Summary
Bloodborneis one of FromSoftware’s most unique games. Even though it still falls within the Soulslike category for all it adapts fromDark Souls,Bloodbornecouldn’t be further fromDark Soulsregarding gameplay. Trick weapons alone grant players with incredibly dynamic weapons and playstyles, while an emphasis on quick dashes and firearm parries alienateBloodborneentirely from the more defensive or passive combat ofDark Souls. Aggression is key in most cases due to the rally mechanicBloodbornealso thrives on; however,Bloodbornehas a couple of subtle quality-of-life features that FromSoftware’s next Soulslike should exhume instead.
Indeed,Bloodborneis known for being one of FromSoftware’s most difficult Soulslikes. Hardly any level or boss is a pushover, which is especially true as soon as players are whisked away to the Hunter’s Nightmare inBloodborne’s Old Hunters DLC.Bloodborneisn’t often forgiving and yet it makes up for every grueling boss fight by way of two essential features: runbacks are rarely tedious with lamps often in sprinting distance of a forthcoming boss fight, and while farming/grinding can be time-consuming it’s also unbelievably advantageous and accessible at any point in the game.
Bloodborne’s Lamp Warping Makes Runbacks a Thing of the Past
Bloodborneisn’t the only FromSoftware game that allows players to warp between ‘bonfires’—Dark Souls 3would later have bonfires scattered everywhere, for instance—but it was certainly one of the first that let them do it instantaneously. The big difference with lamps inBloodborneis that players can’t simply warp from lamp to lamp; instead, they must warp back to the Hunter’s Dream and then warp from one of numerous headstones to arrive at their destination—not unlikeDemon’s Souls.
This detour is great, though, because it always allows players to level up, upgrade a weapon, restock consumables, or purchase anything they’d like to.
But even lamps scattered throughout settings like Yharnam, the Nightmare of Mensis, or the Cathedral Ward are all placed meticulously and in a way where sprinting back to a boss is never arduous or more irritating than the boss itself. This is especially true in The Old Hunters, whereFromSoftware’s signature shortcutsare even more frequent and some lamps are directly outside the fog wall to a boss, Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower and Orphan of Kos included.
Then, in one of the finest and most exemplary moments of runback ease, two of the possible finalBloodbornebosses—Gehrman, the First Hunter and Moon Presence, who are both optional—are fought within the Hunter’s Dream itself with their shared fog wall only a paved garden path away from the workshop and the plain doll. If FromSoftware’s next Soulslike followingElden Ringis a return to claustrophobic, linear level design, incorporating a forgivingly navigable runback to bosses again would be crucial, even if players need to cut through a ton of horrid enemies and earn their way to that lovely shortcut or ‘bonfire’ first.
Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons are an Ideal Outlet for Farming/Grinding
Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeonsare notoriously convoluted and certainly an optional feature many casual players either neglect, forget, or avoid like the curse of blood. The number of assorted materials and knowledge of optimal glyphs required is a science in and of itself and while they’re likely more impactful in NG+ runs anyhow they’re never a main focus of the game beyond farming, grinding, and seeking a wealth of endless optional content.
Bloodborne’s limited Blood Vials and Quicksilver Bulletscan definitely encourage some light farming on their own, and hopping into an over-leveled Chalice can net players hundreds of thousands of Blood Echoes in no time at all. Chalices are also where players have a much better chance of finding incredible gems for their chosen weapon and choosing to scavenge from a dungeon’s layers early could be a huge boon if lucky.
The best part is that these dungeons are fully optional and if FromSoftware ever decided to revisit the concept it would mean players have another opportunity to experience new or recycled content freshly while also farming resources and currencies to their heart’s content. FromSoftware would do well to mitigate necessary grinds as much as possible and therefore a Blood Vial equivalent may not be ideal, but something akin to Chalices might be favorable if FromSoftware was able to redesign them to be more readily accessible and comprehensible from the get-go.
Bloodborne
WHERE TO PLAY
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.A Terrifying New World: Journey to a horror-filled gothic city where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner.Strategic Action Combat: Armed with a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you’ll need wits, strategy and reflexes to take down the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city’s dark secrets.A New Generation of Action RPG: Stunningly detailed gothic environments, atmospheric lighting, and advanced new online experiences showcase the power and prowess of the PlayStation(R)4 system.Ever-changing Chalice Dungeons to Explore: Use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins, filled with traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer alone or with others. These procedurally generated dungeons offer brand new challenges to master, and can be uploaded or shared with friends.
