Bloodborne

 PlayStation 4
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Mar 24, 2015
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 13072 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 11,623 out of 13072
  2. Mixed: 507 out of 13072
  3. Negative: 942 out of 13072
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  1. Nerovertigo
    Apr 21, 2015
    9
    Un gioco meraviglioso: gameplay profondo e divertente, grafica accettabile con un comparto artistico eccezionale. Innumerevoli segreti e rigiocabilità elevatissima. Difetti come frame rate, caricamenti lunghi e telecamera ballerina non rovineranno l'esperienza. Uno dei migliori giochi Sony mai realizzati.
  2. nonchalantgamer
    May 18, 2015
    9
    As a fan of the Souls series before it, i was heading into Bloodborne with the expectation of success, and i was, as expected, satisfied. There is no denying that there are immense similarities to Bloodborne and the souls games before it, but even though it has a similar feel, Bloodborne still distinguishes itself as its own unique game.

    First off the combat, it has some similarity to    As a fan of the Souls series before it, i was heading into Bloodborne with the expectation of success, and i was, as expected, satisfied. There is no denying that there are immense similarities to Bloodborne and the souls games before it, but even though it has a similar feel, Bloodborne still distinguishes itself as its own unique game.

    First off the combat, it has some similarity to Dark Souls, but the pace is significantly faster and most souls fans including myself have to change tactics from hiding behind shields, to being more proactive in combat. It is still immensely satisfying to slay your enemies, and the inclusion of guns as more of a helpful tool instead of a powerful go to weapon works well and can be lethal if used correctly. Boss fights are great and the design of most bosses is spot on, and although i came across some really easy bosses, most proved to give ample challenge, and some extreme frustration, which makes the payoff of victory that much sweeter. Overall i would say that Bloodborne is harder than Dark Souls 2 and perhaps just as challenging as Dark Souls.

    Probably what immerses me the most about Bloodborne is the gorgeous environment, with exceptional lighting, and design that really evokes a certain mood in the player. Some areas are just gross and gave me feelings of dread like blight town had in Dark Souls. The Soundstrack is also equally mesmerizing with a sort of gothic style twist to it, really sets the mood. There are some frame-rate dips, and slow downs occasionally but nothing that really detracts from the overall experience.

    Story is as you would expect from a From Software game, where you must attach breadcrumbs along the way and try to unravel the mystery of Yharnam, and all its be-holdings. There is enough story to grasp at though where you feel some progression but full attention to detail is a must, or else you might be a little confused at the end.

    Bloodborne to me might be up there with Dark Souls in terms of best From Software games, and after completing the game, i keep coming back for more with NG+, as well as the chalice dungeons, which offer even more to surf through and discover.    … Expand
  3. Shiftian_Be
    May 25, 2015
    9
    Never played any Demons games and so the first couple of hours were a rough introduction leaving me to turn off the game swearing multiple times .. But the artwork, the design, the combatsystem, just everything about this game made me come back to it minutes later.
    Now im facing its final boss and I can only say this game is amazing. A lot less hard after its initial two bosses (just    Never played any Demons games and so the first couple of hours were a rough introduction leaving me to turn off the game swearing multiple times .. But the artwork, the design, the combatsystem, just everything about this game made me come back to it minutes later.
    Now im facing its final boss and I can only say this game is amazing. A lot less hard after its initial two bosses (just grind until your level enables a difficulty you can cope with).
    IfI do have to be a critic I'd say the loading times are bad and the camera (especially when using the broken lock-on) can be an enemy on its own.

    Get this.    … Expand
  4. Arthainius
    May 8, 2015
    10
    Multiplayer could be better but the rest of the game is amazing. Yes its hard. Yes you will die. But the next slasher game you play you will feel mlg.All the levels look great and are well thought out. There are many facets to the game that keep it entertaining. I also experienced a few times where it made me jump. Kinda a creepy game.
  5. prawntoast1
    Jun 28, 2015
    9
    I want to first say that I have never played any of the Dark Souls games so Bloodborne was my first game of this type. It is a challenge, it is hard but very rewarding when you figure out how to kill a boss or getting past a point you have struggled in the past with. It is a very dark world with beautiful architecture. Controls take a while to get used to. This game is not for everyoneI want to first say that I have never played any of the Dark Souls games so Bloodborne was my first game of this type. It is a challenge, it is hard but very rewarding when you figure out how to kill a boss or getting past a point you have struggled in the past with. It is a very dark world with beautiful architecture. Controls take a while to get used to. This game is not for everyone however! It takes time and commitment but it is an experience well worth the while.… Expand
  6. Ihnspyre
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    This is by far one of the most impressive games I have ever played. After finishing it 2 times(NG and NG+) Bloodborne jumped up in my "best ever" top, alongside Planescape Torment, Dark Souls I and a few ither games.
    The interesting concept of this game is the fact that everything has an explanation, singleplayer goes hand-in-hand with multiplayer. From Software are awesome at creating    This is by far one of the most impressive games I have ever played. After finishing it 2 times(NG and NG+) Bloodborne jumped up in my "best ever" top, alongside Planescape Torment, Dark Souls I and a few ither games.
    The interesting concept of this game is the fact that everything has an explanation, singleplayer goes hand-in-hand with multiplayer. From Software are awesome at creating worlds (Miyazaki mostly) and concept and then making a game in which every mechanic and every little detail fits in the world and in the general concept of the game.
    Many of us expected Van Helsing meets Dark Souls, nobody expected a love child between Lovecraft (and his Cthulhu Mythos), Inception(ish) and Dark Souls.
    The story can be quite cryptic but after some time in Bloodborne most will figure out the story, more or less. The NPCs and their optional quests are easier to find and complete than in the Souls games. The optional bosses provide lore information and items that clarify some of the questions. The story, being presented in the From Software unique way, tends to leave some things to interpretation BUT given the fact that one of the important themes is nightmare-dream(multiple layers dreams) these intentional loose ends tend to become food for thought and lore speculation.

    The Good:
    - awesome presentation, architecture, enemy design
    - awesome changing world
    - awesome animations
    - awesome story
    - fantastic soundtrack!!!
    - precise, dynamic and agressive combat mechanics
    - replay value

    The Bad:
    - some FPS issues
    - some A.I. issues now and then but taking the high difficulty into consideration, sometimes you need the boss to do some dumb things just so you can kill the damn beast (sometimes)
    - long loading times (which did not bother me too much because I did not die too many times, even though I struggled through some areas; if you play the game with patience and do not try to button-mash the whole game then you willl be fine; either way, long loading times are bad)
    - not enough unique weapons (like boss-souls weapons from Souls games)
    - dissapointing Chalice Dungeons
    - anti-coop multiplayer system    … Expand
  7. twistedreal
    May 27, 2015
    9
    Awesomely wonderful game! I found it to be a little easier and not quite as 'cheap' and frustrating as the Dark Souls series. Graphics are wonderful, combat flows very well, bosses are fun, and it has replay value!

    The good: this game doesn't hold your hand. Checkpoints are very spread out but there are shortcuts build into every 'level' so that you don't have to grind through the    Awesomely wonderful game! I found it to be a little easier and not quite as 'cheap' and frustrating as the Dark Souls series. Graphics are wonderful, combat flows very well, bosses are fun, and it has replay value!

    The good: this game doesn't hold your hand. Checkpoints are very spread out but there are shortcuts build into every 'level' so that you don't have to grind through the entire map again upon dying. Bosses are memorable and interesting. No shield which encourages aggressiveness and you have the ability to get your health back by landing attacks after taking damage.

    The bad: there are some parts where I feel like you HAVE to take fall damage which I didn't agree with. I also had to whip out the guide a few times to progress to the next area. A person could explore everything all around and eventually figure it out. If I didn't use a guide to find the path again I would have dumped another 10 hours into my first play through.

