Blasphemous 2 – Waiting for the Miracle. review

played on personal computer

The original Blasphemous game can hardly be called a standout game. Despite not bringing anything new to the platforming genre, the game definitely found its fans. First and foremost, of course, the original world and meticulous pixel art took hold. The environment was full of details and dynamic objects, and the animation of the characters, punches and gory finishing moves were surprisingly smooth. The claims were mainly related to the gameplay. And that’s not due to the poor design of the mechanics – the gameplay just turned out to be too textbook. Too “classic” and without much variety. This is exactly what The Game Kitchen wanted to fix in the sequel in the first place.

You sleep soundly. Even the New Coming didn’t wake you up…

Endless penance

Blasphemous is (like the sequel) a rare representative of dark fantasy with a strong predilection for religious motifs. When creating the images, the Spanish studio was of course strongly inspired by the (also religious) history of their own country. Catholicism is easy to read in visual images, hypertrophied in places and turned upside down in places. Many elements are based on real images and legends.

There is a miracle in the world of Blasphemous – not just an ephemeral concept, but real physical strength. She curses someone while bestowing mercy on others. Therefore, all residents of Custodia are people of deep faith who spend their time in frantic prayer and sometimes self-flagellation. After all, the stronger a person’s suffering, the higher the chance of attracting the attention of the miracle.

The main character in the sequel is again the penitent, whose image is primarily reminiscent of unusual clothing with a cone-shaped helmet entwined with a wreath of thorns. After the events of the original (namely, the “real” ending of the “Wounds of Eventide” add-on), the protagonist seems to have earned peace after completing his silent and bloody penance. But the miracle calls again.

Letter for you

A solid narrative is no easier to put together in Blasphemous than it is in Dark Souls. First of all, it’s about bright images that are open to different interpretations – that was the case in the original and it has remained so in the sequel. Although the writers have a clear picture of events in their heads, the evidence is there art book with many explanations and documentary About the first part, it comes more like an echo from the players. Through the characters (who’s crazy, who’s sane), through the descriptions of objects, through the environment. FromSoftware nods in agreement.

At the same time, the visual solution turned out to be so bright and deep that you are still immersed in this world, reading every word and contemplating every landscape that opens up. You genuinely care about the tragedies of the characters you meet. Provided, of course, that such a style finds at least some resonance in your soul. Despite the beauty and detail, it is certainly an amateur piece.

Tools of Repentance

Right in the first scene, The Game Kitchen seems to explain that they’ve taken note of the community’s feedback. The first Blasphemous chose a meager arsenal consisting of a single weapon – a longsword. In the sequel, you are initially faced with a choice: with which blade will you begin to bear Heaven’s punishment? Choose between a heavy, big-tipped flail, a swift sword-dagger duo, and a balanced, curved wave sword.

Prayer hits the enemy harder than the sword

Ultimately, the penitent will still collect all three, but your decision will greatly affect the first few hours of passage. First, each weapon has a unique feel and offers a different approach to combat. The flail swings for a long time but hurts, turning into an improvised incense burner that can be set on fire right during the combo. However, you have to pay for electricity with mobility. The sword, on the other hand, allows you to quickly close the distance and deflect most enemy attacks. But “fat” opponents have to choose for a long time. Blasphemous 2 doesn’t force you to pick up a weapon for every enemy, but it does encourage you to make wise decisions.

However, if the arsenal is pumped, then any sample will become universal. I almost never parted with a serrated blade in the last third of the fights. But weapons are not only used in battles. It also serves as a tool to overcome certain obstacles. The flail creates a sound wave from the bells, from which drops of mercury turn into solid platforms for a while, and the sword allows you to teleport between mirrors.

Therefore, not only the initial fighting style depends on the first choice, but also the places from which the journey begins. In terms of structure, Blasphemous 2 hardly differs from its predecessor – in principle, from any other example of the genre. The world is non-linear, with a lot of overlap between zones, but access to new locations and secrets opens up as you gain skills. The sequel, with some changes, offers both new and well-known locations from the first part of the territory. For example, we will visit the Temple of the Mother of Mothers and see what happened to him after the Blasphemous finale.

A weakened enemy can sometimes be effectively dispatched. Sometimes with his own gun

Landscapes are still appealing and sometimes surprise with details. Despite the pixel art, I have no doubt that just as much effort was put into the visual part of the game as into the realistic graphics of AAA blockbusters. Every pixel is in place for a cohesive style.

The miracle is on your side

The design pleases both the environment and the enemies of the penitent. Like last time, the bosses were particularly successful. Each of them is an unforgettable image. Both externally and as part of the battle, which always has its own flavor. With a boss you need to jump on two elevators, the position of which is constantly changing relative to each other. The other option is to cling to hooks without being able to land – all you have to do is hit in a jump between points you can hold on to. The third “keeps changing faces” along with a series of attacks.

Other than that, Blasphemous 2 is not a difficult game at all. Killing a penitent is not easy, and the death penalty is minimal. She doesn’t make you sweat, on the contrary, she wants the player to feel the power and bravely explore the uncharted nooks and crannies of Custodia. In a time of rampant fashion for frenzied complexity – a welcome exception.

The game teases the five main bosses (but not the only ones) right in the intro

There are many mysteries around the world: from the usual dummy walls to multi-stage quests with valuable rewards. The more carefully you clear the locations, the more tools you have at your disposal. This applies to both new prayer spells and movement types. Towards the end, you can even unlock the ability to quickly teleport between all open spawn altars. Very practical if you want to “suck” the fill levels before the last test.

* * *

Blasphemous 2 is a logical development of the ideas presented in the first part. It still features its original style but adds variety to the gameplay. In it, the fights are more interesting, and the sections with platforms are better developed. And of course the world of Custodia is full of secrets that make you want to look behind every stone.

Advantages:

• unusual, unforgettable world;
• the combat system encourages, but in no way limits, competent choice of weapons, spells and power-ups;
• The atmosphere of the sacrament fascinates and encourages the search for all mysteries in order to give as complete a picture of the events as possible.

Defects:

• Sometimes the game even seems too economical.

Rating: 9.0 out of 10

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