In my eyes, Blasphemous 2 is a story of redemption.

Throughout the blighted lands in this sequel, you will find no shortage of denizens hoping to be redeemed. Condemned to often dark, grisly fates by the entity called the Miracle, these people graciously accept their punishments, hoping that their pain will absolve them of sin. Similarly, Blasphemous 2 strikes me as a game that wants to absolve itself from its predecessor’s shortcomings. I briefly played Blasphemous before taking on this review, but I honestly couldn’t get into it. I felt the combat was stiff, the platforming was aggravating, and the story absolutely did not grab me with its ornate, often vague prose.

On two of those counts, Blasphemous 2 marks an inspired improvement. In a world where even Mickey Mouse needs a Metroidvania, games of this genre require absolute excellence to stand out. I didn’t expect Blasphemous 2 to give me the same highs as all-time genre greats like Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow, but that’s exactly how I felt playing much of this one. Blasphemous 2 truly shines with the love of its creators.

It's unfortunate, then, that this otherwise immaculate sequel didn’t completely cleanse itself of the first game’s sins. But I must admit that where I see imperfections, Blasphemous fans may find profound beauty instead.

Blasphemous 2 (PC [Reviewed], PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, Switch)
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Team17
Released: August 24, 2023
MSRP: $29.99

[caption id="attachment_397051" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Free will

Our story kicks off after the original Blasphemous’ Wounds of Evertide update. Set against the backdrop of dark religious imagery, our hero, the Penitent One, must battle through enemies both fierce and grotesque as they unravel a new mystery surrounding the Miracle. That said, I found the tone of Blasphemous 2 was established more by the first major choice players make.

Blasphemous 2 presents one of three weapons to bring into battle. You have the balanced option in the sword Ruego Al Alba, which should feel familiar to fans of Blasphemous. But players who prefer a nimbler option can instead opt for the Sarmiento & Centella rapiers, which rewards evasive dashing and consistent attacks. And then there’s my mainstay throughout the adventure, the Veredicto. As a Claimh Solais wielder in Dawn of Sorrow, I felt right at home with this huge ball-and-chain. Its wide attack arc makes it great for aerial enemies, but the longer animations and lack of a block button makes your positioning especially important during boss battles.

I love how Blasphemous 2 lets players tackle combat with their own playstyle. While you do eventually collect each weapon to switch between later on, I never felt like I had to use one specific weapon to win. Even in fast, fierce boss battles which looked impossible without a dedicated block button, I still found ways to dodge and deal damage with the Veredicto. I will say I didn’t find much use for the Sarmiento & Centella rapiers, as they play a bit too similarly to the Ruego Al Alba. But I’m willing to bet some players will absolutely tear the game apart using them.

[caption id="attachment_397052" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The valley of the shadow of death

The weapons don’t just add nice variety to the combat; they expand the level design too. As you make your way through the game, you’ll encounter gimmicks that use each weapon in unique ways. For example, you can hit large bells with the Veredicto that send out shockwaves that make platforms appear for a limited amount of time. Or you can stab mirrors with the Sarmiento & Centella to instantly launch a short distance in a specific direction.

This doesn’t sound like a lot on paper, but Blasephemous 2 uses these concepts to create some great platforming sections between battles. More than a few sequences actually require flipping through your weapons in rapid succession to interact with their gimmicks. I never got bored of these moments, and they’re a remarkable improvement over the platforming sections I saw in Blasphemous.

Exploration also feels great in general due to the infusion of new progression systems. Like before, you can find rosary beads and similar equipment that can grant certain passives. However, Blasphemous 2 adds Marks of Martyrdom, which functionally work like skill points. Whenever you earn one, you can invest them into your weapons to strengthen them, or expand your carrying capacity for Altarpieces that can help you specialize your playstyle. You’ll find Marks both from exploration and an EXP bar that fills while fighting enemies, which gives combat more meaning without overwriting the impact of exploration.

Blasphemous 2 does a fantastic job of dishing out meaningful upgrades without undermining its own difficulty. I always felt like the battles in front of me required skill over grinding, no matter how strong my character was at any moment. Which is good, because the challenge in Blasphemous 2 is well worth savoring.