    Overall I highly recommend this game to gamers who are sick of the easiness that most games today have. The people I see who give up and rate it poorly are those who sprint into combat button mashing rather than going in with a strategy. This game takes a lot of focus and punishes you harshly for your mistakes.    … Expand
  8. gibran19
    Nov 15, 2015
    10
    Best game in the From Software's Souls series. The faster action is a good change. I like that the game feels more like Dark soul than Dark souls 2

    Bloodborne > Dark souls > Demon's souls > Dark souls II
  9. ALSGATS
    May 19, 2015
    10
    BLOODBORNE is one of the best ACTION/RPG games you've ever played or will play if you're okay with dying and trying again over and over and over ... just like the SOULS series you will face agonizing times defeating bosses until you're able to and then you'll feel invincible until the next one. it has a lot of similarities to the Souls games being from the Same Developer; but here gameplayBLOODBORNE is one of the best ACTION/RPG games you've ever played or will play if you're okay with dying and trying again over and over and over ... just like the SOULS series you will face agonizing times defeating bosses until you're able to and then you'll feel invincible until the next one. it has a lot of similarities to the Souls games being from the Same Developer; but here gameplay has a lot more pace. Graphics are really great , each area of the dark city of Yharnam is designed uniquely filled with details. enemies and bosses are really well designed with a touch of class. overall Bloodborne is the best PS4 game out there. do not miss this masterpiece.… Expand
  10. ToatzMcGoatz
    Jun 2, 2015
    9
    Bloody amazing. That is the shortest way I can express how great Bloodborne is. It's truly refreshing to take in a game of this depth and creativity without it being fed to gamers chopped up with season pass expansions and DLC galore - as many publishers are wont to do nowadays. This truly is a complete game replete with replayability with actual optional areas and encounters toBloody amazing. That is the shortest way I can express how great Bloodborne is. It's truly refreshing to take in a game of this depth and creativity without it being fed to gamers chopped up with season pass expansions and DLC galore - as many publishers are wont to do nowadays. This truly is a complete game replete with replayability with actual optional areas and encounters to experience; and combine that with the typical From Software strategy of crafting genuinely difficult games where they completely eschew any form of hand holding, you will be spending decent amount of time working through the game in order to experience all that's offered.

    First and foremost, the most obvious statement is that the game is initially difficult. This is to say it's difficult if you don't take the time to learn the control scheme well and how to accurately gauge enemy movements. Learning to predict what your enemies will do will ensure success to the highest degree and once you learn how to do this, the game difficulty plateaus. The controls are very tight and each weapon yields a different style of combat where different tactics are required for success. While the weaponry arguably is small, the sheer creativity and the fact that each weapon has a secondary form make it so their quality alone makes up for any perceived lack of weaponry. In addition to your main weapon, you have a sidearm reaching from pistols to flame sprayers. These are not initially intended to be powerful standalone attacks; they are meant to interrupt your opponents to stun and set up for a Visceral attack to yield massive damage, Understanding the mechanics of setting up visceral attacks are key to success for slaying many bosses.

    The bosses range from human like creatures, large abhorrently transformed beasts and H.P, Lovecraft influenced other worldly beings and play integral parts in the overall story. The story, in traditional From Software fashion, is not handed outright to you. Conceptually, for Bloodborne, this makes complete sense since you are an outsider to the central region of Yharnam - you are there for the healing blood and end up getting wrapped up in the wake, needing to unravel the mystery of Yharnam to transcend your hell. The story only becomes fleshed out as you progress and discover items and notes to piece it together; and the deeper you go, the more vague it gets leading to conclusions to be made. A second play through greatly facilitates piecing together the string of clues. Having the story presented thusly helps to create a feeling of total immersion. The world seems natural - it lives and breathes like a real Gothic hell and as you progress through the brilliantly designed levels, the world seems to naturally evolve and grow more more insane the more you discover.

    For my first play through, never was I more terrified when i saw the telltale "boss arena" laying ahead in my path. I never knew what to expect and despite the plateau effect occurring mid-game for me, I never was looking forward to the frustration ahead. Despite the sinking feeling, trudging on and overcoming the bosses, especially when you get to the point of despair, gave me the best rush ever. Very rarely have I encountered a game that gets the endorphin's running that high; and for that, this, and other Souls' games are a special breed.

    While Bloodborne is amazing in many areas, there are a few technical aspects that pop up. The frame rate can suffer and long load times are the two main issues. While I've never had the frame rate drops be problematic, it is possible it may be others; and as for the loading times, it's annoying, but really only a nitpick; and really, any issue that is apparent is just that: a nitpick. Bloodbrone is by far the best PS4 game to date and may be for some time.    … Expand
  11. LankyKong666
    Apr 7, 2015
    10
    He Has no style he has no grace this game has a great gameplay pace. From has done it again with the power of the ps4 striking fear into the heart of pc gamers and xbox one users everywhere with an exclusive that matters.
  12. Chabs
    Apr 10, 2015
    10
    I didn't see a videogame like that for a long time.

    Level design, gameplay, sound, difficulty, all is awesome !

    A game wich give you a big satisfaction after you pass each difficulties.
  13. osjasa
    Apr 12, 2015
    10
    I finally feel that I'm playing a current generation game. Bloodborne is awesome, and it's definitely a must. It is indeed not perfect, but I believe that the problems I have experienced will be patched in the near future. Anyway, these are minor nuisances and nothing serious that will make you stop playing it. I understand that this game might not be for everybody, but I'm surprised andI finally feel that I'm playing a current generation game. Bloodborne is awesome, and it's definitely a must. It is indeed not perfect, but I believe that the problems I have experienced will be patched in the near future. Anyway, these are minor nuisances and nothing serious that will make you stop playing it. I understand that this game might not be for everybody, but I'm surprised and disappointed to see many reviews with a 0 score that are actually aim to boycott the real score this game deserves. Come on, this game it's a masterpiece. I enjoyed a lot, no matter how many times I was killed; I always wanted more and tried, tried and tried again until I succeeded.… Expand
  14. DMB13
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    This game is non-stop action and fun. Very challenging and you will die more then you can count. However, it keeps you coming back. Great game glad I picked up right away.
  15. jarry1
    Apr 15, 2015
    9
    A nice improvement on the Dark Souls games, retaining their (in)famous difficulty. Progression is steady enough and you get a lot of single player content for the price. Only downsides are a lengthy load wait (in a game where dying is inevitable) - they should have included the lore and item descriptions. Also weapons can go through walls sometimes.
  16. nfldall
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    We can define this game with a single word: AMAZING. Like old times, I played 3 hours and still cannot advance from the first stage. Buy this game, if you don't have a PS4... buy a PS4. Really, is that good.
  17. princesoul456
    Apr 15, 2015
    10
    now away from the "rave" review and on to my actual review my opinion of the game is that its a beautiful game with a amazing story like dark souls and demons souls had, the gameplay is great the, lore ,which im not gonna explain because of spoilers, is just like almost every souls game,except dark souls 2 (i guess),because it isnt just told to you from the start,also it isnt based allnow away from the "rave" review and on to my actual review my opinion of the game is that its a beautiful game with a amazing story like dark souls and demons souls had, the gameplay is great the, lore ,which im not gonna explain because of spoilers, is just like almost every souls game,except dark souls 2 (i guess),because it isnt just told to you from the start,also it isnt based all around you its actually based on the world, you actually have to find it from items to characters to bosses. new players that are used to any game that is easy will obviously dislike this type of game because it is to "hard" and really the game is difficult until you learn the enemies moveset from trial and error.though there are some flaws that the people of from said that they are gonna fix like the framerate glitch with the swamp boss fog, the loading time,seriously why does that take so long,but those will be fixed in a patch,this was my mixed review btw,.though my main issues is with one of the characters disapperring,and never coming back, when i tried to do her quest also another problem i have is sometimes when i die it doesnt go to the enemy that killed me but instead to something either below me or above me which is really annoying nowing that i have to go to where i died and not be able to get my blood echos and probably die because the guy below or above me has them. so yeah that was my review on this game… Expand
  18. ZKowalsky
    Apr 16, 2015
    9
    Exciting and bloody RPG that totally gives to the player a perfect experience of being in the XVIII's London (but with wirewolves and some other rude guys) while he's playing a killing blow. However, the game is not cool for everybody, and many people could get angry dying and exploring Yharnam. If you don't like to explore a city and the pressure to get killed by somebody, that's not youExciting and bloody RPG that totally gives to the player a perfect experience of being in the XVIII's London (but with wirewolves and some other rude guys) while he's playing a killing blow. However, the game is not cool for everybody, and many people could get angry dying and exploring Yharnam. If you don't like to explore a city and the pressure to get killed by somebody, that's not you game. If you love a classic RPG mechanics and hard fights, don't think more about it: just go to the next games shop, buy a PS4 if you don't have one and buy 1 or 238 copies of Bloodborne just 'cause you're going to enjoy it like mad.… Expand
  19. Mewthree
    Apr 24, 2015
    9
    I'm going to start off by saying why are people so bad at giving reviews? People giving 0's for absolutely ridiculous reasons and 10's without even playing the whole game. I know this is how it's always been but that doesn't mean we can't improve.

