Blasphemous 2could be seen as yet another Soulslike game on an already congested pile, but fans of the original game know well what they are excited for. In the same way thatHollow KnightandHollow Knight: Silksonghave shattered the mold of fans’ expectations,Blasphemousis on the same plane of existence with its own Metroidvania and Soulslike inheritances. However, whileBlasphemousdoes have a cult following who is highly anticipating its sequel,Blasphemous 2will need to be fairly impressive to get its name out there in the same way asHollow Knight: Silksong.
Indeed, while both Metroidvania Soulslike games are similar on paper,Hollow Knightarguably edges it out due to how drastically unique its art style and setting are.Hollow Knight’s play on bugs and all things subterraneanis more distinguishable than evenBlasphemous’ macabre and religious fantasy, and in that regard,Blasphemousis more comparable to FromSoftware’s work. This has been a boon forBlasphemoussince, butBlasphemous 2may need to feel akin to a 2D, side-scrollingElden Ringif it wants to compete in such a niche market.
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Blasphemous 2 Has to Earn Its Place Among Soulslike Competitors
If it isn’t unfortunate enough thatBlasphemous 2will be competing againstHollow Knight: Silksong, there is another Soulslike coming out around the same time that it is scheduled to.Nintendo’s Indie World Showcase revealedBlasphemous 2with a tonal trailer that promises a ton of lore and ambiance, revealing that it plans to release sometime late this summer.
SinceLies of Pis still tentatively slated for August, both games could be pitted against one another. Even so,Blasphemous 2needs to demonstrate that it is more than deserving of players’ attention in the midst of many Metroidvania and Soulslike games coming out.
It can almost be guaranteed that the popularity of these subgenres may ensure that more will be released in the near future, even those withaction-adventure elements likeStar Wars Jedi: Survivor. If spiritual successors and clones continue releasing, it only means that FromSoftware’s inspirations have become more successful and popular.
It would then seem likeElden Ringhas become the pinnacle of Soulslike game design due to how much of an impression its open-world approach has made, butBlasphemous 2is seemingly confined to its sprawling labyrinth of rigid corners as a 2D side-scroller. Still,Blasphemous 2could continue to representElden Ring’s environmental storytellingthrough convoluted tricklings of lore shared by sparse NPCs, let alone interactions with the world itself.
Blasphemous 2already suggests that combat will be more interesting than it was, with players having access to many more weapon categories in the absence ofthe Penitent One’s Mea Culpa sword inBlasphemous. FromSoftware is known for its incredible build diversity, withElden Ring’s being particularly rewarding throughout the Lands Between.
Therefore,Blasphemous 2having a brand-new catalog of weapons could inch it further intoElden Ring’s shadow.Blasphemous 2already has the same religion-based dark fantasy thatElden Ringlargely revolves around, and its Catholicism is one of its most intriguing draws in terms of narrative.
Not much can be definitively stated about the narrative inBlasphemous 2yet, but if its bosses and environments tell a story similar toElden Ring’s it could propel it much further still.Hollow Knight: Silksong’s official delay means thatBlasphemousfans could get more time withBlasphemous 2in the meantime, and that could make all the difference while The Game Kitchen andTeam17’s action-platformer is one of the lesser-known Metroidvania Soulslikes coming out this year.
Blasphemous 2is scheduled to release in the late summer of 2023 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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