The admirable game design of Bloodborne

Arthur Pieri 🎮
Aug 26, 2017 · 2 min read

The more games we play, the better, right? No. I, particularly, love video games and think they are an incredible media of entertainment, but sometimes I have the feeling I am really wasting my time. Whereas many video games rely on realistic graphics, massive online gameplay and pay-to-win downloadable content, From Software was refining everything once created and established in the Souls series (Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls and Dark Souls II).

Set in a fictional European city during the Victorian period, after the Industrial Revolution, Bloodborne is an RPG that feels in between the hack-and-slash combat and the survival horror. Basically, you are a beast hunter seeking enlightenment on a cure for a disease you carry in your blood. The story seems simple and is told by few cinematics, but it can get as deep as you want . Other than just delivering a complete story through a conventional narrative scheme, this narrative is interpretative and depends on your interest of seeking people for information and reading object's descriptions.

The mechanics are surely the greatest attractive in this game, with fast-paced hits and precise controls. Many players may complain about the extreme difficulty the game features, but it’s fair in my opinion. As you progress in the game, the more you explore, the more rewarding you see the game is. In order to fully experience Bloodborne, you should master every move of your enemies and outsmart them.

The ambience and music, specially during the boss fights, are memorable. The feeling of overcoming the tough challenge of a boss are one of a kind, and you truly feel like a great player after the several repetitive “You Died” screens. Accomplishment is the word that defines the “soulslike” genre first thought and created by Hidetaka Miyazaki.

The chalice rituals present randomly-generated dungeons that offer a great replayability factor, specially if you play co-op mode with a friend or a stranger. And speaking of which, the co-op is creative and requires an element called insight, that can be found in many boss areas or by taking Madman’s Knowledge. It’s an authentic way to make this game mode look more organic and natural.

This masterpiece is a PS4 exclusive, and more than a reason for one to buy the console. It thoroughly represents what it was initially meant to be, and more than what the Dark Souls fans expected. If you are brave enough, get your weapons ready and prepare to taste more blood than ever!

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Arthur Pieri 🎮

Written by

A vida Ă© um jogo! Twitter: @rthurpieri

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