    Now to the game itself. I'm not going to go too deeply into the pros since you can get a good view of them from everyone else's review. I'll    I'm going to start off by saying why are people so bad at giving reviews? People giving 0's for absolutely ridiculous reasons and 10's without even playing the whole game. I know this is how it's always been but that doesn't mean we can't improve.

    Now to the game itself. I'm not going to go too deeply into the pros since you can get a good view of them from everyone else's review. I'll just say that the difficulty, environment, enemy design and combat are very well done. The game is very enjoyable.

    Now to the cons/things the game should have:

    -About half of the bosses are too easy. Too easy meaning I beat them on my first or second try and this is my first "Souls" game.

    -The lack of gore. This game looks and feels like there should be some gore. Well, gore meaning limbs falling off etc. It would add to the immersion so much.

    -Chalice dungeons are way too repetitive and unrewarding. They are all basically the same. But the worst part is that you don't get almost any rewards that are worth your time.

    -Storytelling. I know the story is supposed to be ambiguous and that's a part of the charm. But the storytelling is just a bit too vague and leaves too much open to interpretation.

    -Lack of build variety. There are (almost) no spells and basically everyone's character behaves the same way. Dodging attacks and slashing with your weapon.

    -Lack of loot. Am I the only one who feels like the bosses should drop some actual gear? Well some kinda do, but that's way too rare. The game also needs more weapons and more armor sets.

    -Lack of build variety, loot and chalice dungeons being too repetitive results in poor "endgame" content/replayability.

    -Can't buy blood stone chunks after beating the game. Really?

    I listed a lot of cons, but overall they are pretty minor things. The game is, in my opinion, definitely the best PS4 game at the moment.    … Expand
  20. superdonkey
    Jul 2, 2015
    10
    bloodborne can start off frustrating especially if your not familiar with souls games but persist a while and you will experience something unique. bloodborne takes a nightmare are makes it into a game, nothing else has come close to this in terms of total challenge/reward in such a deeply woven environment.
  21. Moon_Presence
    Jun 19, 2015
    10
    First off, I've never played any Dark Souls games before, so the style of this game was very new to me. The only reason I got it was because it received a high score on Metacritic and because it had a reputation for being very challenging. I'll admit, in the beginning, this game frustrated me ALOT. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to stay alive in this cruel world. However,First off, I've never played any Dark Souls games before, so the style of this game was very new to me. The only reason I got it was because it received a high score on Metacritic and because it had a reputation for being very challenging. I'll admit, in the beginning, this game frustrated me ALOT. For the life of me I couldn't figure out how to stay alive in this cruel world. However, every time I shut off my game in frustration, I always came back to it. There was something about this game that just never left my mind. And, after dying several times, I began to realize what I was doing wrong, and I actually began to get pretty good at the game. Each boss has their own strategy and their own weaknesses, and figuring out how to exploit them was such an amazing feeling. I can honestly say that no other game has really captured me like Bloodborne has, and for that I can't recommend it enough.… Expand
  22. 2ofclubs
    Jul 29, 2015
    9
    I played this without ever playing any of the souls games, and oh boy, did I find it tough.
    The difficulty in the end leads to huge satisfaction when PREY SLAUGHTERED beams across the screen.
    The game looks beautiful and the requirement to think on your feet rather than frantically smash on R1 is a joy to behold. The sound (especially through headphones) is also excellent. I will    I played this without ever playing any of the souls games, and oh boy, did I find it tough.
    The difficulty in the end leads to huge satisfaction when PREY SLAUGHTERED beams across the screen.

    The game looks beautiful and the requirement to think on your feet rather than frantically smash on R1 is a joy to behold.

    The sound (especially through headphones) is also excellent.

    I will admit I was close to giving up, I guess many non Souls players will have done so, or come close, and this may be evident in the numerous 0 scores.

    "Don't Give Up" A note I saw a few times left by other players, and I can't echo it enough.    … Expand
  23. PhilMcracken
    Jun 29, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. This game is one of the most immersive experiences you will ever find in a game, as is the case with all Fromsoft games. To start of, it nails the atmosphere, having spectacular graphics and a dark and gloomy feel to everything you look at. As soon as you enter the starting are, anything you see, you can go there... in time. and this is one of my favorite examples of Victorian London in a game or movie.

    A story is a large part of this game, and it is very hard for players to understand it, although if you take your time to research the amazing lore in this game, it will lead to a much better experience. As you venture through the game, you will have no clear goal, except from the cryptic hints you gain from the few npcs and notes you find throughout the game and from first sight it seems like you're only hunting beasts, but as you progress through the game you are waging a battle against the very GODS, which makes you feel pretty awesome. Fromsoftware nails making you feel like the character, as you are thrusted into a world you don't understand.

    The gameplay is my favorite aspect in your game, being difficult, although fair, and it will take awhile for new players to adapt. The weapons add to the diversity, as it is more quality over quantity compared to the other souls games, and they all have different ways to use them to your advantage, against different enemies. The bosses in this game are phenomenal(except from the witches of hemwick), as the visuals and attacks are amazing, and a boss fight is something you need to prepare for, and will often take multiple tries, but the moment when you beat one is unforgettable. Bloodborne has scared me more than any horror game I've ever played, as you don't know whats round the corner, and you don't want to lose all those precious blood echoes you've amassed 20 steps away from the next checkpoint.

    There are a few problems with this game, such as it does not welcome new players well enough, and you need to of either played other souls games or to just keep trying... hard... very hard. The online aspects have improved from other souls games, although it still confusing and sometimes the servers cant keep up to the mass amount of enemies, especially in particular areas. To add, armor doesn't play a big roll in this game, as it has no weight or outstanding statistics compared to other, and i normally just keep to the most well rounded, the one most appropriate to the boss fight, or just looks, and that is one thing the armor has, looks.

    Overall in my opinion Bloodborne is a must have Ps4 exclusive, as it will quickly immerse you and it may even introduce you into the souls genre. Bloodborne is one of my GOTY's so far, and i can't wait for the upcoming DLC, and the future projects of FromSoftware and the game director Hidetaka Miyazaki. Do you're self a favor and buy this.    … Expand
  24. HonestReviewz
    Jul 22, 2015
    9
    This is a refined version of the Dark souls series. The combat now feels fresh, but still challenging, and there are many ways to play Bloodborne. It lacks imagination within the story, but more than makes up for it with its smooth gameplay.

    Bottom line: A must play for almost any fan of rpgs and action orientated games. If you are looking for an easy game to chug through, then you're    This is a refined version of the Dark souls series. The combat now feels fresh, but still challenging, and there are many ways to play Bloodborne. It lacks imagination within the story, but more than makes up for it with its smooth gameplay.

    Bottom line: A must play for almost any fan of rpgs and action orientated games. If you are looking for an easy game to chug through, then you're better suited looking at a different genre.

    Overall score: 9.2 out of 10
    Reason for deduction: Lackluster story and characters.    … Expand
  25. Kawsgard
    Sep 3, 2015
    9
    Bloodborne provides a frighteningly immersive hardcore experience.
    With a perfect combat system and the typical high difficulty of Souls series, the new franchise of From Software proves what we all already knew: the formula to punish the players for their mistakes is still working.
  26. HamboneReviews
    Apr 12, 2016
    10
    Bloodborne is a masterpiece of a game and I believe it is the current best game on the PS4. The combat in this game is unmatched by any other game and once you get the hang of it it turns from slow and steady tapping to fast and furious decimation. The setting is beautiful and mysterious and there are times where you just have to stop to look around you, even if it ends in you getting aBloodborne is a masterpiece of a game and I believe it is the current best game on the PS4. The combat in this game is unmatched by any other game and once you get the hang of it it turns from slow and steady tapping to fast and furious decimation. The setting is beautiful and mysterious and there are times where you just have to stop to look around you, even if it ends in you getting a sneak attack from behind. The monsters are wonderfully designed and the Bosses take that to the next level. The music is wonderful and sets the mood for even the most tense battles. Chalice dungeons add more difficult content to a game that is already supposed to be hard and are quite fun to run through, seeing more enemies than what the main game offers including some very nasty bosses.

