 The sequel to one of the best 2D Soulslikes of recent years is a major improvement on the original and a game FromSoftware would be proud of. 2019's Blasphemous was a more ambitious game than it looked. While a Metroidvania at heart, it wanted to be nothing less than a recreation of FromSoftware's Dark Souls games, except in 2D and with pixelated graphics. Vibe-wise, it succeeded, thanks to a gloriously gothic air of twisted religious mysticism, but ultimately it didn't quite measure up in gameplay terms, lacking the role-playing elements which make the Soulsborne genre so compelling. Blasphemous 2 picks up where its predecessor left off and makes a good fist of acting like a 2D role-playing game – even though its core gameplay mix of melee combat, magic attacks, and platforming still conforms to the Metroidvania playbook. This time around, some subtle but clever additions to your character's weaponry and accessories, and an all-round expansion in scope, ensure well over 30 hours of gameplay. As in the first game, you play as a character called the Penitent One, who looks like an especially stern member of the Spanish Inquisition. As in most things, the game takes its cues from Dark Souls in terms of storytelling but while there's little explanation for why things are happening the danger of a giant heart descending from the sky, to give life to an unholy abomination, is a pretty clear and present danger. In Blasphemous 2, you immediately have a choice to make between three weapons: a giant mace, with reach and power; a more wieldy but still meaty sword that has a guard move; or two super-fast short swords. We'd recommend the mace, which is hugely satisfying and can be fire-enhanced, but as you progress, you will find the other two weapons along with others. Which is just as well, since there are areas of the map hidden behind puzzles that can only be solved with specific weapons. From the very beginning of Blasp){kind=link}
The sequel to one of the best 2D Soulslikes of recent years is a major improvement on the original and a game FromSoftware would be proud of.
2019’s Blasphemous was a more ambitious game than it looked. While a Metroidvania at heart, it wanted to be nothing less than a recreation of FromSoftware’s Dark Souls games, except in 2D and with pixelated graphics. Vibe-wise, it succeeded, thanks to a gloriously gothic air of twisted religious mysticism, but ultimately it didn’t quite measure up in gameplay terms, lacking the role-playing elements which make the Soulsborne genre so compelling.
Blasphemous 2 picks up where its predecessor left off and makes a good fist of acting like a 2D role-playing game – even though its core gameplay mix of melee combat, magic attacks, and platforming still conforms to the Metroidvania playbook. This time around, some subtle but clever additions to your character’s weaponry and accessories, and an all-round expansion in scope, ensure well over 30 hours of gameplay.
As in the first game, you play as a character called the Penitent One, who looks like an especially stern member of the Spanish Inquisition. As in most things, the game takes its cues from Dark Souls in terms of storytelling but while there’s little explanation for why things are happening the danger of a giant heart descending from the sky, to give life to an unholy abomination, is a pretty clear and present danger.
In Blasphemous 2, you immediately have a choice to make between three weapons: a giant mace, with reach and power; a more wieldy but still meaty sword that has a guard move; or two super-fast short swords. We’d recommend the mace, which is hugely satisfying and can be fire-enhanced, but as you progress, you will find the other two weapons along with others. Which is just as well, since there are areas of the map hidden behind puzzles that can only be solved with specific weapons.