Blasphemous 2 doesn’t improve everything from its predecessor, with Hollow Knight still superior in one avenue of collectible hunting.
Blasphemous 2 distinguishes itself from its predecessor instantly when it offers three starting weapons that players must choose from. This is a fairly large decision to make with combat concerned, but an even larger decision when players consider how certain areas will or won’t be accessible to them yet depending on which they select. This is only one of the monumental changes Blasphemous 2 makes, and while it’s great that a little more effort went into making the sequel’s map readable, it still fails at adequately representing points of interest and is therefore another missed opportunity.
The map is difficult to parse since it retains Blasphemous’ signature pixel art, meaning that the map’s geometry is rigid and obscures the few markers that Blasphemous 2 actually does stamp onto it for players. The only way to know if a room or passage connects to another is by detecting a small notched space on one of its sides, for example, but secret rooms and illusory walls contradict that logic. Likewise, the map’s markers are too arbitrary and too few to serve any simple purpose, with Blasphemous 2’s cherubs producing the biggest detriment from that. Hollow Knight’s Grubs Become Easier to Track Thanks to the Collector’s Map
Hollow Knight is similar to Blasphemous in many ways and that’s a testament to each game’s quality as a Metroidvania/Soulslike.
