Bloodborne Reviews
Thrilling and masterfully crafted, Bloodborne is a gorgeous, grim and gruelling adventure,and unarguably the first essential exclusive of this generation.
A superb, intelligent evolution of the series.
Bloodborne is something truly special – a barbaric horror RPG that will giveth and taketh away in perfect measure, wrapped up in a perverse world that will refuse to let you go.
Its elegance, precision, humour, and challenge make Bloodborne irresistible. Ultimately, the horror is secondary; wonder is the true transfusion on offer here.
Bloodborne is one of those experiences that totally consumes you when you're involved in it and working to see all that it has to offer. In that sense it's the digital edition of a round-the-world trip to foreign continents, each turning of a corner providing equal helpings of excitement and trepidation. That recipe brings it own rewards by simply being a part of it, the seemingly effortless delivery indicative of a design team and philosophy that is only getting sharper.
I want to keep playing, I want to discover its secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.
I was excited to get back to Yharnam, despite all the lives I would soon lose, let alone all the Blood Echoes I would waste. And I was also sad upon the realization that I haven't felt this kind of impatience and excitement in a game in a long time, not since my initial playthrough of The Last of Us. That was two years ago.
There is no proper way to stress how good Bloodborne actually is. The sum of its features produces a complex yet accessible gameplay experience that is amazing pretty much in every aspect.
Combat aside, Bloodborne is a visionary work by a visionary artist. Intense in both theme and application, it's a gory concession to the tastes of the modern mainstream player, while maintaining the spirit and uncompromising narrative that was the hallmark of the Souls games at their finest. But this is far more consistent in that application than those games, making it From Software's finest work to date.
It's hard to pin down exactly where Bloodborne fits into the pantheon of the gaming world, and that's perfect. It truly stands on a pedestal of its own; From Software have moulded a masterclass of game design, and it's amazing to think of what dark and twisted place this all culminated from.
An unsettling, Lovecraftian adventure through nightmares that constantly tests and enthralls the player. Just when you think you have things figured out, new elements come into play
The best title of this generation, and easily the best game on the PS4. The immense drive you get to explore its desolate, yet beautiful world, is almost unprecedented. Bloodborne is a true essential for any PS4 owner, and the best reason so far to purchase Sony's system. An Exemplary Gothic Masterpiece!
Bloodborne is a game I was looking forward to since it was announced and only a few titles hyped to that extent deliver on their promises - From Software delivered. This Souls spin-off is near-perfect and it's exclusives like this that can be platform-defining. If there's anything I could complain about, it's the fact that I already want more Bloodborne and anxiously await DLC - I'll be the first in line for it. The game established a solid foundation for a series and any expansion or sequels are most welcome.
Even with these small quibbles, I would recommend that anybody with a PS4 at least try Bloodborne. All of that difficulty and obtuseness gives a feeling of satisfaction and "I earned this" when the hurdles are finally jumped that no other AAA game comes close to. I've often thought that the Souls games are the true heirs to the Castlevania franchise; and if so, Bloodborne is it's Symphony of the Night.
I give Bloodborne a resounding Buy in my Buy/Hold/Sell rating scale. This is the first true system-seller for the PS4, the first game that convinces me that the PS4 is a system worth purchasing. It isn't for everyone, of course. If you don't like hard games you probably won't like this one. But even gamers who didn't like the Souls games have been pleased with Bloodborne, like our own Paul Tassi. So who knows?
Bloodborne takes what made Souls amazing in the past, and infuses it with speed, risk-reward play, and a haunting atmosphere. Only a few technical hiccups hold back a masterpiece from Miyazaki and From Software. This is a must-play game for any PS4 owner with a masochistic side.
From Software's Bloodborne is a triumphant success in what's arguably been a lackluster generation thus far. It's taken just over a year for PlayStation 4 to get its first fully fledged must-have title. Thankfully for us, it's finally arrived. Bloodborne is an undisputed revelation.
Yet, while it does have a few actual shortcomings, if you're willing to embrace its challenge and ruthless fairness, Bloodborne is most probably the best game released on PS4 so far, and one of the best experiences of this generation. It mixes pleasure and pain wisely, creating a special concoction that will keep you glued to the DualShock 4 (unless you throw it against a wall). The utterly fulfilling sensation you'll feel after finally beating some of the most resilient bosses will make you cry with joy. It's simply priceless.
The brutal difficulty is a huge part of the experience, but don't be fooled into thinking that's all the game is about. If you take the time to really get lost in the game, you'll feel the pride and love that From Software has poured into it - and maybe at the end of it all, you'll end up loving it too
Though built on the same core as the Souls games, Bloodborne marks the largest departure from the status quo to date. The numerous changes, many in service of a faster and more aggressive playstyle, might not be for everyone, but if you embrace that shift, you might well have a new favorite in the From Software canon.