[caption id="attachment_397053" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Gnashing of teeth

Virtually every enemy in Blasphemous 2 is a delight to take down. Most foes have distinct attacks and movement patterns, so you can’t steamroll the game with one surefire tactic. At the same time, I never felt bogged down by tanky, annoying enemies. This is a delicate balance that many Metroidvanias stumble on, so it’s refreshing to see Blasphemous 2 handle it so well.

Similarly, almost all the boss fights were an absolute joy to play. For most encounters, I often found myself getting slapped hard at first. However, incoming attacks always have clear telegraphs you can watch out for, so repeated attempts felt like opportunities to learn from my mistakes. I typically took down bosses within three attempts, usually stomping them hard once I mastered their quirks.

Blasphemous 2 consistently gave me that hard game rush without ever really feeling like a hard game. It’s a challenge, especially if you aren’t well-versed in this genre, but I never felt particularly frustrated. At the same time, victory always gave me that “heck yes!” feeling. I will say the game does weirdly dip in challenge shortly after the midpoint. It gates a few upgrade systems despite letting you find their applicable items throughout the adventure, so bosses right after this big stat jump for me didn’t have quite the bite that prior bosses did. Fortunately, the game does come back around near the end, with some especially great encounters near the final act.

[caption id="attachment_397054" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

Walking by faith

The only piece of Blasphemous 2 that I never quite fully got on board with is its storytelling. Before I go any further, I will acknowledge that anyone who enjoyed piecing together Blasphemous’ lore will almost certainly enjoy Blasphemous 2. Vague, minimalist stories like this are often divisive, and I'm just not a fan of them. If my thoughts don’t resonate with you in this regard, take these words with a grain of salt. The story is still framed as a key part of Blasphemous 2 though, so it did impact my overall experience.

Blasphemous 2 makes no effort to catch anyone up if they didn’t finish Blasphemous and its Wounds of Eventide update. If you don’t know what the Miracle is going into this one, good luck. And even if you do, Blasphemous 2 strikes me as a game that expects you to only know what’s going on after its intended community solves it. All the dialogue is incredibly wordy, often saying in 15 words what could have been said in five. I followed the broad strokes just fine, but so much between the big story beats just felt meaningless.

That said, I eventually wondered if that feeling of meaningless was the point of Blasphemous 2. I don’t need to tell you that this game leans heavily on its religious imagery, and against that backdrop, it does make sense that everyone talks like they’re reading scripture. Yet in a world in which so many of its denizens attribute their meaning to the Miracle, my protagonist succeeded in spite of it. I charted my course through these lands, I acquired power through my own actions, and I decided how to use the prayers and rosary beads I found along the way. My play experience was at direct odds with the other characters, which made their dark fates all the more pitiable.

In short, my take away from Blasphemous 2 wasn’t necessarily a religious commentary. Instead, I interpreted it as a story of agency versus submission. That’s not the deepest theme to focus on, but it did kind of work for me on that level.

[caption id="attachment_397055" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

The ends didn’t justify the means

Though I felt happy with this interpretation, I still think the story's execution is a bit at odds with itself. For reference, when FromSoftware does vague, minimalist storytelling, I generally think it works because it mostly stays in the background. It’s there for the lore folks to unpack, but it otherwise kind of blends in with the atmosphere.

Blasphemous 2, meanwhile, gives its story a bit more prominence. The plot is presented like you’re already invested without ever making an effort to draw players in. For example, one secret I found late in the game hit me with a horror stinger sound effect, like I just discovered something that should blow my mind. Yet while I grasped the implications, I just didn’t really care. It made the moment feel weirdly comical for me, even though that clearly wasn't the intention.

Honestly, I could forgive that on its own. But for as consistently fun and engaging as Blasphemous 2 was for me, I felt really underwhelmed by the end. I won't say more than that for spoilers sake, though the final act did have one standout moment for me. I wanted to compensate for this by doubling back and exploring to get that sweet 100% completion. But after chasing down clues and wondering how the heck to uncover secrets in rooms that apparently hid them, I realized I could be doing literally anything else with my time. So my time with Blasphemous 2 kind of ended on a whimper, but that fortunately didn't ruin the experience.

