Code Vein Developers Detail the Challenges of Making NPC Partners Fun

Bandai Namco launched a new video documentary featuring the developers of the upcoming dungeon crawling action RPG Code Vein, coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC on September 27.

The video highlights moments during the development of Code Vein where the team decided to implement NPC partners into the game. The idea was that players would gain a support system during the tough moments of gameplay that Code Vein offers. However, this came with challenges as Code Vein director Hiroshi Yoshimura explains, “Most players tend to have a fairly negative impression of NPCs, and their opinion of them gets worse and worse whenever the NPC does something weird or says something strange, and when a players don’t say anything about NPCs that’s actually a sign that it’s well-designed, bur players rarely think highly of them.”

To make the experience fun and enjoyable the teams had to find a balance within the game’s mechanics. Things like who the enemies target and hot strong the NPC can be without hurting the game’s direction were all taken into consideration. this is in hopes that players feel confident in the NPCs action during the battle, even though they don’t have direct control over them.

Additionally, the publisher released digital pre-order exclusives for PS4, Xbox One, and PC:

• God Eater collaboration weapon set – includes The Blanched Greatsword, Cerulean Spear, and Crimson Longsword
• Venous Claw
• Harbinger Blood Code unlock: Desperate Burst skill
• Bonus cosmetic items
• Communication stamps

There’s also a season pass available, which includes:

• Mia’s white costume
• Astrea Blood Code unlock: Gift Extension skill, Lighting Spike skill, Guardian Aid skill, Torchbearer skill
• Additional DLC: Abyss of the Thunder, Abyss of the Fire, and Abyss of the Ice

Code Vein is an action adventure game where players will be able to craft their own weapons and customize their experience by fine-tuning their character’s playstyle during the game’s dark and gritty narrative. We had the chance to play through the during the recent Network Test and saw that it definitely borrows some elements of Dark Souls, but it does enough to make itself stand out in the genre. The game focuses heavily on character growth and weapon customization as the player searches for Blood Beads in a post-apocalyptic world.

You can watch the new video below:

https://youtu.be/f198hq1WeXM