2023-09-02 18:14:53
A 2D game with corridors, shortcuts, hidden areas. Multiple paths to get to the same crucial area or end-of-level boss. And for that matter, places where you have to sneak. Monsters that would pass those of Castlevania for lovely figurines, each showing a tortured, pained, very inspired aspect. Following Blasphemous once again ticks all the boxes of the very good metroidvania, of these 2D scrolling games that are not content with a traveling from left to right, but lead you to explore constantly, even if it means biting your fingers by falling on a devious enemy.
The imagery of Catholicism
From the scenario, not much to learn, except a pretext to go on an adventure. Almost too bombastic in its introduction compared to its real impact on the game, the latter rather resembles that of one of the first Castlevania ; there is a villain, in this case the Miracle, a kind of apocalyptic advent becoming flesh, and you, who must try to prevent this. That’s enough to launch the trestles of an atmosphere, very particular and already well exposed in the first game.
It plays images of Catholicism, with its whining penitents, its abbots in dark hoods, its roués ready to use their instrument of torture against you. The Spanish voices that welcome you into the gamea rarity in the video game world, also bring a feeling of Inquisition which plays fully in the ambient glaucous charm.
Bile to do
The fights are tense, difficult, in this game where you choose, at the start of the game, a weapon, longer and slower or shorter and easier to handle, to start suffering. The others will be available later, with variations in gameplay. Your character can slide, which can allow them to dodge certain enemies and their attacks to go behind their backs.
But many monsters have a much higher reach than yours. As much to tell you that save points, where you can also regain health and refill your vials of regenerating bile, will be acquired after a hard struggle.
Retro Elden Ring tunes
History, for its part, is shrouded in spiritualism and abstruse ideologies. You will come across many non-playable characters who are not enemies, but poor wretches who have something to say to you, all sorts of declarations for which you will not have the codes.
But this feeling of walk the stylized Stations of the Cross of a church at your place of tourism, Stations of the Cross which may be yours due to the level of difficulty relieved of the title, then halos the game with a false air ofElder Ring retro. Like From Software’s game, Blasphemous 2 plays with rather splendid landscapes, even passed through the pixel-art grinder here.
Flawless maneuverability
Blasphemous 2 will also make you curse against all the deaths of your character, the mysterious penitent, but the desire is strong to constantly come back to it thanks to flawless handling, a great quality of the title. Following Blasphemous walks in the paths of pilgrimage more than those of innovation, and there are credible competitors, such as Heidelberg 1693, who fights in the same category. But his recipe is perfectly executed.
WE LOVE :
A radical visual ambiance in its imagery
An appreciable soundtrack, especially in its Spanish voiceovers
Flawless maneuverability, a sine qua non for it to work
WE LIKE LESS:
Few innovations compared to the first part, apart from aesthetics
A bestiary of irregular quality and originality
Peaks of difficulty that deserve to go to confession
THE SCORE: 16/20
A Team 17 game, on Playstation 5, XBox series, Switch and PC, approx. €30. 16 years and over.
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