[caption id="attachment_397056" align="alignnone" width="640"] Screenshot by Destructoid[/caption]

A book of revelation

I want to reiterate that these hang-ups for me will likely be selling points for other players. If you fall into this camp, then I’m happy to tell you you’re going to absolutely love Blasphemous 2. Even with these loose ends left on my save file, I hope I can return to get that 100% completion after the community properly solves the game. Not as a critic, but just as a fan.

Even with a few grievances, I still came out really enjoying Blasphemous 2. The challenge was consistently on point, the variety of areas in the map felt consistently fresh, and I had a great time powering up and uncovering secrets. Not counting my postgame wandering, Blasphemous 2 took me roughly 15 hours to clear. I'd have been happy if it continued for another 10, which I mean entirely as a compliment. I forgot at times that I was even reviewing the game, I just looked forward to laying back with my Steam Deck and seeing what I could uncover next.

Anyone who likes Metroidvanias should absolutely make time for Blasphemous 2. Aside from an underwhelming final act, I had nearly consistent fun with this one from start to finish. From the gorgeous visuals to the customizable combat, your journey as the Penitent One will be filled with steady highs and only occasional lows. It’s a great sequel, a great game, and just a great time in general. If you were a fan of Blasphemous, you’re in for a treat with Blasphemous 2.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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A luchador, penitent one, and vessel walk into a bar...

[Update: After the initial PC launch, the Everyone is Here indie crossover update for Dead Cells is out now for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch players.]

It's a feel-good moment whenever indie games trade characters, but Dead Cells is going even further with six crossover protagonists stepping up to the take on The Hand of the King. In the newly-released Everyone is Here update, Dead Cells has added weapons and outfits based on Hollow Knight, Blasphemous, Guacamelee, Hyper Light Drifter, Curse of the Dead Gods, and Skul: The Hero Slayer. Pretty great cast of characters here, right?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rUb-6F1TV6M

Of course, this is Dead Cells, so you'll have to put in a bit of work beforehand. To unlock the "Independent Legends" crossover weapons, you'll want to look out for lore rooms that can randomly appear while running through the Prisoners' Quarters, and there's also a "book of clues" with hints about in-game feats you can pull off to unlock the outfits.

Here's a quick rundown of the crossover weapons:

• Hollow Knight: The Pure Nail can attack upward and downward. Attacking downward while airborne causes you to bounce on your enemies, dealing critical damage.
• Hyper Light Drifter: The Hyper Light Gun marks its targets while also dealing damage. The Sword deals critical damage to the marked targets, increasing with the number of gun marks on the target. Sword hits also recharge the gun's ammo, which doesn't recharge passively.
• Blasphemous: Crush the Face Flask on your forehead, dealing low damage to yourself and transforming 35 percent of your missing health into recovery.
• Guacamelee: Channel your chicken spirit with the Pollo Power, turning into a chicken for a few seconds while firing several explosive eggs around you.
• Skul: The Hero Slayer: Smash enemies with a bone club. Hitting with the second attack enables a whirlwind attack that deals critical damage.
• Curse of the Dead Gods: Slash twice with a machete. The third attack uses the pistol to bump and inflict critical damage to nearby enemies. Holding the attack button charges a slow and powerful ranged attack.

As one example, I spotted this familiar bench from Hollow Knight.

After interacting with it, a short scene played out and I got the Pure Nail weapon.

And then, once I died and returned to the starting area, there was a new book with hints describing the challenge criteria for unlocking each indie game crossover outfit.

On top of the indie game cameos, a few other minor things made it into Update 26.

On the bug front, dropping a bomb won't interrupt your invisibility, and fire/ice affixes won't appear on ice/fire items. Dead Cells also has a new internal log system to help with bug tracking going forward. The developers of Dead Cells say that "no personal data will be logged" and "no changes should be noticeable on your side, apart from log files appearing in your game folder, that you might want to include in future bug reports."

You can download the Everyone is Here update for Dead Cells on PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. As usual, this is free content.

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Blasphemous: Wounds of Eventide is the final DLC

Over a million people have stepped into the beautifully tormented world of Blasphemous, and they'll be called back to atone in Cvstodia this December with one last trial.

