilities, all of which can be used not only for battering enemies to a pulp but also to solve puzzles and traverse the environment, and a range of magic powers beef up your arsenal even further. There’s also a noticeable increase in platforming sections, which provide some challenging but still welcome respite from the relentless hacking and slashing.
Blasphemous 2 retains the bizarre setting, slightly confusing story and blood-splattered animations that went down so well with fans of the original game, but the overall difficulty level has been scaled back somewhat. Depending on your point of view, that will make it either less challenging or more accessible, but either way the overall result is still a satisfying step forward, taking the best aspects of a very good game and turning the sequel into a great one. If you’re a fan of the Metroidvania genre, Blasphemous 2 should definitely be on your list.
