Code Vein II Shows Off 8 Minutes of Bloody Combat in New Walkthrough Trailer

With just over three weeks until launch, Bandai Namco released an eight-minute walkthrough trailer for Code Vein II that provides the most comprehensive look yet at the vampire soulslike’s gameplay systems. Posted on January 4, 2026, the trailer focuses on the Sunken Pylon dungeon, introduces companion character Josée Anjou, and showcases the seven weapon types players can wield when the game drops January 30. More importantly, it confirms a Character Creator Demo hitting PlayStation, Xbox, and Steam on January 23.

Meet Josée Anjou, Your Partner in Time

The walkthrough centers on Josée Anjou, one of the legendary heroes from 100 years in the past that players team up with during their time-traveling mission. Josée carries heavy guilt about events that transpired during her original attempt to save Sunken City from collapse, and her personal story becomes intertwined with your protagonist’s journey through past and present timelines.

As a partner character, Josée can be summoned to fight alongside you or assimilated to provide stat buffs while leaving you solo on the battlefield. The trailer demonstrates both approaches, showing Josée fighting independently against Horrors (the game’s corrupted enemies) and later enhancing the Revenant Hunter’s abilities through assimilation. This dual approach gives players flexibility in how they tackle challenges, whether they prefer co-op style combat or traditional single-player soulslike difficulty.

Seven Weapons, Endless Combos

Code Vein II features seven distinct weapon types, each with unique movesets and combat flow. The trailer showcases dual blades executing fast, agile combos perfect for close-quarters pressure. Halberds deliver devastating power at mid-range with sweeping attacks that hit multiple enemies. Bayonets combine melee strikes with ranged gunfire for hybrid playstyles.

Other weapons glimpsed include one-handed swords for balanced offense and defense, greatswords for heavy damage dealers willing to commit to slower attacks, hammers for breaking through enemy guards, and rune blades that appear to have magical properties. The variety ensures players can find something matching their preferred combat rhythm, whether that’s aggressive rushes, cautious spacing, or technical parry-focused gameplay.

The Sunken Pylon Dungeon

Much of the walkthrough takes place in Sunken Pylon, a vast dungeon area critical to purifying Sunken City’s polluted waters. The environment showcases the game’s post-apocalyptic aesthetic with flooded corridors, dilapidated architecture overtaken by corruption, and the haunting atmosphere of a civilization that failed to survive.

Sunken Pylon demonstrates Code Vein II’s interconnected level design philosophy borrowed from classic soulslikes. Players unlock shortcuts that loop back to earlier checkpoints, discover hidden paths containing valuable loot, and navigate branching routes that separate optional challenges from critical path objectives. The trailer shows elevator activations, ladder shortcuts, and door unlocks that create that satisfying sense of progress as sprawling dungeons gradually become more navigable.

Formae and Jails Explained

The walkthrough breaks down Code Vein II’s signature combat mechanics in detail. Formae are special abilities assigned to face buttons that consume Ichor to activate. These range from offensive skills like whirling blade attacks and ground spikes to support abilities providing shields and buffs. Players can mix and match Formae from different categories to create hybrid builds tailored to specific situations.

Jails are equipment pieces that transform your arm into various grotesque forms for draining Ichor from enemies. The trailer showcases Ogre (a massive crushing hand), Hound (dual wolf heads biting from shoulders), Bat (wings that release swarms), Ivy (thorned vines erupting from the ground), Stinger (a piercing insect-like appendage), and Reaper (a spectral scythe). Each Jail has unique drain attack animations and properties, adding another layer of customization to combat builds.

Boss Fight Carnage

The walkthrough culminates with a boss encounter against the Metagen Remnant, a disturbing spider-like creature with a human face embedded in its body. The fight demonstrates Code Vein II’s demanding combat expectations, requiring pattern recognition, resource management, and precise timing to survive its varied attack patterns.

Boss fights reward aggressive play. Landing consistent attacks and Formae abilities builds up bleed damage that eventually staggers enemies. Once staggered, players can execute Special Drain Attacks that deal massive damage while fully refilling Ichor reserves. This creates a risk-reward loop where staying in close despite danger pays off with resources needed to continue pressure, while overly defensive play starves you of offensive tools.

Character Creator Demo Incoming

Perhaps the biggest news from the trailer’s release is confirmation that a Character Creator Demo launches January 23, 2026, exactly one week before the full game. This standalone demo lets players dive deep into Code Vein II’s extensive character customization system, creating up to 64 different characters across separate save slots.

All characters created in the demo transfer directly to the full game when it launches January 30. Beyond character creation, the demo includes access to MagMell Institute (the game’s central hub), a fully functional Photo Mode for capturing your creations, and the hot spring area where you can view characters in different lighting conditions. For players who love spending hours perfecting every detail of their avatar’s appearance, this demo is basically Christmas arriving a week early.

