Summary
Blasphemous 2may not have had the seismic impact thatElden Ringdid lately, but expecting as much from a direct sequel to an indie game was always going to lead to disappointment. Instead, the only viable comparison would be to its predecessor, the originalBlasphemous, in seeing how well the sequel iterated on what had come before it.Blasphemous 2’s dark fantasy Catholicism is still a high point and excels in illustrating a rich tapestry of lore, and yet the sequel’s gameplay is where it features some monumental changes—one of which The Game Kitchen might feel obligated to double down on in aBlasphemous 3.
The Penitent One’s Mea Culpa is Superb as Blasphemous’ Main Weapon
Blasphemousonly having a default, upgradeable sword isn’t that big of an oddity. Many games of a similar ilk have left their protagonist avatars with a default weapon that could be iconic in its own right and, when as aesthetically and narratively neat as the effigial and barbed Mea Culpa, that can be a huge boon.
Of course,Blasphemousallows the Penitent One to cast prayersas well—some of which are considerably overpowered against bosses who spam projectiles—but the Mea Culpa remains a fantastic sword that never gives players a reason to want it swapped out for something else throughout the game.
In this way,Blasphemousshares common ground withSekiro: Shadows Die Twiceas Wolf relies on his default katana. That said,Blasphemous 2was right to expand its armament options and lean more heavily into the RPG elements that its FromSoftware inspirations are largely known for. That includes a wider range of weapons players can equip that is not only diverse in combat but also serves to makeBlasphemous 2’s environmental puzzles and platforming more dynamic.
Blasphemous 2’s Starting Weapon Choice is Too Good to Not Return
Blasphemous 2’s Ruego Al Alba, Veredicto, and Sarmiento and Centella Offer a Wealth of Gameplay Options
Blasphemous 2abandons the Mea Culpa for narrative reasons and instead gives players the choice between one of three starting weapons as the sequel begins:Ruego Al Alba, Veredicto, and Sarmiento and Centellaas a sword, flail, and daggers option, respectively.
The former is a standard sword that is most comparable to the Mea Culpa and is a great starting choice for its familiarity; the second, the game’s most unique weapon, is a heavy flail that dishes out tons of damage at mid-range and is perfect for players who enjoy strength builds and ‘bonking’ enemies; and the latter is a pair of daggers that implement a speedy ferocity. Each is also crucial in platforming with its own way of interacting with the environment, and players will eventually need to retrieve the other two weapons that they didn’t choose in the beginning.
Therefore, while one can be used primarily in combat based on player preference, all three are required to progress.Blasphemous 3wouldn’t necessarily need to double the number of weapons available, though this choice goes a long way in helping players decide what kind of build they’d like to start with.
More builds in a thirdBlasphemouswould only be a cherry on top now and hopefully The Game Kitchen will have creative weapon types cooked up in its back pocket for future installments. Going back to a singular default weapon might not be wholly egregious, and yetBlasphemous 2’s light experimentation with player choicecould be the debut of some truly exciting RPG mechanics, especially when it comes to giving the Penitent One a certain build or traversal option.
Blasphemous 2
WHERE TO PLAY
The second scripture in the Blasphemous series portends the return of The Penitent One, with a story that continues from the free Wounds of Eventide DLC for the original game, where The Heart in the sky heralded the return of The Miracle and foretold the birth of a new miracle child.Awakened in a strange new land, and displaced from his final resting place, The Penitent One is thrust back into the endless cycle of life, death, and resurrection, with no other option than to explore this perilous new world and uncover its long-forgotten secrets.Hordes of grotesque enemies stand in your way, awaiting final judgement by the brutal hand of the Penitent One, with titanic twisted bosses also lurking in the darkness, waiting for their chance to return you to the grave from whence you came.Taking them down won’t be easy, but with Blasphemous 2 offering more chances to customise and improve your skill set, along with several new unique weapons to wield with righteous zeal and unending fury, victory might just be within grasp.Ultimately, only one thing is certain… Penance Never Ends
