Blasphemous 2developed by The Game Kitchentakes up the basics of the first opus, but aims to exceed it in terms of content and experience. Often referred to as Dark Souls Side-scrolling 2D, the promise is strong and fans are on the lookout, ready to battle it out. Blasphemous 2 will therefore immerse players in a world where the cult dedicated to an all-powerful and elusive being, the Miracle, conceals a very terrifying reality. You guessed it, the fate of the world will be in our hands.
One of Blasphemous 2’s strengths is its polished, old-school art direction.
The plot follows the fate of the hero, the Penitentwho discovers a prophecy announcing that the supernatural entity Miracle could have evil offspring. Determined to put an end to this destructive birth, our hero emerges from his coffin to embark on a perilous quest that will test him time and time again. In what we have been able to play, we have been able to appreciate that the game offers a complex narrative, like the legendary Elden Ring, Dark Souls or Hollow Knight with, as a bonus, well-crafted dialogues.
Blasphemous 2 is a 2D platformer imbued with the demanding philosophy of typed titles die and retrywhich constantly tests the player’s resilience. THE Penitent is a fragile character, which makes progression tricky in the face of monsters, traps, and demanding platforming sequences. This production differs a little from the classics of the genre metroidvania by offering players a crucial choice from the start of the adventure: three weapons with distinct combat styles and which also influence the accessible paths. Choosing the right weapons will therefore be essential to succeed in this dark quest. The heart of gameplay lies in combat, where precision is paramount. Enemies should not be underestimated, as even weak ones can kill in an instant.
The challenge is present from the first boss, a formidable opponent who requires a meticulous approach. The difficulty lies in finding the right cadence to attack or dodge. The slightest mistake is often, if not always, fatal. In short, sensitive nerves abstain to prevent the controller from ending up in the TV, the screen or a wall. Alongside the baston, platform passages also require great precision. Timed challenges force you to make careful jumps between traps and enemies, with a tiny margin of error. Look no further, these events are reminiscent of the era of retro platform games, where passing a level was often a feat with a capital E. Note, this new opus has also brought a little more fluidity to the sequences that our hero can do and this is a point that we appreciated.
One of the strengths of Blasphemous 2 lies in its careful artistic direction and old school. The Game Kitchen drew on its Spanish roots by drawing inspiration from the city of Seville to create this very particular universe where the mystical is king. The graphics in pixel art are really successful with a nice contrast between the rather dark sets and the characters and their colorful actions. The animation of the whole is perfectly fluid and that’s a good point, because as you have to be reactive and perfectly master the different possible attacks and parries to progress, the slightest slowdown would therefore be unbearable. The set is accompanied by a soundtrack and sound effects in perfect harmony with the game.
Our first impressions: Strongly!
In conclusion, Blasphemous 2 promises to be a promising sequel which, if the final version remains in the same vein as what we have been able to test, will seduce both fans of type games die and retry and enthusiasts of metroidvania. Its rich and mysterious world, combined with a demanding combat system emphasizing precision, promises an engrossing and rewarding experience. Lovers of video game challenges will certainly find their happiness in this dark and demanding adventure.
Blasphemous 2 is slated for release on August 24 on PC, PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox Series X|S.