Summary
In just a few short weeks, The Game Kitchen will release the long-awaitedBlasphemous 2, a sequel to its incredible Metroidvania and Soulslike hybrid from 2019. Since its initial announcement, fans have waited patiently for any new information surrounding the title. Thankfully, The Game Kitchen and publisher Team 17 have been graciously providing info for the title over the last several months and allowing members of games media to get a hands-on hour with the game back in May. Going off of what’s been shown so far,Blasphemous 2looks to up the ante of the first game in every way while also leaning more heavily into its Metroidvania half.
The firstBlasphemouswas a welcome surprise and has continued to be supported by the developer with patches and free DLC, elevating the title to cult-classic status in the process. Although it was described as a hybrid between Metroidvanias and Soulslikes, anyone who played the game can attest that it sharedmore in common withDark SoulsthanCastlevania. Right out of the gate, the sequel is appearing to differentiate itself by still including the excellent combat of the firstBlasphemousbut expanding its utility toward traversal and puzzle-solving to align the game more closely with its Metroidvania inspirations.
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Blasphemous 2’s New Weapons Completely Transform Gameplay
Similar to other contemporary Metroidvania that incorporateelements of Soulslike combatlikeHollow Knight, the originalBlasphemousfeatured one upgradeable weapon for players to use throughout the entire duration of their journey. The Mea Culpa fromBlasphemouswas a trusty armament on par with the Knight’s Nail, but it certainly directed players toward a very specific combat style.Blasphemous 2addresses this lack of variety by introducing not one but three new weapons, with one of the earliest choices players make in the game being the selection of which weapon to use first.
These new weapons each have their own physics and combat advantages, completely transforming how combat works inBlasphemous 2. Additionally, hands-on impressions of the new combat indicate that it is smoother and more responsive than the first game regardless of which weapon players happen to be using. Like any good Soulslike, combat is still a focus ofBlasphemous 2’s gameplay, but where things start to get interesting is how the early-game weapon choice impacts the route players will take through its strange and captivating world.
Before players are faced with the classicSoulslike conundrum of which weapon to usefirst, the game wisely gives players a test arena to try each of them out. That said, no matter which weapon players choose first they will eventually uncover and gain access to the other two. to add some weight to the choice that players make, each of the three weapons on offer also contains unique traversal abilities that have a significant impact on player progress.
As an example, players who choose the flail have the ability to strike bells that make invisible platforms appear, granting access to a biome that is otherwise blocked off until later in the game should the player choose the rapier and dagger combo or traditional sword. Even then, when players find themselves exploring these new biomes there is a greater emphasis on exploration, puzzle-solving, and platforming than in the originalBlasphemous.
The ways that the three new weapons inBlasphemous 2transform not only combat but traversal and exploration help to cement that the sequel is leaning firmly into its Metroidvania inspirations and providing players with a distinctly different experience in the process. Add to that the ability to replay the game with three different starting choices and experience a different run each time, andBlasphemous 2is shaping up to sufficiently fill the Metroidvania gap created byHollow Knight: Silksong’s continued absence.
Blasphemous 2launches on June 10, 2025, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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