Summary
Elden Ringis a challenging FromSoftware game, if not the developer’s most gargantuan in terms of sheer real estate and content. Some fans could argue that a lot of that content is recycled from other parts of the game, namely enemies and bosses that can be found repeatedly appearing, but even considering that it isan incredible feat of an open-world experience. One playthrough can easily take more than 100 hours if fans are searching each nook or cranny and, while an indie Metroidvania title likeBlasphemousis miniscule in comparison,Blasphemous 2can still achieve a similar sense of satisfaction.
Not everyone adored how massiveElden Ringis, and many FromSoftware fans have stated that they enjoy the more claustrophobic or linear designs ofDark SoulsorBloodbornein comparison. Either way, a lot ofElden Ring’s content is optional. This means that a player’s time withElden Ringis as long or as short as they want it to be, but its achievement list is also generously short. It will take multiple playthroughs, butplatinumingElden Ringis arguably an easier featthan most other FromSoftware games, and that’s an error made inBlasphemousthat its sequel can rectify.
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Blasphemous 2 Should Make Its Achievement List More Digestible
Like any Soulslike,Metroidvania, or any other action-adventure-platformer title, the difficulty of each is perceived by the player alone.Blasphemoushas its own difficulties in certain areas, such as its divisive platforming, but its combat is arguably less challenging to master than a game likeHollow Knight, depending on what part of the genre fans find themselves troubled with most.
Nonetheless,Blasphemouscan be completed in a rather short amount of time considering how little content is required to finish its base game story, and the game’s length is extended based on whether fans are playing for the first time or indulging in DLC content, the latter of which includes a bunch of new content for them to peruse.
Similar toElden Ring, players cannot achieve full 100 percent completion in a single playthrough ofBlasphemous, but its achievements are also much more oriented around a degree of tedium thatElden Ring’s achievement list does not possess. Players are tasked with scouring every inch of Cvstodia and completing nearly everything available within it.
Evenmore likeElden Ringand other Soulslikes,Blasphemousincludes NPC quests that are virtually impossible to discern if a guide or community forum is not handy, obviously making quest-oriented achievements that much more difficult to complete if players need to ascend to New Game Plus or begin a new playthrough. There are achievements like ‘Bronze Medal’ that also examine players’ speedrunning mettle, and ‘Requiem Aeternam’ requiring players to beat all original bosses without consuming any bile flasks is a truly herculean feat for casual players.
Blasphemous 2hasn’t shared much that can be explicitly comprehended besides the fact that it will feature new environments, enemies, and weapons, though its achievement list being more lenient could be one of its most advantageous improvements. Having a comprehensive and arduous achievement list might persuade fans to play it for longer than it would take to simply earn all three endings, but it also branches into concern for bloat that the game’s tight-knit experience doesn’t carry otherwise.Blasphemous 2could potentially end up being bigger than its predecessor in every way, though that will hopefully not mean its achievement list is also as daunting.
Blasphemous 2launches on August 24 for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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