Announced at Gamescom (via IGN), The Game Kitchen has a final free DLC chapter — Blasphemous: Wounds of Eventide — coming to PC and consoles on December 9, as well as a sequel in the works for 2023. Yep, they're making a Blasphemous 2, and I'm stoked.

https://youtu.be/RKg34fPKaQU

Instead of showing gameplay yet, the Gamescom trailer for Wounds of Eventide sets the scene with a surprisingly cool anime sequence. The visuals do all the heavy lifting. Blasphemous 2, meanwhile, is simply a bit of text at the end of the footage.

Not that I expected The Game Kitchen to walk away from Blasphemous after its critical and commercial success, and the studio's continual post-launch support, but still. Even if a sequel seems like it's in the cards, you never know when it might materialize. The timeline here, especially with another generous DLC, feels ideal. It's already been two years.

Blasphemous was a great first entry in the crowded metroidvania scene fueled by an intriguing yet extreme world of intense religious devotion. There's still so much more room in the lore to say more without ever running the risk of over-explaining.

Mechanically, as a 2D action-platformer, Blasphemous wasn't perfect — it could be finicky. Imagine where the (hopefully a little tighter-feeling) next game might go.

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Content for your satanic sticker album

Fans of the grim 'n' gory a Blasphemous might want to mark June 29 on their calendars, for that is the day when Team17, in association with physical media marketers Sold Out, will be releasing a physical edition of the gothic horror title on PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.

"We’re thrilled to team up with Team17 once again to deliver this deluxe Blasphemous physical edition, said Sold Out product manager Katie Clark. "Whether you’re already a fan of the game or want to jump into the nightmare world of Cvstodia for the first time, Blasphemous Deluxe Edition offers an exciting physical package for players to add to their collection."

The Deluxe Edition of Blasphemous is currently available to pre-order via Amazon, priced at around $30, and will launch on June 29. This edition will include a boxed physical copy of the game on the console of your choice, as well as a digital soundtrack - featuring 32 hellish tunes from the depths of Cvstodia - a 195-page digital art book, a digital comic, two exclusive in-game skins, a poster of the land of Cvstoida, and a totally not-on-brand "sticker sheet". I assume these are the kind of stickers you'd get taken off of you at school... like Garbage Pail Kids.

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'Thank you all for bringing so much joy to our sorrowful hearts'

Blasphemous is one of those games that left me hoping it sold well enough for its creators to keep doing what they know and love. It's a gripping and often unforgiving action-platformer set in a world dominated by religious fervor, and as dark as it could be, the game really resonated with me.

Well, me and a bunch of other people. The Game Kitchen and publisher Team17 just announced that Blasphemous has passed "one million players." Here's a pleasant little video to capture the moment.

In a Steam post, the developers said "thanks to you we've been able to continue working on Blasphemous, adding even more free content to the game beyond what we initially planned."

Given all the free content updates, including the recent Boss Rush mode and Bloodstained crossover, I figured that Blasphemous was in a good spot financially, but it's nice to have a proper confirmation. I'll take a potential sequel – think of the lore! – but even if The Game Kitchen goes in a different direction with a new IP, I'll be there too. The post-launch support has been fantastic for this game. Truly.

I've only been back once since my initial exhaustive playthrough – I had to mess with The Stir of Dawn and hear the much-improved Spanish voice-overs – but I'm hoping to play it all again one day.

If you're in the market for the PC version, it's currently free with Prime Gaming until April 1.

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Free 'Strife and Ruin' update goes live February 18

Talk about a match made in Hell. The lovely Miriam, hero of 505 Games' Castlevania-like platformer Bloodstained: Ritual of the Night is getting set to make a guest appearance in Team 17's critically acclaimed nightmare, Blasphemous. What a crossover!

The free update, titled "Strife and Ruin" will arrive on PS4, PC, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch on February 18, and will see the last Shardbinder visit in the land of Cvstodia, seeking help from protagonist The Penitent One. Miriam is trapped in the dismal and terrifying realm, and The Penitent One must help her by gathering lost shards from around the kingdom in order to rebuild the portal back to Hellhold, so our gal can finally return to her own world of abject misery.

