Blasphemous 2 Review – Absolution

Blasphemous II’s story is steeped in religious themes and tells of an island that cannot overcome the curse imposed on it by the higher power no matter how repentant their people may be. When I played Blasphemous II, I often felt this way. I wondered how on earth I was going to overcome my challenge. As the inhabitants of The City of the Blessed Name did, I also persevered. And though the curses being thrown around my house each time I died were of a different variety than those cast in Blasphemous 2’s story, I loved nearly every minute of this challenging Metroidvania journey.

Stepping back into the boots of The Penitent One, the game picks up shortly after the events of the DLC from the first game, but knowledge of that story isn’t necessary to enjoy Blasphemous 2. Blasphemous is a game with a lot of lore. You can choose to engage in it however much you wish through cutscenes and item text. I enjoyed exploring the nonlinear, ever-expanding map the most.

I was always surprised by the different regions. The thrill of discovering a new NPC to upgrade my gear or stumble upon powerful spells was always welcome, but there is nothing like the satisfaction that comes from figuring where to next. Slowly expanding the maze-like map through thoughtful exploration and new traversal abilities became a meditative practice, only interrupted by areas I couldn’t reach with my current moves or by the hordes of grotesque monsters that populate most rooms.

Learning the attack patterns of each area is crucial to success. The enemies are strong and will kill you if you get trapped in an awkward situation. Blasphemous II’s responsive and fluid combat will help you overcome what may seem like insurmountable odds. It’s always satisfying to learn how to cut through enemies that used to bother you. The three weapons each have their own skills and abilities. This allows you to customize your play style. When combined with various upgrades, spells, and equipable stat boosts, I was happy with the level of customization, even though there’s no proper gear system.

Throughout my trip, I often found myself making a white-knuckle decision about whether or not to counter, avoid, or launch my own offense in the hope of stun. Although I sometimes feared what was in store for me, it always made me happy to be able to demonstrate my abilities. At times, the difficulty curve feels steeper than it should – a few battle arena rooms tested my patience as much as my skills – and the later checkpoints are a little sparse given how challenging the final sequences are, but it made my eventual victory all the sweeter.

This gauntlet was never as challenging as in boss fights. Boss battles will test your skills to the limit. From an armored knight who can slash with projectiles and a behemoth which changes shape to cast various spells. In the past, knowing that I’d be facing a fierce boss was enough to make me feel tense.

I was concerned that my trip through Blasphemous II, the Gothic marvel of Gothic entertainment, would be cut short by the monstrous enemy in front. But without these frequent frustrations, the triumphs wouldn’t be as great. Blasphemous 2, while drawing inspiration from the games that have come before, stands out for its gorgeous visuals, engaging exploration and satisfying combat.