From the Soul series games’ stables comes another action-packed western fantasy role play game. Popular Japanese game developers, From-Software, known for giving us the Soul games, has, in conjunction with Sony Computer Entertainment, released Bloodborne for PS4 in March of 2015. 

Anyone that played the Soul games would agree that “gory” and “hard” are two words that accurately describe the game. Just as Princess Bride, a character in one of the Souls Franchise titles, puts it, “Prepare to die.” Fans of the Souls series would attest that these words were more than just mantras. They were real. Whether you are a veteran or a novice, death was certain. The Dark Souls title was sold on the back of this very mantra. However, we would be in denial if we claimed that the difficulty was what set Souls apart. Granted, the video quality was a little drab, yet not many 3D games could bring the amount of deeply gory hardcore action RPG experience the Souls games bring. 

The good news is that the developers, FromSoftware, have carried the same commitment to Bloodborne. Although very similar, Bloodborne brings with it its unique gameplay, plot and overall gaming experience. Regardless of FromSoftware staying true to its primarily western fantasy aesthetics, which makes bloodborne feel very familiar, you can’t play both games the same way. The first shock for many Soul games fans trying out bloodborne is when they realize they have to unlearn and relearn most of what they knew.

And So It Begins

As expected, FromSoftware does not follow the trend in modern gaming. They dump the player right into the middle of the plot. The Bloodborne is set in the rustic Anglo-Saxon Victorian city of Yharnam, where the Healing Church is located. The Healing Church involves the use of Blood in healing people. However, something goes wrong, and instead of the blood healing, you discover that the city has been cursed with a bloodborne disease. The sickness is such that it turns most of the citizens in Yharnam city into blood-thirsty mutants, leaving the few survivors with the task of hunting them down.

As you continue with the game, you enter the Hunter’s Dreams, and you may begin to unravel some of the mysteries of the game’s plot. For instance, as you dig deeper into the game’s item description, you begin to find out more about the plague and some of the city’s occultic history. Initially, I didn’t bother myself too much with the plot of the game, I focused more on the brawl, but I couldn’t help the nagging curiosity to know more about Yharnam.

Interactive Multiplayer

The city of Yharnam is wrapped in secrets and mysteries that draw on the players’ attention and extend the plot and playtime of Bloodborne. Most of the secrets and items require personal interpretation by the player. Bloodborne differs to some degree from other Soul games in that although it centers around a solo gaming experience, the game still has improved greatly on co-op elements. 

The game allows other players to leave clues, warnings and clues, which can greatly help you evade ambushes lying in wait in the dark. Some mischievous players leave false notes to trick the other players. Thankfully, the game allows players to rate messages as either Fine or Foul, so future readers are aware; however, it still sucks if you get to fall victim first. You also get to see non-interactive ghosts of other players in your area and glean one or two things from watching them play or die. 

Even the multiplayer mode is entrenched in cooperative play. The game allows a player to enter multiplayer mode by ringing the Beckoning Bell, signaling that you want other players to join you. Any player within your area interested would ring the response bell and automatically be zapped into your world – thus, an alliance is formed. The only downside to this is that by ringing the beckoning bell, you also alert other enemy players seeking to kill and loot. Luckily, FromSoftware has created an alternative route to multiplayer by creating a passworded feature that allows you to connect with a friend against just any available stranger. The only other way to prevent looters from invading your world would be to defeat the Chime Maiden before the invasion happens. You can also partner with other non-playable characters you may encounter as you journey through the game. These AI companions come in very handy when dealing with a knotty boss. In a bid to strike a balance, the game only allows players to invite other players who are of equal ranking. 

Combat

Bloodborne combat encourages the brawl; with no defense mechanism, players are always on the offense. The absence of a shield allows the player to wield a weapon on both hands. Both weapons are most effective in close distance combat. On the one hand, you wield a gun of your choosing, and on the other hand, you wield a melee weapon known as a Trick weapon. Trick weapons can transform into more deadly weapons; essentially, there is more to them than meets the eye. Combat depends, largely, on the mastery of your weapons; understanding what weapon to use and when would help you a long way in defeating the horde of enemies the game throws at you.

Whether you are playing the main story or the randomly generated and extremely difficult Chalice Dungeon, the game retains its identity as a bloody action-packed game that seeks fairness and balance. This may be one reason why the game outdid market expectations, with many fans clamoring for a remake. The only drawback would come in terms of the game’s poor framerates and slow loading. This is made worse because the load screen is simply a boring black screen with “Bloodborne” written on it.