But that's not all, as the Strife and Ruin update will also add a new Boss Rush mode to Blasphemous, challenging the finest knights to run a gauntlet of unholy guardians in the ultimate test of skill and endurance. Additionally, (and much like Bloodstained itself), a new 8-bit demake of Blasphemous is also available, accessible via an arcade cabinet hidden somewhere within Cvstodia. Dig it out and you can experience The Game Kitchen's grim world in classic NES-esque glory.

This sounds like a fantastic freebie for Blasphemous fans, as well as perhaps one of the finest and most perfectly suited crossovers since Gris somehow visited Rainbow Six Siege.

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With the free content update The Stir of Dawn

Blasphemous is expanding with a major free update for PC and consoles on August 4, 2020.

The Stir of Dawn is our long-awaited New Game+ update, but that's far from the only reason to revisit Blasphemous. The Game Kitchen is also adding "new storylines, NPCs, bosses, enemies, and areas to discover," fast-travel points to make sleuthing for secrets less of a chore, more items, "level art reworks," revised voice acting and Spanish language support, and numerous balance changes.

The choose-your-penitence system also caught my eye. It's a way to optionally shake up your typical Blasphemous routine with challenging trade-offs. For instance, one penitence – Unwavering Faith – cuts your Mea Culpa sword's damage in half but grants an endless supply of regenerating fervor.

Just yesterday, I was browsing my Switch library for older games that had slipped off the home screen, and Blasphemous stood out. I was this close to starting a new run – partially because I want to see every gruesome boss again, partially because it's been so long that I don't remember how to play well.

Two-ish weeks isn't a long wait. I'll make full use of New Game+ and those extra fast-travel spots.

Blasphemous: Stir of Dawn – Free DLC Launching August 4th! [Team17]

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The devil is in the detail

If you haven't completely combed Blasphemous yet, or you're planning to eventually play the gnarly metroidvania game again when time allows, some good news: a major patch just dropped on consoles.

Patch 2 is meant to "make Blasphemous feel even better and more accessible than ever, refining and polishing the experience as much as possible without actually changing the core game," according to the developers. It's been out on PC since December. Many of the changes were informed by the community.

The major improvements have to do with platforming, which was trickier than it needed to be in some cases, and fixes for softlocks, graphical issues, NPC quests, and Guilt Fragments. You can find the full patch notes here, but basically, The Game Kitchen polished up the place from top to bottom.

• Collision detection during jumps tweaked to improve jump feeling.
• Jumping in mid-air is now possible for a few frames after running off a platform (Coyote time / ghost jump).
• Grab cancel action added.
• The Penitent One is now be able to jump off walls, ledges and ladders by pressing the Grab cancel action.
• The Penitent One still can hold down to fall while hanging from a ledge, but the holding time has been adjusted.
• The Penitent One will only climb a ledge if the players press Up, to prevent accidental climbing.
• Damage while wall climbing now doesn't prevent further wall climbing. Before it was only available after touching the ground again.

Apart from tuning moving platforms and making jumps a little snappier, the team also smoothed out a few areas – specifically, the shortcut connecting the Sleeping Canvases and Mercy Dreams ("The infamous room full of spikes!") and the Wasteland of the Buried Churches and Archcathedral Rooftops.

Another fun one: "The map can now be closed by pressing the same button used to open it."

Further out, The Game Kitchen still has plans for free Blasphemous DLC. I can't wait!

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Patch 2 now available on PC ahead of console release

I've done just about everything I want to do in Blasphemous, but I've been feeling its call lately, almost to the point of another playthrough. I'm looking for an excuse to spend more time in this wretched world – a surefire sign that the developers shouldn't be too quick to move onto their next project.

Thankfully, they're still here. The Game Kitchen released a major update on PC and shared teaser art for free DLC that's expected to launch in "early" 2020. I can't get over the character close-up spritework.

The patch is significant, with changes to platforming, platforms, and controls, plus tons of fixes.