The Customization Depth

Code Vein became somewhat legendary for its absurdly detailed character creator, and the sequel appears to double down on that reputation. The system offers dozens of options for skin tones, eye colors, hairstyles, hair colors, accessories, makeup, facial features, body types, and more. Content creators have already posted 30-plus minute videos walking through every menu and slider.

For those who find deep customization overwhelming, the demo includes preset templates that provide good starting points. But the real appeal is the granular control over nearly every aspect of your character’s appearance, letting you create anything from faithful anime protagonist recreations to completely original designs that match your personal aesthetic vision. Given that you’ll be staring at your character for potentially 50-plus hours of gameplay, having this level of control matters.

Blood Codes and Build Crafting

The walkthrough touches on Blood Codes, the returning system that functions like hot-swappable classes. Each Blood Code rescales your six core attributes: strength, dexterity, mind, willpower, vitality, and fortitude. This allows radical build changes on the fly without permanent stat allocation, giving players freedom to experiment with different playstyles throughout a single playthrough.

Finding new Blood Codes hidden throughout the world becomes a major progression system. Each code comes with its own stat distribution and often unlocks access to specific Formae or equipment. The flexibility means you can switch from a tank build with high vitality and fortitude to a magic-focused setup emphasizing mind and willpower simply by changing your equipped Blood Code before entering a challenging boss arena.

The Partner Restorative Offering

One mechanic highlighted in the walkthrough is the Restorative Offering, where summoned partners can revive fallen players with recovered health. This gives teams a second chance during difficult encounters without immediately forcing a checkpoint restart. However, the mechanic comes with strategic considerations.

After performing a Restorative Offering, partners enter a cooldown period where they’re temporarily incapacitated and unable to assist in battle. This means you can’t rely on infinite revivals. Managing when to take risks versus playing conservatively to preserve your partner’s availability becomes part of the tactical decision-making, especially during lengthy boss fights where a mid-battle resurrection could mean the difference between victory and starting over.

Release Details and Platforms

Code Vein II launches January 30, 2026 (some regions may see January 29 depending on time zones) for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. The game is available for pre-order now, with the Character Creator Demo providing an early taste of the customization systems one week before launch.

Bandai Namco has emphasized that this sequel tells a standalone story, meaning newcomers don’t need familiarity with the original Code Vein to jump in. While returning players will appreciate references and thematic connections, the time-traveling narrative featuring a new cast of characters in different locations creates a fresh starting point accessible to anyone interested in anime-styled soulslike action RPGs.

FAQs About Code Vein II Walkthrough and Demo

When does the Code Vein II Character Creator Demo release?

The Character Creator Demo launches January 23, 2026 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC via Steam. It arrives exactly one week before the full game’s January 30 launch.

Do characters from the demo transfer to the full game?

Yes, all character creations from the demo (up to 64 save slots) transfer directly to the full game when it launches. You can finalize your protagonist’s appearance ahead of time.

What’s included in the Character Creator Demo?

The demo includes full character customization tools, access to MagMell Institute hub area, Photo Mode for capturing creations, and the hot spring location where you can view characters in different lighting conditions.

Who is Josée Anjou?

Josée Anjou is one of the legendary heroes from 100 years in the past who attempted to save Sunken City. She serves as a partner character in Code Vein II, fighting alongside the player or providing buffs through assimilation.

How many weapon types are in Code Vein II?

The game features seven weapon types: dual blades, halberds, bayonets, one-handed swords, greatswords, hammers, and rune blades. Each has unique movesets and combat styles.

What is the Sunken Pylon?

Sunken Pylon is a vast dungeon area that holds the key to purifying Sunken City’s polluted waters. It’s showcased extensively in the walkthrough trailer as an example of the game’s interconnected level design.

What are Jails in Code Vein II?

Jails are equipment pieces that transform your arm into grotesque forms for draining Ichor from enemies. Examples include Ogre (crushing hand), Hound (wolf heads), Bat (wing swarms), and Reaper (spectral scythe).

Can you play Code Vein II without playing the first game?

Yes, Code Vein II features a standalone story with new characters and locations. While returning players may appreciate thematic connections, no prior knowledge is required.

Conclusion

The Code Vein II walkthrough trailer confirms Bandai Namco learned valuable lessons from the original while expanding what made it special. The combat looks snappier with more responsive animations and clearer visual feedback. The customization systems go even deeper, giving build crafters near-infinite options for creating unique playstyles. And the time-traveling narrative structure provides a hook beyond just challenging boss fights and environmental storytelling. Whether the execution lives up to the ambition remains to be seen when the game launches January 30, but based on eight minutes of guided gameplay, the foundation looks solid. The Character Creator Demo arriving January 23 gives fans an early opportunity to start planning their perfect vampire protagonist, which for some players will genuinely be half the fun. If you loved the first Code Vein’s blend of challenging soulslike combat and anime aesthetics, the sequel delivers more of everything while smoothing out rough edges. And if you bounced off the original due to clunky systems or confusing mechanics, the refined approach might be worth a second look. Either way, late January just got a lot more interesting for action RPG fans ready to drain some Ichor and save the world across two timelines.