    Bloodborne is a game that I recommend anyone try even if the genre is not for you.    … Expand
  27. Master_Lee
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    This game is magnificent. It's very similar to the souls series but with different gameplay mechanics such as the ability to block is frowned upon. Weapons CAN be found in the wild and load times are not 40 seconds long maybe 20-25 seconds. Stuff that is missing that used to be in the souls game like blacksmiths and factions aren't really noticeable because this isn't souls it's a newThis game is magnificent. It's very similar to the souls series but with different gameplay mechanics such as the ability to block is frowned upon. Weapons CAN be found in the wild and load times are not 40 seconds long maybe 20-25 seconds. Stuff that is missing that used to be in the souls game like blacksmiths and factions aren't really noticeable because this isn't souls it's a new franchise with different approaches. If everything was the same then I would have played this game already. The atmosphere does change it's all not just gothic architecture. These people complaining about all the things I've mentioned here either haven't played the game because they only have an xbox or didn't play long enough. The game is phenomenal. Anything less than an 8 is ridiculous and the zeroes are absurd because that means the game is unplayable which isn't the case.… Expand
  28. Igame4game
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Miyazaki did it again, when Demon's souls came out of nowhere and attracted attention everywhere for it's one of the kind level design and unique gameplay style. Mr. Miyazaki didn't get cocky when making dark souls, he didn't just copy and paste the same fomula from demon's souls, instead he almost reinvented the system and delivered another GOTY experience. and now with bloodborne,Miyazaki did it again, when Demon's souls came out of nowhere and attracted attention everywhere for it's one of the kind level design and unique gameplay style. Mr. Miyazaki didn't get cocky when making dark souls, he didn't just copy and paste the same fomula from demon's souls, instead he almost reinvented the system and delivered another GOTY experience. and now with bloodborne, when everyone is wondering "is it possible to get even better than dark souls/demon's souls??" Miyazaki delivered a satisfy answer with bloodborne, every soul veteran will find bloodborne to be a familiar yet strange experience. not only the lure and economy system has changed, as well as the overall gameplay philosophy. you can no longer hide behind a shield or heavy armor but have to adapt speed and timing in your combat The amount of secret to discover within its world, the new control system, the jaw dropping boss designs. What's certain is that all soul vertain will find themslves a pleasant surpise… Expand
  29. ArmorNine
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    I was truly surprised by how good this game is, albeit, I was expecting a much lesser game. The game is beautiful and the gameplay is a welcomed change from other games in the Souls series. The only issue that I have is the framerate, but it seems that From is working on an update to help this.
  30. Andre00x
    Mar 24, 2015
    9
    First time playing a Souls game and so far its pretty good. I die and then re think a strategy. It's great. I love horror themes. I love RPGs. Perfect
  31. claudionmc
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Very well deserved score. Challenging game with stunning atmosphere and old classic difficulty to get to the next stage. The story is very intrigating (you just cannot stop playing) and the multiplayer mode to fight bosses is very fun to play. Very very recommended, really a masterpiece
  32. Madksen
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Greatest game! hardcore and interesting. Beautiful graphics, characters and story. Locations amaze with beauty. This game for really fans of the series "souls"
  33. TheLastColossus
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    Sony described its own game the best way possible, "invaluable", which I 100% agree, Bloodborne is now the #1 must-buy game for any PS4 owner, and if you don't have the PS4, its time to get one, you can always expect a great game everytime Sony makes a game with From Software, beautiful graphics, great gameplay , mechanics and story, and its the best RPG game since 2011 (Dark Souls). 10/10
  34. TEDD95
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    Goodness this game is on another level.. I am stoked that this game is so challenging, not everyday you get such a polished RPG and great value for money as well. I'd recommend it, even to casual gamers like myself.. If you are prepared to die non stop that is. Well Done to the Dev!! And to naysayers stop trolling plz, your annoying us fans..
  35. Wahabit
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    Еhe game gives a new experience in the game series soul offers exclusive, convenient coop. A great design . The new combat system is just cool. From Software i love you!!
  36. Phoenixxl
    Mar 29, 2015
    10
    Of course there's magic in the game. Those saying there isn't just haven't played long enough before writing a "review" . They go in with their mind made up in advance and set themselves up for disappointment when reality isn't identical to their imagination.
    Play the game , then write a review. And yes , you know who you are , you stand out like a sore thumb.
  37. Pepe5125
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    I love the Souls series and I think that Bloodborne successfully combines everything that made the previous games awesome. The atmosphere is beautiful, the combat is faster and more responsive than dark souls' combat, the level design is superb, bossfights are challenging, art style is beyond amazing, weapon and armor design is better than anything I've seen before.. I can go on like thisI love the Souls series and I think that Bloodborne successfully combines everything that made the previous games awesome. The atmosphere is beautiful, the combat is faster and more responsive than dark souls' combat, the level design is superb, bossfights are challenging, art style is beyond amazing, weapon and armor design is better than anything I've seen before.. I can go on like this forever.
    Bloodborne is a masterpiece. The best game I've ever played.    … Expand
  38. JackValentine
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    In a world where the best games on the new PlayStation were remakes, From Software and JapanStudios bring us what is undoubtably the best PS4 exclusive and possibly the best game on the platform, period.
    A hauntingly beautiful world that downright nails its own atmosphere. The 'Souls' formula is alive and well, but feels fresh and new as well with the newly introduced mechanics and    In a world where the best games on the new PlayStation were remakes, From Software and JapanStudios bring us what is undoubtably the best PS4 exclusive and possibly the best game on the platform, period.
    A hauntingly beautiful world that downright nails its own atmosphere. The 'Souls' formula is alive and well, but feels fresh and new as well with the newly introduced mechanics and reimagined setting.
    If you weren't a fan of the Souls games, I strongly believe that this is still worth a go. The subtle changes make the game more accessible while not compromising the difficulty that old fans of the series love.
    An absolutely brilliant game.    … Expand
  39. CharithaBVB
    Mar 25, 2015
    9
    Before I say anything else, this was the first time I've played a From Software game.
    This game is brutal but it does keep you on your toes the entire time. Is there a lot of frustration? HELL YES.
    You get killed from a boss and then you have to return to almost the beginning to where you last had a glow lap. It does make it seem repetitive but its so worth it after you've beaten the one    Before I say anything else, this was the first time I've played a From Software game.
    This game is brutal but it does keep you on your toes the entire time. Is there a lot of frustration? HELL YES.
    You get killed from a boss and then you have to return to almost the beginning to where you last had a glow lap. It does make it seem repetitive but its so worth it after you've beaten the one that killed you time and time again.
    The graphics are pretty impressive and does do a good job of showing off the power of ps4.
    On the downside however the load times are pretty bad and that can be annoying.
    Also the fact of going back to old checkpoints when you die pretty much blows.
    This game is not for those who can't take a brutal, unforgiving game
    but if you can pull through you will really enjoy this.
    Its worth the money and worth the time.    … Expand
  40. ootinii
    Apr 2, 2015
    10
    You will scream at your television, you will curse the game designers, you will sigh in frustration every time you're killed through a wall corner collision box. But if you are a true fan of From Software, you will come back begging for more. The game is beautiful, the environments and atmosphere are amazing. And most importantly, the game is incredibly difficult, leaving you theYou will scream at your television, you will curse the game designers, you will sigh in frustration every time you're killed through a wall corner collision box. But if you are a true fan of From Software, you will come back begging for more. The game is beautiful, the environments and atmosphere are amazing. And most importantly, the game is incredibly difficult, leaving you the opportunity to stand up and shout in victory every time you take down a boss. No mercy for man-beasts.… Expand
  41. insloanwetrust
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    Bloodborne is best summed up as being a beautiful nightmare. It's a game that will frustrate and terrify you but it will also have you coming back for more. It's intoxicating nature lies deep within it's strong combat system. It's based on dodging, light and strong attacks, combos, stuns and buffs. It's tough to master but once you do the reward is great. The enemies can and will destroyBloodborne is best summed up as being a beautiful nightmare. It's a game that will frustrate and terrify you but it will also have you coming back for more. It's intoxicating nature lies deep within it's strong combat system. It's based on dodging, light and strong attacks, combos, stuns and buffs. It's tough to master but once you do the reward is great. The enemies can and will destroy you but if you take your time to learn their attack patterns and master your own soon you will realise why you're called a hunter. If you've ever played Demon's or Dark souls games you'll know what to expect from Bloodborne, it's the same people who made those games and it's set in the same style and the same concept. It's just set at a higher more aggressive pace. If you're new to this kind of game it has a high learning curve, if you die you will restart at the beginning of the area, all of the enemies will respawn, any currency (blood echos) you gained will be lost and you will die a lot. There is no markers telling you where to go and there is no map either. But it's completely worth it if you're a gamer who likes a challenge and has a lot of time and patience to put into a game. A gamer who likes to explore and solve things for themselves. The Art style, level designee, Music, Graphics and gameplay are all top notch quality. It also has online in the form of PVP and PVE. You can invade other players worlds and battle them or you can either enter another person's game or summon them to your game and fight alongside each other against your foes. With Bloodborne you'll get a ton of content and replay value. To just beat the game you'll easily need around 50 hours and it also has new game plus and you can take part in and create your own optional online dungeons to play through either by yourself or with others online. It's a complete package. The only real drawbacks Bloodborne suffers from is occasional frame rate drops and slightly long loading screen times. As it stands that is why I can't say it's a perfect 10/10 but that can and I think will be patched later. So if your either a souls fan or new to the series and love a rewarding challenge I'd highly recommend this game to you, So let the nightmare being.… Expand
  42. HavocxXxSvu
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Never played dark souls or demon souls. I can really say I'm really enjoy playing this game. The graphics is just eye taking and the game play is unspeakable. I hope more games like this will keep gamers interests. Very good job.
  43. ioio32l
    Apr 2, 2015
    10
    This is the game to have! I love it, it took me 15 hours of dying repeatedly before I was able to make it to and finally beat the first boss. After all that I finally started getting good at the game, and can appreciate how great it is! It's definitely not for the millenial kids with A.D.D. And it's not for casual gamers either. You have to be able to deal with death, a lot. Once you getThis is the game to have! I love it, it took me 15 hours of dying repeatedly before I was able to make it to and finally beat the first boss. After all that I finally started getting good at the game, and can appreciate how great it is! It's definitely not for the millenial kids with A.D.D. And it's not for casual gamers either. You have to be able to deal with death, a lot. Once you get good though, you'll finally see why the game is loved by so many.… Expand
  44. Ryhelia
    Apr 3, 2015
    10
    This game is insanely good, addicting, and really sucks you into it's gorgeous and twisted setting.