Platforming

• Collision detection during jumps tweaked to improve jump feeling.
• Jumping in mid-air is now possible for a few frames after running off a platform (Coyote time / ghost jump).
• Grab cancel action added.
• The Penitent One is now be able to jump off walls, ledges and ladders by pressing the Grab cancel action.
• The Penitent One still can hold down to fall while hanging from a ledge, but the holding time has been adjusted.
• The Penitent One will only climb a ledge if the players press Up, to prevent accidental climbing.
• Damage while wall climbing now doesn't prevent further wall climbing. Before it was only available after touching the ground again.

Control options

• Extended controller support. Even playing with a dance mat is possible!
• Mouse buttons and swipe gestures added.
• Improved control screen UI.
• Every action is now rebindable.
• Button tooltips are shown correctly after rebinding actions in every UI screen.

Moving platforms

• Fixed a collision issue that made some players go through them on certain jumps.
• Added and reworked some annoying moving platforms to shorten wait times and improve level navigation.
• Iterated a few areas featuring moving platforms, to improve platforming and navigation, and make wait times shorter.

It's worth reading through the whole list of fixes if you've struggled with softlocks, items, or NPCs.

"With this patch, we tried to make Blasphemous feel better and more accessible than ever, refining and polishing the experience as much as possible without actually changing the core game."

If you own Blasphemous on Nintendo Switch, PS4, or Xbox One, expect Patch 2 "in the new year."

Blasphemous - Patch 2 Live Now! [Steam]

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It's a great holiday chill game

Sometimes there's no rhyme or reason for demo delays, but in this day and age I'm just glad we're getting demos at all. Blasphemous is one of those perfect "demo games," as I know there's a lot of Metroidvanias out on the market now, and while the aesthetic is rad on paper, a lot of folks probably want to see how it plays.

Yes that's right: the Switch just got a Blasphemous demo, which you can download directly from the eShop or on the official Nintendo listing (it'll automatically push to your console if you're logged in). I have to say, the ability to download stuff while you're at work and immediately play it after coming home is an underrated feature of the past few generations.

While it was just out of reach of my top games of the year list, it's a fantastic action platformer and a perfect way to chill out in bed with your Switch during the holidays. I ended up getting into it on my Switch Lite and don't regret it. Just don't forget Jordan's helpful ending tip once you're near the conclusion!

Blasphemous [Nintendo]

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Your suffering will be legendary

Blasphemous might be 2019's gnarliest video game. Its odds are certainly up there.

Drawing direct inspiration from the usual suspects like Dark Souls and Castlevania – the series, I mean, not just Symphony of the Night – Blasphemous crafts a bleak world dominated by a sinister, all-encompassing religious fervor. Themes of sinners, saints, and sorrow touch every facet of this game, from iconography and prose to enemy designs and set-pieces to characters and their grim tales.

Instead of resting at a bonfire, you'll seek respite at life-generating prayer desks. Rather than cast magical spells, you'll wield powerful "prayers." Ability-boosting items are affixed to a rosary. The list goes on and on, endlessly. It's not every day we see a video game just go for it like this, and while Blasphemous doesn't nail the landing across the board, it's one seriously enthralling metroidvania.

Blasphemous (Nintendo Switch [reviewed], PC, PS4, Xbox One)
Developer: The Game Kitchen
Publisher: Team17 Digital
Released: September 10, 2019
MSRP: $24.99

I really mean it! These last few years have been generous to 'vania fans. A ton of promising games have tried to make a name for themselves, and while some rank alongside the best of 'em, others fell way below lofty expectations. Blasphemous won't go down as an instant classic, but know this: it's great.

With that preface out of the way, what is this game, exactly? It's not an attempt at 2D Souls, despite what you might be thinking. You aren't going to be grinding for XP or keeping a watchful eye on a stamina meter. In a lot of ways, Blasphemous is a traditional action-platformer; it just so happens to borrow elements like tying enemy respawns to resting and drenching item descriptions in lore.

Playing as The Penitent One, a silent sword-wielding masked warrior, you're on a singular mission to incite change in a cursed, guilt-ridden land. That I can say for certain. Otherwise, post-credits, I'm still working things out. The narrative requires piecing together disparate clues and reading between the lines. If you can't be bothered, that's fine. You'll find value in the lavish world-building and double-take-worthy cutscenes – enough to get you from Point A to B to Z and back up to A for an overlooked item.

