Bloodborne Reviews
Bloodborne is the perfect game for the hardcore gamer seeking a rewarding challenge.
From Software turn expectations of a "soulslike" on their head with this fast paced and visceral approach to combat and Lovecraftian horror. Bloodborne isn't just a game you can justify buying, it's the type of game you justifies buying the console too.
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.
It introduces enough twists to the established gameplay formula to make it feel fresh again, and will turn a sword and board turtle into a bloodthirsty, dual blade wielding madman.
An exclusive for PS4, as Demons Souls was for PS3, and a game you must definitely play. Fans of the Souls games will feel right at home, even if they will miss having a shield available.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
Do you miss From Software? If your answer is "yes", they come back with a classic. A perfect gameplay experience, gothic/crazy art design and satisfying difficulty level... Miyazaki did it again.
Review in Turkish | Read full review
Bloodborne tests your skills as a gamer immerses you in a wonderfully terrible dead-skinned world and above all ensure that you want nothing more than to play this game. We simply can't get enough of it. Bloodborne is one for in the history books.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Although Bloodborne may have a deficiency when it comes to variety and plenty of indefensibly irritating segments, the overall sense of satisfaction in the deeply deranged world will surely and slowly sink its teeth into you until the wee hours of the morning.
Killing a boss is more rewarding than in other games out there, because you know how much practice went into that effort. I enjoyed Bloodborne as much as I have enjoyed the Dark Souls games. That means it kicks ass. Get it, play it, be punished by it and say you're a hardcore gamer. Nobody will argue with you.
A masterclass in design, and a lesson for other developers.
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.
With this in mind, if Dark Souls is medieval gothic—its dichotomies of heaven and hell gestured at by pointed arches, supporting both a true spirituality and a belief in the divine—then Bloodborne is the epitome of gothic revival—where subjectivity replaces spirituality, and man strives to plumb the depths of human experience.
From Software's title has blown away the competition this generation and is Sony's first true classic on the PS4. I'd urge non-Souls fans to try it too as I really wasn't expecting to enjoy Bloodborne this much.
Bloodborne is easily an early contender for game of the year, and it's the best PS4 exclusive to date. It captures the immensely strong design of Dark Souls and mixes it with high-intensity combat. The new setting and mechanics keep the title feeling fresh even while it retains many familiar aspects from the Souls games. Some minor problems, such as an occasionally poor frame rate, lightly tarnish the experience. Bloodborne is a must-have for any gamer who isn't afraid to die. The intense, fast-paced gameplay and grim world combine to create an experience that's both familiar and distinctive. It's time to die all over again.
Bloodborne is truly a remarkable game, more appealing than its predecessors, more cohesive, and more satisfying from a mechanical point of view. It also has a compelling atmosphere and a captivating world to explore, full of beautiful vistas and horrific creatures to battle, as well as an ample background to slowly discover.
I'm in the latter camp, as most of you are aware, but this is all about the gameplay. It really is. The atmosphere and combat is the focal point and as such, the story and characters take a back seat.
It will intimidate with monstrous foes and unimaginable horrors, but the satisfaction that is felt when they are overcome is quite real. Is Bloodborne a reason to get a PS4? Maybe. This game will keep people talking about it for a long time.
If you can get into its bloody, visceral and unforgiving rhythm, Bloodborne grabs and never lets go. Not until you've seen it all and triumphed over every abomination.
Despite a few performance issues, Bloodborne's solid combat and innovative multiplayer make it easily the best game of this new generation, and a worthy successor to Dark Souls.