    Nothing beats playing this game at night with all the lights off and the surround sound cranked up. Unbelievable. There was a point where i was 5 hours in and i hadn't made it to the first boss yet, and i really thought i might give up. So glad i didn't. Now i can go back and clear    This game is insanely good, addicting, and really sucks you into it's gorgeous and twisted setting.

    Nothing beats playing this game at night with all the lights off and the surround sound cranked up. Unbelievable.

    There was a point where i was 5 hours in and i hadn't made it to the first boss yet, and i really thought i might give up. So glad i didn't. Now i can go back and clear that first level of enemies in about 5 minutes. You just gotta stick with it.

    This game is absolutely a system seller, and easily the best exclusive on either console....very possibly the best overall game of this generation. It's not for everyone. ..but i think about 90% of action /rpg fans would love it if they can stick it out the first few hours. You have to realize that this game wants and needs you to die so it can train you how to fight and keep focused. And once you do...and you start progressing and leveling up....just wow. Between this and MLB the Show, ps4 is straight dominating.    … Expand
  45. masterkiser
    Mar 29, 2015
    10
    Like Souls Games? Buy it. Like Challenging games? Buy it. want to get killed in some of the most **** ways possible? Buy it. Want to feel something 10 Times better than Sex? Buy it!
  46. Akoni
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    This game is amazing. I came into it having only played Dark Souls a little bit (so don't expect this "review" to be informative, I just love the game and wanted to share my love with others). I knew this game would live up to its hype. It truly is a game that challenges your patience, perseverance, frustration, and will to play and play until you beat that boss or light that lantern. IThis game is amazing. I came into it having only played Dark Souls a little bit (so don't expect this "review" to be informative, I just love the game and wanted to share my love with others). I knew this game would live up to its hype. It truly is a game that challenges your patience, perseverance, frustration, and will to play and play until you beat that boss or light that lantern. I highly recommend this game for hardcore gamers who can handle the pain of dying right before you kill a boss, or losing all of your blood echoes. This game is very difficult. Do not get it if you are a casual gamer who just wants simple fun. This game is incredibly fun, but it takes time and patience to get through areas or kill bosses. Overall, I could not be happier with the hours I have spent playing Bloodborne. My addiction only grows from here.… Expand
  47. xhaosis
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    This game lives up to the hype, it is cerebral, and very challenging.. concider it a modern day PlayStation 4 arcade game.. When you die you have to start the level over..If you have a PlayStation 4 and have never played a Fromsoftware game, I suggest trying it at least once in your life and see if you like it.. Their is no grey area with this kind of game, either you like it or you doThis game lives up to the hype, it is cerebral, and very challenging.. concider it a modern day PlayStation 4 arcade game.. When you die you have to start the level over..If you have a PlayStation 4 and have never played a Fromsoftware game, I suggest trying it at least once in your life and see if you like it.. Their is no grey area with this kind of game, either you like it or you do not.. In closing when your done with this game, after you beat it, you will feel like you really beat it...