Cvstodia is a sprawling non-linear setting, the kind you won't mind combing through again and again in search of (largely optional) collectibles. You'll encounter more than a few dead ends in the opening hours as you find the first three bosses necessary for bypassing an early roadblock, but for the most part, Blasphemous does a good job of letting you loose while still subtly funneling you along.

Completionists will have a hell of a time scrounging for everything, though – there's a ton of stuff to uncover, some of which is practical, and some of which is basically filler meant to flesh out the background and set the mood. I'm missing several pesky cherubs and lore-filled bones, much to my chagrin, but the actual critical-path story-progressing items never gave me any real trouble.

I struggled the most with the tricky platforming bits, all things considered. Whereas hand-to-hand combat has a satisfying if basic learning curve (tip: make smart use of the sliding dodge maneuver and unlock the lunging strike as soon as possible), circumventing insta-kill spike traps never seemed to get much easier for me. When you aren't slicing apart tormented souls in Blasphemous, you're scaling walls with your sword, leaping between disintegrating platforms, and grasping precarious ledges.

The ease with which you can be knocked around and unceremoniously plummet to your doom began to grate on me, particularly when my last prie-dieu (respawn point) was dozens of rooms back. Certain foes also have a tendency of combo-ing The Penitent One into submission. It's not the best feeling.

To even the odds a bit, you can search for special rooms that serve as permanent upgrades to your health and mana reserves. Rest assured, you can also earn additional healing flasks. There isn't much else in the way of player progression, though. You can accumulate minor buffs with items on your rosary and unlock a handful of attack upgrades on a short skill tree, but nothing crazy. Whether you're a few minutes in or your save file is pushing fifteen hours, combat doesn't evolve in a meaningful way. On the flip side, it never seems to get old. I dig it – I just would've liked more options at my disposal.

I came into Blasphemous expecting the bosses to be the big swear-inducing hurdle – and admittedly, some of them are no joke – but they are by no means grueling. You'll need to learn their tells to reliably predict incoming moves, sure, but there's plenty of margin for error. Their grotesque designs are a high point. One late-game fight in particular demands a mastery of parrying, and I'm still buzzing from it.

On that note, I can't get Blasphemous off my mind. I may never fully grasp the opaque story even with the inevitable community-led theories and explainers lending a hand, but that's okay. Even taken as a fanatical fever-dream, this game delivers. Some aspects aren't as fine-tuned or ambitious as they could've been, leading to unevenness, but there's so much for metroidvania fans to latch onto here.

In the meantime, I'll be running laps in hopes of hitting that coveted 100% completion rate.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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You can finish the game and still pick up where you left off

This might be a bit premature given that Blasphemous is not a particularly short game and it hasn't even been out a full week yet, but I figured some of you would benefit from this PSA. The game has multiple endings as you might expect, but you don't need to play through the grisly adventure again to see them.

I'll keep spoilers to a minimum, but that's the gist. You can click away now if you're good, or continue reading for slightly more context about how the endings work and what's needed to unlock them.

In short: there's a default ending, which you'll get just by playing normally and killing the final boss, and there's a true ending, which involves finding a key item and revisiting seven specific rooms before facing the boss. (Side note: after you see the credits in Blasphemous, you can explore and fight the boss again.)

I had a hunch about the unlock process while reviewing Blasphemous, but I glossed over one of the steps and didn't see the true ending for myself until after launch. The game's map doesn't do a great job of indicating what you have and haven't done already, so it's best to do this in one shot or take notes.

As recapped by Hold to Reset, you first need to find the Immaculate Bead in the Graveyard of the Peaks zone. The item is found in the area's guilt-clearing room, just to the left of the elevator shaft. With the bead equipped, you then have to die three times to turn the item into Weight of True Guilt.

From there, you need to revisit every "guilt room" in Blasphemous – you know, the ones with giant statues? Yeah, those. There are seven in total, and the aforelinked site has their whereabouts. In each room, you'll destroy the statue, use the portal, and clear a challenge room. I'd advise attempting this with as many health and healing upgrades as possible. Some challenges can be tricky otherwise.

