Blasphemous 2 Introduces a Game-Changing Twist to Dark Souls' Homeward Bone - You Won't Believe It!

Highlights

Blasphemous 2, the sequel to indie game Blasphemous, offers exciting gameplay variety and new weapons compared to its predecessor.

The initial part of Blasphemous may become dull as it requires the player to backtrack and face challenging obstacles that hinder their advancement.

Blasphemous 2 brings back the Mirabras of the Return to Port, a new addition that enables players to teleport back to their most recently visited Prie Dieu. This feature has the potential to enhance the player's experience and minimize the burden of retracing their steps.

With the arrival of August, it's expected that fans will eagerly anticipate at least one game release, considering the numerous launches scheduled for this month. PC players can already immerse themselves in the expansive world of Baldur's Gate 3, while the latter part of August will see the release of several other games. Although AAA titles like Immortals of Aveum and Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon will surely receive a lot of attention due to their status, it would be unwise to overlook the indie sequel Blasphemous 2 and its reputation as a dark fantasy Metroidvania.

Blasphemous managed to stand out among the abundance of Soulslike games upon its initial release. While it may not have gained the same following or anticipation as a Hollow Knight game, its upcoming sequel promises to offer a gameplay experience with much more variety. In the "true ending" of Blasphemous, the Mea Culpa sword disintegrates, making way for a few new weapons. However, one of the most notable features making a return from the original Blasphemous is the Mirabras of the Return to Port, which functions similarly to Dark Souls' Homeward Bone.

Blasphemous’ New Game Playthroughs Suffer from Early Tedium

Blasphemous, similar to other Soulslikes and FromSoftware's iconic games, becomes easier as fans master its mechanics and progress through upgrades. However, the early to mid sections of Blasphemous can be tedious due to traversing Cvstodia's labyrinth map by foot, especially if players backtrack for collectibles and questlines. Unlike Dark Souls, Blasphemous deliberately designs its areas to challenge players and force them to defend themselves against enemies, making it less forgiving in terms of sprinting from boss to boss.

Almost every room in Blasphemous feels like a daunting encounter, with enemies obstructing the Penitent One's path or hazards that can easily send the player back to the last Prie Dieu they interacted with. To shorten these journeys, players must invest a significant amount of time or Tears of Atonement.

Blasphemous 2’s Homeward Bone is a Great Quality of Life Improvement

Players in Albero have the ability to donate tears as tithing to the church. By accumulating a total of 20,000 tears, they gain the ability to teleport between any Prie Dieu they have interacted with, eliminating the need for tiresome backtracking. However, in order to access the Mirabras of the Return to Port, players must venture through the left entrance of the Mourning and Havoc region, starting from the Echoes of Salt, which was introduced in the Wounds of Eventide DLC.

This unique prayer allows players to warp back to their most recent Prie Dieu, at the expense of fervour. The confirmation of a Mirabras of the Return to Port in Blasphemous 2 suggests that The Game Kitchen has made traveling efforts more forgiving. It is possible that this feature may only become accessible later in the game, but players can rest assured that they will not have to wait for a subsequent update or DLC to include it.

It is currently unknown if the ability to warp back to a Prie Dieu will be a slottable prayer in Blasphemous 2. However, since it appears to have the same animation, it is likely that it will be included. The fact that it is shown in an official clip suggests that the Mirabras of the Return to Port prayer will be part of the base game. This is exciting news as it indicates that The Game Kitchen is aiming to make backtracking less tedious in the sequel. Only time will tell if this feature will have the same impact as it did in the original game. Blasphemous 2 will be released on August 24, 2023, for Nintendo Switch, PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.