    As far as cons, I dont really have any, I guess the game just can be really frustrating at times.. Yet it is really fun..    … Expand
  48. ghassenga
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    Amazing graphics, amazing atmosphere ,freaking amazing sound tracks , innovative and engaging gameplay , innovative co-op, and more importantly , a hard but fair game , those with a weak heart should stay away , those with a challenging one should jump-in .Period.
  49. bveracka
    Apr 23, 2015
    9
    Bloodborne is a masterpiece. Before I played it, I had become numb to how awesome it feels to beat a tough boss or a level that takes intelligence and perseverance to defeat; Bloodborne makes you feel like a [bloody] hero! It brings you back to the feel of the harder games of older generations but it has the awesome graphics and responsive controls of the PS4. Also with a patch coming veryBloodborne is a masterpiece. Before I played it, I had become numb to how awesome it feels to beat a tough boss or a level that takes intelligence and perseverance to defeat; Bloodborne makes you feel like a [bloody] hero! It brings you back to the feel of the harder games of older generations but it has the awesome graphics and responsive controls of the PS4. Also with a patch coming very soon to shorten the loading times & optimize graphics, there's no excuse not to try this game out.
    There are some people who say this game is full of cheap deaths and we fans are mistaking difficulty for quality. Nothing could be further from the truth! There are no cheap deaths in Bloodborne; every single move & decision you make in your game has consequences. Whoever says that Bloodborne is too hard or is "cheap" hasn't given the game a chance. A million gamers can't be wrong; Bloodborne is the best-selling software for the month of March, despite the fact it was released at the near-end of the month! Don't listen to the extremely negative reviews from the butt-hurt n00b gamers; try this game for yourself!
    Finally I have to say that I was a total n00b before I started playing Bloodborne. I did struggle with it at first, but I was slaying beasts in no time! I'm so glad I didn't let my frustration get to me early in the game, because I ended-up falling in love with From Soft's game design. The awesomely rewarding gameplay, amazing artistic level & character designs (which I'm sure both Lovecraft & Dickens would admire), and a great concept all combine to make Bloodborne my new favorite game.    … Expand
  50. redmandana
    Apr 10, 2015
    10
    Umm yea this game is the **** i just beat it... I **** love it ... I wish co op was a little bit smoother.. But the graphics .. Monsters. Bosses.. Enviornment ... Story.. Gameplay.. Everthing is just **** great... When i had originally bought this game i had rated it a 8/10 ... But after i beat it i had to come back and rewrite my **** review... Now its a **** 10/10 you cannout go wrongUmm yea this game is the **** i just beat it... I **** love it ... I wish co op was a little bit smoother.. But the graphics .. Monsters. Bosses.. Enviornment ... Story.. Gameplay.. Everthing is just **** great... When i had originally bought this game i had rated it a 8/10 ... But after i beat it i had to come back and rewrite my **** review... Now its a **** 10/10 you cannout go wrong with this game ,, theres somthing for everyone... This game has been masterfully crafted by whoever **** made it..... I was hearing a ton of **** about souls games and knew i had to purchase this **** after i saw the reviews all over the internet..... This only thing thats kinda bad about it is that its a tad bit linear.. But when it comes to this idgaf..i coud write and tell you about this game for days but lets just leave it at this.. But one last time... I dont care if you white. Black. Asain. Indian. Mexican... If you like horror movies.... This is a must buyyyyyyyyyyyyy... I repeat.. If you like horror movies.......... This is a must buy lmaooooooo.... This game is the ****tt... (I know i cant spell for **** stfu)… Expand
  51. FuSi0nReAPEr
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    I am LOVING this game so far!! 12 hours of gameplay in and 3 bosses down =) this game is pretty difficult, but very rewarding! The guns are amazing, balanced, and not too hard to upgrade. The gameplay is amazing! Many different enemies with different strats to kill them. the only reason i am giving it only a 9 is because the coop system is broken
  52. PtM9009
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    By far one of the best games made by From Software. The atmosphere, and soundtrack are stunning. The game is challenging ,but rewarding . If you have a PS4 I highly suggest you pick this up.
  53. WolfLordRich
    Mar 25, 2015
    9
    Awesome game, graphics are spectacular music is atmospheric. Brutally difficult with intricate level designs. Load times take nearly 20 seconds, which isn't terrible, co-op is tricky to get working. All in all, this is an amazing game that will contend for GoTY.
  54. SMICH55
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    Bloodborne is a beautiful game, the combat and bosses make for a truly epic experience. However, the atmosphere of Bloodborne is the pinnicle of what games should strive to achieve. It is creepy and dark, and places a sense of lonliness on the player as they make their way through the gothic city. This is truly a masterpiece.
  55. prince_warhero
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    From software and Miyazaki has done it again.. Awesome game so far this year !! and of course the best PS4 exclusive. The combat is soo awesome, the fluid fast moving moves are so cool. The graphics and sound perfectly complement the eerie world. The unsettling feel while playing the game, was the same i felt when playing Dark souls. A Must buy.. only disadvantage according to me is theFrom software and Miyazaki has done it again.. Awesome game so far this year !! and of course the best PS4 exclusive. The combat is soo awesome, the fluid fast moving moves are so cool. The graphics and sound perfectly complement the eerie world. The unsettling feel while playing the game, was the same i felt when playing Dark souls. A Must buy.. only disadvantage according to me is the limited selections of the weapons and the long loading time ( which i hope they will patch soon) .… Expand
  56. Aledeplayer
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    This game is Amazing! The sense of satisfaction you feel when you overcome the various challenges it is of the highest level . A faster game than those who offered us until now From Software , but at the same time maintains the highest level of challenge and punishment ! Unbelievable the artistic side of the game , with one of the most fascinating environments ever. Interesting storylineThis game is Amazing! The sense of satisfaction you feel when you overcome the various challenges it is of the highest level . A faster game than those who offered us until now From Software , but at the same time maintains the highest level of challenge and punishment ! Unbelievable the artistic side of the game , with one of the most fascinating environments ever. Interesting storyline that pushes the player to want to know more !
    A map well structured , fully explorable with many hidden passages . The multiplayer works quickly and without problems . The management of the menu is fantastic ! Soundtrack very inspired ! Possible GOTY 2015!    … Expand
  57. mookavelli
    Mar 27, 2015
    9
    After two tough days, I finally beat the first boss in BloodBorne. Thus, I feel permitted to write at least a partial review. The game is beautiful and brutal, captivating and crushing, exhilarating and depressing. It's everything that Dark Souls 2 should have been, and more. But I admit that I can't really recommend this game to the casual player. I feel anxious/stressed/panicked when IAfter two tough days, I finally beat the first boss in BloodBorne. Thus, I feel permitted to write at least a partial review. The game is beautiful and brutal, captivating and crushing, exhilarating and depressing. It's everything that Dark Souls 2 should have been, and more. But I admit that I can't really recommend this game to the casual player. I feel anxious/stressed/panicked when I play, and what casual gamer would want that? But for players who are masochists like myself, you're going to love it.… Expand
  58. Jaybmayb
    Mar 28, 2015
    10
    If your a fan of the souls series and wanted ot to be a lottle more fast paced. Well this is your game. Gorgeous graphics, excellent soundtrack, and immersive world. Enjoy everyone and Good Hunting!
  59. ragnarock687
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    I found Bloodborne to be very addicting, especially when you make full use of the multiplayer features. There's no way to sugar coat the difficulty though, and even I had to put the game down for a couple days just to take a deep breath before going back to it. But, the things that draw you back in are the superior level design, morose artwork, and engaging gameplay.
  60. Marcmars
    Mar 31, 2015
    10
    I didn't like the look of a cleaver weapon from the label, nor the hairy bosses... but don't judge the game by just screenshots on internet... (I made that mistake). An MMO friend told me to go get it, it's awesome, I have never played an Soul series so I hesitated (because it's $70 + tax), but once you get a hang of how the fighting mechanic work in this game, you WILL LOVE IT!!! YOU WILLI didn't like the look of a cleaver weapon from the label, nor the hairy bosses... but don't judge the game by just screenshots on internet... (I made that mistake). An MMO friend told me to go get it, it's awesome, I have never played an Soul series so I hesitated (because it's $70 + tax), but once you get a hang of how the fighting mechanic work in this game, you WILL LOVE IT!!! YOU WILL NOT DIE SO EASILY. "You died" screen only happen for the first 10 hours into the game, once you level up and learn your move the hard way or deadly way... you are all set for the best action gaming experience of all time.… Expand
  61. Shadows_trooper
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    Mr. Hidetaka Miyazaki did not disappoint me in his new game. If you want a good game buy this one, if you dont have a Ps4, buy one just for this game. GOTY
  62. WorldofTwist
    Mar 31, 2015
    9
    Loving this game. I was worried From-Soft had Gone-Soft but Miyazaki's debut on the PS4 is a belter. I love the fact so many people hate it, the game feels more personal more special, a game that has been made for me. The setting and the atmosphere is wonderful, art direction on top form. The first few hours were tough but slowly and surely I have been finding my rhythm. HighlyLoving this game. I was worried From-Soft had Gone-Soft but Miyazaki's debut on the PS4 is a belter. I love the fact so many people hate it, the game feels more personal more special, a game that has been made for me. The setting and the atmosphere is wonderful, art direction on top form. The first few hours were tough but slowly and surely I have been finding my rhythm. Highly recommended for all those gaming masochists out there.… Expand
  63. PraiseTheMoon
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    For those who aren't familiar with the Souls series, or even Bloodborne (or even any of From Software's recent games), I hope this comments helps.

    It's an action RPG that has a challenging yet rewarding gameplay system with a steep learning curve. It is set in a diseased and creepy Victorian type setting (the best way I could describe it lol). If you've played From Software's (the    For those who aren't familiar with the Souls series, or even Bloodborne (or even any of From Software's recent games), I hope this comments helps.

    It's an action RPG that has a challenging yet rewarding gameplay system with a steep learning curve.

    It is set in a diseased and creepy Victorian type setting (the best way I could describe it lol).

    If you've played From Software's (the developer)previous Souls games, you'd know their games target a niche audience (granted their popularity has risen, especially in the west). Those games have definitely inspired Bloodorne, well because they're the same developer lol.

