Blasphemous 2

Genre: Metroidvania

Players: 1

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Review:

(Note: This game is included in Blasphemous + Blasphemous 2 Bundle, along with Blasphemous)

Blasphemous 2, released in 2023 on PC, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X | S, and Nintendo Switch, is a Metroidvania that follows in the footsteps of its predecessor. When I reviewed the first game, I admit, I found the game’s mix of faux Christian symbolism, extreme violence, confusing lore, and high difficulty all to be off-putting in a way that I had difficulty stomaching for what otherwise seemed like a pretty solid entry in the genre. All of these elements are present here as well. However, unlike the first game, this time around, the game’s quality shines so brightly, it’s hard not to stand in awe of it, even as I remain repulsed by these elements.

A large part of it is this game’s presentation. The first game was gorgeous, but Blasphemous II goes well above and beyond that to deliver a truly masterful experience. The pixel art style of this game is one of the most lovingly-detailed and nicely-animated examples of the art form I’ve seen to date, even if what is being depicted is frequently some of the more gruesome and disturbing artwork depicted in a game. The voicework of virtually every character here is expertly-delivered, even if the language they use is couched so heavily in religious symbolism and “ten dollar words” that it’s often hard to parse the meaning of what’s being said. And the soundtrack builds a perfectly creepy and solemn atmosphere, even though there are no themes here that I find to be especially memorable.

Blasphemous 2 adds new gameplay elements to give players a bit more freedom in deciding how to outfit their character – right from the outset they can equip one of the game’s three main weapons (the others to be reacquired later), with each weapon having its own skill tree and special abilities. In addition, players can equip two types of “prayers” (spells), a fast one and a strong one. There are other new elements as well, but in short you’ll have plenty new options, and you’ll need to make the best of whatever you choose, because once again this game absolutely does not let up on its difficulty, and you’ll need to be very mindful of enemy attack patterns if you ever want to progress. It’s one of those “Soulslike” things that’s not going to appeal to everyone, but fans of that style of game will feel right at home here.

Was I overly harsh on the original Blasphemous? I don’t know, perhaps someday I’ll return to it to weigh in on that. But for now, if a penitence is due, I can start by heralding this sequel to be a truly great work, albeit certainly not one that will speak to all players, even fans of Metroidvanias. However, the combination of quality Metroidvania gameplay, well-crafted (but difficult) combat, and an absolutely gorgeous presentation make this a truly wonderful entry in the genre, and definitely deserving of high praise.

tl;dr – Blasphemous 2 is a Metroidvania that improves on its predecessor in multiple ways, with a truly stunning presentation, more gameplay options, and the same grotesque sensibilities and nails-hard difficulty. Again, this won’t appeal to everyone, but if you’re craving a challenging Metroidvania, you may want to kneel at the altar of this game.

Grade: B+

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This game has been nominated for one or more of eShopperReviews 2023 Game Awards:

Winner:

Best Metroidvania – I wasn’t the biggest fan of the first Blasphemous, but I simply could not ignore the high level of quality in this sequel, which improves on nearly everything its predecessor did. It’s still difficult enough that not everyone will appreciate it, and the gruesome imagery and religious undertones may leave a bad taste in some players’ mouths. However, whether or not this game appeals to you, it’s clear that this is a truly great Metroidvania, and absolutely deserving of this award.

Best Music (by Carlos Viola) – Blasphemous 2’s soundtrack is not only truly excellent, but it paints a vivid picture of the world the game takes place in, with Spainish guitars, mournful violins, and piano’s giving us a perfectly complimentary image of a world of deep culture and beauty filled with pain and struggle. There were many fierce competitors for this award in 2023, but no other game not only presented me with something beautiful and unique, but also something that was such a perfect fit for the game it was created for.

Runner-Up: Best Sequel, Best Voice Acting (Various), Best Graphical Style

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