With all seven rooms checked off, you should now have an item called Custodia of Sin. Head to the final boss and do your thing. You'll earn the Path of the Believer trophy/achievement for your trouble.

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Thank goodness launch is imminent

We've been optimistic about Blasphemous for what feels like years now, and with the end in sight, developer The Game Kitchen has seen fit to release a half-hour-ish PC demo for its bleak, religious action-platformer title. The first thing I wanted to do after clearing the demo was run through it again. That's not something I can say every day. I'm dying to peel back more layers.

There are a few caveats – the demo will only stick around Steam until September 1, and your progress won't transfer over to the full game (which is out real soon, on September 10) – but don't let that put you off. It's a perfectly-portioned taster. You'll get a feel for the combat, exploration, character upgrades, lore, and secrets as you poke around non-linear rooms and work your way to the first boss. In other words, you'll leave the demo knowing whether or not you're into what the game is going for.

There are more shades of Castlevania than Souls here, and I am a fan. Blasphemous is mechanically familiar, albeit with tweaks and a sense of place all its own. You won't have to keep an eye on a stamina bar, for instance, and although you will respawn at a bonfire equivalent (a prie-dieu), player death has different consequences (notably, your prayer capabilities become increasingly limited).

My big question mark was never the setting or story, both of which continue to be really intriguing, but more so how everything would feel in-hand. On that front, I'm happy. Blasphemous is methodical, but not overly so. You need to make space for yourself in tight quarters and you're rewarded for well-timed dashes. There's enough breathing room to be challenged, but not unfairly overwhelmed. My favorite bit so far? Waiting until just the right moment to parry those candelabra-wielding ghouls.

A word of warning, though: once you beat the boss, you'll be kicked back to the main menu.

Prior to the demo, Blasphemous was sitting in that vague wait-and-see territory. Now, I'm all in. The game is also coming to PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch. I sincerely hope the latter stacks up.

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Gothic action-platformer now Switch-bound

Have you heard about Blasphemous? You need to hear about Blasphemous.

It's a dark-fantasy action game from The Last Door creator The Game Kitchen and publisher Team17, and it looks gnarly in all the right ways. I was already feeling the religious theme and imagery, but this trailer – created to confirm a release across PC, PS4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch – just cements it. Some promising vania-inspired games in recent years ended up falling flat, but I'm not worried here.

Like, one of the bosses is a giant gross head. That's when I knew Blasphemous got me.

"Prepare for a descent into a dark and punishing Metroidvania world where fast-paced, skilled combat combines with a deep and evocative narrative core. You will play as The Penitent One, a sole survivor of the massacre of the Silent Sorrow. Exploring the nightmarish world of Cvstodia and unlocking the hellish secrets within, only you can free it from a twisted fate and reach the origin of your torment."

Blasphemous will launch sometime in 2019 for PC and consoles. (The trailer says "soon," but let's not psych ourselves up too much.) You're into this vibe, right? I can't get over that wicked helmet.

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From the team behind The Last Door

Having seen a few early gifs here and there, I've been waiting for a good opportunity to talk about Blasphemous. The now-live Kickstarter campaign will do just fine in that respect. This is a brutal-looking 2D action-platformer from The Game Kitchen, creator of horror point-and-click series The Last Door.

The dark-fantasy setting here is "the savage land of Orthodoxia, a place where religion is of the utmost importance in the eyes of the populace, superstition runs amok, and churches outnumber people two to one. You will find yourself in this hellish territory in the wake of the Age of Corruption."

Blasphemous has been in pre-production since November, with the team "working non-stop since then" and "currently prototyping the second layer of gameplay, involving narrative and exploration mechanics. We're in the process of measuring the production scope and testing every required production pipeline. After that, we will confidently enter the production stage!"

If that sounds like the project is a ways off, you'd be correct. The Game Kitchen is targeting a Q1 2019 launch for Blasphemous, which will be preceded by beta/alpha builds and a few prototypes for backers. It's a PC game, but with stretch goals, console ports (PS4, Xbox One, Switch) are a possibility.

Definitely follow through to see some of the enemies in motion (arguably the most impressive aspect of the pitch), to say nothing of that unsettling blind infant boss tearing the protagonist apart.

Blasphemous [Kickstarter]

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