    So in summary, if you're looking for a gorgeous, deep gameplay-oriented RPG with a lot of depth in its challenging yet rewarding gameplay, set in a beautiful setting with sublime art direction, beautiful yet terrifying soundtrack and twisted, amazing and creative enemy design, then Bloodborne is for you!    … Expand
  64. oohbeartrap
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    117 negative reviews at the time of this writing. Phrases like "rip-off" and "waste of money" when companies like Ubisoft put out broken and half-finished games annually to rave reviews from likely the same people.

    Bloodborne was done right. Time was taken to craft this world, the story, the atmosphere, the enemies, and the difficulty. Those who would claim this is "the same as all the    117 negative reviews at the time of this writing. Phrases like "rip-off" and "waste of money" when companies like Ubisoft put out broken and half-finished games annually to rave reviews from likely the same people.

    Bloodborne was done right. Time was taken to craft this world, the story, the atmosphere, the enemies, and the difficulty. Those who would claim this is "the same as all the other games in its genre" should simply choose to play something else. It's not a popular series because it's easy to get into or because it's based on some new control scheme or combat method that no one else is doing, it's popular because it's hard. It's challenging. It's a rich, dark, atmospheric experience that doesn't feel like it was pushed out the door to make money.

    "Monster Hunter clone" was probably my favorite. If you don't like it, don't play it. It certainly doesn't deserve the same hatred that Call of Duty has for being popular, though. Maybe those who are throwing negative reviews at Bloodborne simply because "everyone is raving about it" should stick with an annual release series that's predictable and bland beyond compare.    … Expand
  65. romulomexico
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    The difficulty of the game is very high. Not recommended for initial and casual gamers .
    Veterans and old school players will love it.
    It is a masterpiece today, wronged among so many easy games , that at least test their skills.
  66. egocentryk
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    Outsanding visuals, truely immersing gameplay, beautifully and complex designed world. I didn't played before in any Souls games, i knew Bloodborne will be something special, but i didn't thought it would be a masterpiece. Hats off, From Software.
  67. ReSultZ
    Mar 26, 2015
    10
    "MASTERPIECE" The 1st must buy exclusive this gen!
    Its like Classic Castlevania,Zelda,Immortal,Legacy Of Kain and Classic Resident Evil had a baby.
    WOW
  68. themostunclean
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    I was never a fan of the Souls series so I was very hesitant to get this game. Thankfully, most of my problems with the previous games are absent in Bloodborne. My main gripe with the Souls games was the lumbering, slow, defense focused combat. In Bloodborne this has been completely redone into a fast, fluid and graceful system that encourages offense and taking risks. My other issue withI was never a fan of the Souls series so I was very hesitant to get this game. Thankfully, most of my problems with the previous games are absent in Bloodborne. My main gripe with the Souls games was the lumbering, slow, defense focused combat. In Bloodborne this has been completely redone into a fast, fluid and graceful system that encourages offense and taking risks. My other issue with the Souls series was a generally dated and empty feel to the design and environment. Once again, Bloodborne trumps it's predecessors and creates a living, detailed world that feels natural and exciting to explore. Now to the big point, the difficulty. In the Souls games, dying often felt unfair or forced upon you. Penalties for death were too severe and intentionally sadistic. In Bloodborne when I died, I knew it was my fault. It was either because I'd done something wrong or not been careful not because the game was artificially handicapping me by taking away my health. People complaining about the difficulty (or leaving bad reviews but not mentioning it because they don't want to sound like the suck) probably aren't playing it right. The keys are to explore everywhere, open shortcuts to find your way back faster the next time you die and to return to the Hunter's Dream frequently to buy supplies, upgrade your weapons and level up. Getting your first set of armor can vastly improve your survival chances so just kill enough enemies to afford it, then go back. If you just keep dying, you'll never accrue enough blood echoes to buy anything.

    There are some minor technical issues with the game. Framerate can take a hit here and there and the camera isn't always in the most optimal position. The biggest controversy is with the load times but I hardly noticed them. Most of the time if just suffered a vicious defeat and my mind was busy planning my next strategy.

    So, as someone who didn't like the Souls series, I can wholeheartedly recommend Bloodborne. Definitely one of the best PS4 exclusives if not one of the best current gen games available.    … Expand
  69. Kanti
    Mar 24, 2015
    9
    Technically speaking, this is the most impressive Souls game to date, in a number of ways. Relative to the other Souls games, there are some changes I like, and some I don't. My initial impression is that this is the weakest Souls game, but only by a small margin. Even worst game in the Souls series is still a game-of-the-year contender. If you have any aversion to loading times, though,Technically speaking, this is the most impressive Souls game to date, in a number of ways. Relative to the other Souls games, there are some changes I like, and some I don't. My initial impression is that this is the weakest Souls game, but only by a small margin. Even worst game in the Souls series is still a game-of-the-year contender. If you have any aversion to loading times, though, wait for the PC version.… Expand
  70. Pureray
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    I had never played any of the Soul games before, nor will you have to, in order to enjoy Bloodborne!

    The visual details in everything are simply amazing! The framerate is nice and smooth, but it does lag a bit at times during coop sometimes. The exploration is highly satisfying and memorable, there is never a dull or boring moment that you'll have, and you'll always remember on how to    I had never played any of the Soul games before, nor will you have to, in order to enjoy Bloodborne!

    The visual details in everything are simply amazing! The framerate is nice and smooth, but it does lag a bit at times during coop sometimes. The exploration is highly satisfying and memorable, there is never a dull or boring moment that you'll have, and you'll always remember on how to navigate your way through places that you've been before with ease without a map.

    One false move and then you're most likely about to die or get seriously injured. The combat is brutal and quick, like you won't be seeing a beast waiting in line for his turn to attack, they're all going to strike! The penalty for dying is that you would lose all of your blood echoes, which is like currency that you use to buy equipment or to level up. The only way to retrieve it back is to journey back to where you last died or kill the beast that had killed you or the one that has his or her eyes glowing white for you're blood back, but if you die a 2nd time without getting it then you had just lost it, but can still retrieve the amount that you last had.

    The only issues that I have seen were monsters glitching themselves in obstacles, nothing to game breaking. Anything else would be at your own fault..

    If you're a hardcore gamer looking for a game on the Ps4, then I would highly recommend for you to play Bloodborne!    … Expand
  71. bennibop
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    Fantastic game, I was not a big fan of demon or dark souls but I am loving this game. Best game I have played on any of the new consoles by a mile. Be prepared to die a lot but be patient and you will be rewarded.
  72. leomisfits
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    This game is going to be one of the greatest games of the year. I have only spent 6 hours playing but as far as I can tell it feels just right, i wouldnt say it's easier than the other From software games though, some people seem to think this wasn't gonna be a hardcore game I can tell you, you are wrong, this game will punish you a lot for your mistakes, but yeah a 10/10 for someone whoThis game is going to be one of the greatest games of the year. I have only spent 6 hours playing but as far as I can tell it feels just right, i wouldnt say it's easier than the other From software games though, some people seem to think this wasn't gonna be a hardcore game I can tell you, you are wrong, this game will punish you a lot for your mistakes, but yeah a 10/10 for someone who likes games that you have to think and play smart not slashing things around until they die… Expand
  73. GenX
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Nice to see From Software start a new IP despite all the haters saying it's just another Souls game. And From have done it again. anyway, another 10 to bump it up thanks to all the haters putting a Zero because they hate good games on rival systems. ;-)
  74. evdoe5
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    I have never played a Souls game, so this is my first experience with From Software. I am really surprised how much I love this game. At first, the game seems like a huge weight of have troubling beating the easiest of enemies, but once you beat your first monster, you have a thirst for more. This game rewards patience and learning and makes you pay for jumping into a fight without anyI have never played a Souls game, so this is my first experience with From Software. I am really surprised how much I love this game. At first, the game seems like a huge weight of have troubling beating the easiest of enemies, but once you beat your first monster, you have a thirst for more. This game rewards patience and learning and makes you pay for jumping into a fight without any thought (mostly). Blood viles and bullets are abundant in the game, the challenge is knowing when to use them.

