Blasphemous 2 Review

2023 is turning into a fantastic year for Xbox Metroidvania fans. We’ve had a wide range of games in the genre; from solid, lesser-known titles like Zapling Bygone and Vernal Edge to timely ports such as FIST: Forged in Shadow Torch and Axiom Verge 2. It seems like there is always another Metroidvania game on the horizon, and with the year more than halfway gone, we are approaching the fall slate of big-name games. Leading off that slate is The Game Kitchen and Team 17’s Blasphemous 2, the sequel to one of my favorite games of the modern era. I have high hopes for this one, read on to find out if those hopes are dashed or if Blasphemous 2 is able to satiate my never-ending Metroidvania cravings.

In many ways, Blasphemous 2 is more of the same: A top-tier pixel art style that has gotten even more detailed. A beautifully macabre game world that has the ability to shock and amaze thanks to the breathtaking and peculiar landscapes as well as its abnormal inhabitants. A fair amount of the previous mechanics are still present, but in many ways they have been streamlined in comparison to the first Blasphemous.

Blasphemous 2 sheds many of the bulky customization options seen in the first game. The relic system where you could only equip three environment traversal items at one time is gone. They have also limited the maximum number of rosary knots (boons) that you can use at any given time. Also gone are the collectibles and the Mea Culpa hearts which acted as a risk/reward system.

The biggest change is that the number of weapons at the Penitent One’s disposal has gone from one to three. The first game had what many would consider a basic sword as the only melee weapon. Each weapon in Blasphemous 2 is drastically different from the next. There is the War Censor which is essentially a combination of a flail and incense burner but much larger, and instead of incense burning inside, it has a potent fire that can be activated at any time, but depletes the fervor (mana/magic) bar. The second weapon is a pair of epee swords called Sarmiento and Centella. These are imbued with lighting which will activate once you have initiated enough successive strikes without taking damage, but is lost once you take damage. The third weapon is a curved blade called Ruego al Alba. This sword also has a more powerful mode that can be activated once you fill a small icon by hitting enemies. When activated the blade inflicts mystical damage. Each weapon has its strengths and weaknesses and the ability to switch to a different one on the fly makes the combat in Blasphemous 2 stand out in the 2D platformer space.

Each weapon has a skill tree with an assortment of moves and buffs that can be unlocked with a new currency – Martyrdom points. These are earned after defeating a certain number of enemies. They are also doled out when beating bosses and can be found in the environment as a reward for solving a puzzle or conquering a tough platforming section. I like the variety given to us in the skill tree, but it makes the tears of atonement seem much less valuable – the regular currency you earn for killing enemies. Adding to the lack of value is the fact that you no longer lose your tears when you die. Instead, you gain guilt and a portion of your Fervor (mana) bar is temporarily lost. You can easily get rid of this debuff by returning to your place of death and collecting your guilt fragment – which is dropped on death. Alternatively, you can spend some tears to absolve the guilt at a certain NPC in the small town area.

To replace some of the other mechanics that have been removed the developers have added a collection of equipable figures. Each figure gives you a stat boost such as bonus damage, or some other type of boost such as increasing the healing potency of your health flasks. These carvings are equipped in pairs and certain pairs have synergistic properties called resonances. These can really give you a big advantage in your journey across Cvstodia. Near the end of my playthrough, I discovered a combo that would freeze time when I drank a health flask.

One of the hallmarks of a good Metroidvania is level design. The player needs to have multiple paths to travel down at any given moment, giving them options and making them feel like they have a large and intricate world to explore. Blasphemous 2 accomplishes this by giving an exploration-aiding ability to each of the three weapons. This means that depending on which weapon you choose at the start you’ll be taking a different path through the first half or so of the game. In addition to the three weapon abilities, there are a handful of others, most of which fall into what you’d typically find in the genre. You have your double jump and air dash, as well as one of the more unique abilities that make it so you can traverse between cherub-held hoops – more of which appear when you latch onto one.

The Game Kitchen has created another vast game world for us to explore, complete with shortcuts, multiple pathways, and plenty of secrets. Despite the upgraded art style in Blasphemous 2, I didn’t feel like there were as many memorable areas compared to the first game. I will always remember making my way up through the two snow-covered mountain areas in the first game and entering the convent. There are some unique NPCs, but most of the time, the memorable part is their surprising appearance. The first game also has plenty of unforgettable boss fights such as Sierpes, the gigantic snake, and Melquiades, the large reclining skeleton being held aloft by a dozen or so mysterious arms and hands. While the bosses in Blasphemous 2 are well-designed, none of them truly stood out for me besides the giant skeleton I fought near the beginning (Great Preceptor Radamés) and the penultimate boss, whose second phase gave me plenty of trouble. The final boss, despite being an artistic delight was an underwhelming fight, to say the least. 

This new portion of Cvstodia comes with its own detailed list of lore. Overall the game’s story and writing, while eloquent, are somewhat hard to follow – much like the first game. Once again the developers have drawn much inspiration from Catholicism along with Spanish history and architecture. The story features many macabre elements that are intensified by the fantastic pixel art. Another change can be found in the art style for the cut scenes, which are no longer pixel-art, but instead illustrated in a 2D cartoon-like style. They let a different studio handle these cut scenes and some of these look fantastic, while others made me wish they stuck with the cut scene art from the first game.

Conclusion

When all is said and done I believe Blasphemous 2 will sit high atop the Metroidvania Pantheon. However, throughout almost my entire time with the game, I couldn’t get the first game out of my mind – thinking how I should go back and play it again or finish off all of the free bonus DLC. The new weapon system with its three separate weapons gives this a good amount of replayability and allows for many different playstyles which is great. As a whole, the sequel is much more approachable for new players to the genre, and while there are plenty of improvements and quality-of-life additions, I can’t help but feel that Blasphemous 2 is the inferior product. Hopefully, the Game Kitchen plans on adding additional content here as they did with the original. I enjoyed my time with the game, but it needs something more to really draw me back in.