Game of the Month Anniversary - Bloodborne

Bloodborne


Face your fears as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.
How long is Bloodborne?
When focusing on the main objectives, Bloodborne is about 32½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 76 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Platform:PlayStation 4
Genres:Action, Role-Playing
Developer:From Software
Publisher:Sony Computer Entertainment
NA:March 24th, 2015
EU:March 25th, 2015
JP:March 26th, 2015

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters

Experience the nightmare of the hunters who once guarded Byrgenwerth
How long is Bloodborne: The Old Hunters?
When focusing on the main objectives, Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is about 8 Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 10½ Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Platform:PlayStation 4
Genres:Action, Role-Playing
Developer:From Software
Publisher:Sony Computer Entertainment
NA:November 24th, 2015

Bloodborne: Game of the Year Edition

Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.
How long is Bloodborne: Game of the Year Edition?
When focusing on the main objectives, Bloodborne: Game of the Year Edition is about 29½ Hours in length. If you're a gamer that strives to see all aspects of the game, you are likely to spend around 76 Hours to obtain 100% completion.
Platform:PlayStation 4
Genres:Action, Adventure, Role-Playing
Developer:From Software
Publisher:Sony Computer Entertainment
NA:November 24th, 2015
Alias:Bloodborne: Complete Edition

Bloodborne: Game of the Year Edition
Completion April 25th, 2018
Main+Extras 73h 10m 21s
Notes SL 169, All none root chalice dungeons, All bosses + DLC
Review
Bloodborne is a fantastic addition to the Soulsborne series and excellent playthrough through most of the possible areas.

One of the greatest things about the game is it’s atmosphere. Throughout the whole game there is this creeping foreboding atmosphere which hangs over the whole game. While not outright the scariest game it is constantly keeping the tension up with every move which you go through the game and it never lets off as the game delves further and further into the madness of the hunters night and the things you hunt slowly lose more and more of there humanity.

The gameplay plays a lot more aggressive compared to its counterpart Dark Soul games. There are no effective shields to hide behind this time and you will regain health if you returns hits fast enough after taking hits creating this very rewarding feed back loop for playing aggressive with the enemy. This does not mean the game is easier then the Dark Souls series as it will still effective punish inconsiderate and rushed gameplay styles and it has a much better balance between taking risks and punishing mistakes. It ultimately is perhaps the most rewarding in terms of gameplay in the soulsborne series.

The bosses were as also a mix of large monster creatures and smaller hunter style bosses which act as duels between two different characters. These are the stand out bosses in the games as these bosses act and play like another hunter where they can attack with trick weapons, parry with the gun and side step. These fast moving enemies are where the true fun of the game takes place.

While I adore this game I feel it’s held back by the chalice dungeons. Due to them being set up so they could be procedural generated they have a rather lackluster design style and at times feel tacked on with a lot of the bosses in the level just been powered up mob enemies. Still there are some interesting boss battles and the Defiled Chalice is probably the hardest area in the game although it is hard mealy cause it docks half your helath through the level.

The biggest problem though I had with the chalice dungeons was that ultimately due to there tacked on feel to them they can and did ruin the pace of the game for me especially the end game areas of the game as I did the chalice dungeons before completing the game and the DLC. The chalice dungeons especially the lower depths are great places for farming blood echoes for leveling up which can be helpful for players but in the end I over leveled for a lot of the last sections of the game where challenges were easily powered through and while you still can’t be too careless it meant places where I expected a challenge I easily overcame. I was considering docking points for this but honestly if I had done the chalice dungeons later as they are thankfully optional then I wouldn’t of had this problem. If you do pick up this game I recommend leveling doing the chalice dungeons to after reaching New game plus.

Ultimately Bloodborne is a fantastic addition to the Soulborne franchise and is worth the journey to completed this game.
10/10

One of my favourite games ever, Bloodborne is just an incredible masterpiece and there is so much to appreciate. The combat is amazing, taking Dark Souls combat but focusing on aggressive play makes the fights really fast-paced and fun. Weapon variety is incredible, so many different play styles are offered so there is stuff for everyone, with me personally gravitated towards Ludwig's Holy Blade and Rakuyo. The bosses are often astonishing and a real spectacle, the highlight which is commonplace in FromSoftware games. Area design is really good too, with great environments, fun enemy encounters, cool shortcuts and a world that is mostly directly interconnected. The aesthetics of the game are amazing, the Lovecraft inspired elements shrine really bright. Very easily ignored by most players, but the lore and story is additionally fascinating with many great NPC quests and events that are simply amazing. The DLC called The Old Hunters makes this amazing game even better, offering what is in my opinion the best areas and bosses in the entire game. One of the best DLC I've ever experienced and should always be included on every Bloodborne playthrough. My only real issue is that I wish there was more of it, which kinda shows how much I adore it. The Chalice Dungeons offer a bunch of additional content and can offer infinite replayability with the randomized Root Chalices, but I don't find the Chalice Dungeons nearly as compelling as the rest of the game and would have personally preferred if its unique boss encounters were added to the rest of the game with new areas, cause I would personally have preferred that. Really hope Sony gives this game some love soon, I don't mind playing it in 30 fps, but a 60 fps port on PS5 and PC seems like a no brainer. A sequel with more expansive content is probably one of the games I want the most, but if it never happens at least the original Bloodborne still managed to be game of masterclass.

Ok, I'll be the one to ask: why do you think such an important game is still 'trapped' as a 30fps PS4 release?

Ok, I'll be the one to ask: why do you think such an important game is still 'trapped' as a 30fps PS4 release?

Prob cause Sony wants to do a full remaster and sell it all again at 50 quid

Ok, I'll be the one to ask: why do you think such an important game is still 'trapped' as a 30fps PS4 release?

I read a few weeks ago that Miyazaki wanted to direct the remaster himself but was too busy with his CEO duties. Or maybe that's another Miyazaki's Urban Legend and knalb is right. Whatever. It's finally time for me to dive into Bloodborne, can't think about a better choice for a 10-Year Special.

Ok, I'll be the one to ask: why do you think such an important game is still 'trapped' as a 30fps PS4 release?

[EDIT : double post bug, sorry about that]

Fresh news: https://www.pcgamer.com/games/action/sony-bullies-bloodborne-60fps-mod-off-the-internet-with-dmca-takedown-as-it-continues-to-let-the-fromsoft-classic-gather-dust-on-ps4/

Also, I heard that Bluepoint was working on a live service game that was cancelled, one of many live services in development after Concord spetacular failure. That's not good news, Bluepoint is the studio that worked on Demons' Souls remake (amazing game!) and would be the obvious choice to work on Bloodborne.

Changing the subject a bit, it's hard to find another soundtrack as beautiful as Bloodborne's. I think this is the best live video game music performance ever made:

Changing the subject a bit, it's hard to find another soundtrack as beautiful as Bloodborne's. I think this is the best live video game music performance ever made:

The music for Unseen village is so goddamn creepy and suits the area that still remember it today

i see it as a sign for bloodborne puter

i see it as a sign for bloodborne puter

Yeah not sure they seem to be holding back with the PC version of Bloodborne. Not sure why guess they want to keep it exclusive still on the PS and they're having issues with translating it to PC (the dark souls are notorious for poor PC performance)