    Bloodborne proves to be a visually beautiful game. It draws from tall cathedrals, open fields, small town streets, and gothic backgrounds. These are beautiful, but sinister to look at. It takes from HP Lovecraft and Edger Allen Poe to bring out a terrifyingly beautiful world to explore and fear. The weapons at one's disposal have pros and cons, and like the enemies, require learning to understand what each does. The quick use of the hunter's ax, turns into a slow, but devastating blow at the touch of a button.

    I love looking around for hidden outfits, upgrades, blood gems, everything. This is a great exclusive and demands time and patience. It is a difficult game, but feels extremely rewarding when your prey falls at your feet. This is a must have in every way.    … Expand
  75. peewee78368
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Just here to give it a 10. Seeing as most Xbox fanboys are here making rude reviews on a game that is just. WOW. it deserves a 10.
    You xbox fanboys go back to you're titanfall that was suppose to be the PlayStation killer lol.
  76. MrSutton1089
    Mar 26, 2015
    9
    From me, this game gets a 9. The only reason it gets that 9 is due to load times, which are not HORRIBLE, but just long enough to become annoying especially when you die so many times, which needs to be a part of a review, not JUST game play. When it comes to dying over and over....that is O.K. as it becomes addicting, and once you get past that first area and to the 2nd check point, theFrom me, this game gets a 9. The only reason it gets that 9 is due to load times, which are not HORRIBLE, but just long enough to become annoying especially when you die so many times, which needs to be a part of a review, not JUST game play. When it comes to dying over and over....that is O.K. as it becomes addicting, and once you get past that first area and to the 2nd check point, the feeling of accomplishment is great. After that, it's all up hill because by then you have a better feel for the mechanics of the game. Definitely not a game for someone who blows up and wants to break stuff when they die alot, because die alot you will do.… Expand
  77. gaf_dofry
    Apr 5, 2015
    10
    Bloodborne is a game that assumes the player is a normal, thinking and learning human being. One that does not need excessive hand holding and guidance through the mundane elements often presented in games. It shoves the player into the deep end of the pool and lets you learn as you play. The enemies hit hard so you need to hit back harder. With this mechanic you have a chance to gain someBloodborne is a game that assumes the player is a normal, thinking and learning human being. One that does not need excessive hand holding and guidance through the mundane elements often presented in games. It shoves the player into the deep end of the pool and lets you learn as you play. The enemies hit hard so you need to hit back harder. With this mechanic you have a chance to gain some of the lost health back, which creates an approach opposite of Demon's Souls. It doesn't mean you can be careless, just that you cannot rely totally on previous ways to play a From Software game blocking with a shield. The variety of the enemy characters, be they man or beast, is extensive and they all have unique fighting style that forces the player to learn and adapt. This does not mean that Bloodborne is overtly difficult, only that the player is expected to think a bit more than normal. Playing tired e,g, leads to cheap deaths as one cannot think straight and play becomes sloppy.

    Level design is layered and multiple paths open up as you walk along Yharnam. The way this mechanic is designed is genious as the more you play and the more you die, the more you learn the layout of the game. And you have to learn as there is no map to guide you. Only you. As there is plenty to explore, you might miss a place here and there, but the game keeps you somewhat contained in the areas you need to explore. Boss fights usually opening up new areas to explore further. And what a delightful bunch they are. Each boss has their on way of fighting which either is clear at the first sight or takes a lot of tries to learn. But the same theme of learning lets you beat each and every one of them eventually through trial and error if necessary. The bosses scale slightly to your level so if you lose, and you will lose often, it is your approach that needs tweaking, not the stats that of your character has. You might yell at the screen a few times, but once you get the boss, the feeling of accomplishment is present. Learning is an clear and essential theme in the game. This design decision is ever present and given to you as tiny tips by the game. You never know what a weapon or items do unless you test and try. Nothing is explicitly stated. That is one of the charms of the game as you progress. The player starts to discuss with friends of the experiences and items. "What do they do? did you do that?" type is evident on forum topics regarding the games. And I do recommend skipping them and experiencing everything yourself first hand and asking questions when you get stuck.

    Bloodborne is a long game, clocking in around 50 hours for the first play through depending on your style, so the variety of places and enemies is essential. This is where the game shines. Even though the setting is a overall the same Victorian style nightmare, it still changes in style multiple times. Every new setting will be memorable and connects in some way to others. And the variety of the enemies is the same as they change accordingly. As an interesting element, there is the Insight factor, a point system accumulated by discovering and defeating bosses or gulping potions, which will affect the games difficulty and other elements by scaling up or down. Enemies in the visibly changed world become stronger, look and act differently or might change spots or disappear totally. This makes experiencing the game a bit different for each player, so you might not encounter as easy enemies or bosses as you friend might have.

    The weapons in the game are what defines you style from heavy to fast. Most have both with a click of a button to change your style, but some weapons are more effective for certain enemies. Upgrading and implementing gems in the weapons or runes for one the character is what enhances and improves your chance of survival. A sidearm in the form of a pistol is offered which often staggers enemies enough to create a devastating blow. For this reason, experimenting with your weapon attacks in addition to your sidearm as well as movement is key. You find and learn new ways to defeat even strong enemies with a quick combo.

    On a technical level it looks the part. There is clearly love spent on creating the game aesthetics. There is a micro-stutter from time to time with a distinct accompanying buzz from your speakers which should be fixed, but overall the game runs and feels great. As of note I have not tried and co-operative play and there should be strong drops with many friends, so lets hope From Software fixes those mistakes.

    As I've only played Demon's Souls a long time ago, I was excited to try a similar game. I wanted a game that entertains me for a long period of time and what I got from Bloodborne is a game that is exciting, atmospheric, riveting, engaging, smart, creepy and satisfying. I truly believe any gamer should give it a try as this will be a classic people talk about years later. 2015 is still early but I expect this game to be GOTY for many.    … Expand
  78. pnoozi
    Mar 28, 2015
    9
    I'd never played any of the Souls series, but Bloodborne's hauntingly beautiful Gothic Victorian atmosphere drew me in and hasn't even come close to letting go. Long-time Souls fans must love this game. There is maximal attention to detail in every aspect of the game: in the art and level design, NPC interactions, story, and sound. It's like playing someone's bad dream. It feels likeI'd never played any of the Souls series, but Bloodborne's hauntingly beautiful Gothic Victorian atmosphere drew me in and hasn't even come close to letting go. Long-time Souls fans must love this game. There is maximal attention to detail in every aspect of the game: in the art and level design, NPC interactions, story, and sound. It's like playing someone's bad dream. It feels like the game stays at 30 fps most of the time.… Expand
  79. revrevolution
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    Bloodborne is an exhausting journey. It is vague, and often times confusing. It will challenge and frustrate gamers. What makes Bloodborne so amazing, is that it pushes gamers to become better and to learn. It is a game that forces you to think, rather then mindlessly bash buttons. To that extent alone, it would be impossible to give Bloodborne anything less then a stellar rating.

    I    Bloodborne is an exhausting journey. It is vague, and often times confusing. It will challenge and frustrate gamers. What makes Bloodborne so amazing, is that it pushes gamers to become better and to learn. It is a game that forces you to think, rather then mindlessly bash buttons. To that extent alone, it would be impossible to give Bloodborne anything less then a stellar rating.

    I would not easily recommend this game to my friends or casual gamers. You REALLY have to have the right kind of patience and persistence to truly enjoy it. You have to be willing to die, a lot. You have to be wiling to replay various areas, and kill the same enemies over and over again. IF you can understand how this game works, then you will eventually get better and you will find it enjoyable. Pay no attention to the individuals saying 'get gud or go home', ANYONE CAN PLAY THIS GAME - it's simply a matter of if you have the capacity to learn and adapt.

    Personally, I have a lot of respect for this game. I'm annoyed by it, but I absolutely love the challenge. This isn't exactly the freelance game that's going to sell consoles (or at least, it shouldn't be), however there is a lot of great content here to satisfy the right audiences. Embrace the world of Bloodborne, and push yourself to rise above the challenge.    … Expand
  80. owen445x
    Apr 6, 2015
    10
    Best game I've played in years! Big fan of the Demon Souls and Dark Souls. I was pretty bummed when I played Dark Souls 2 since they threw in a bunch of player punishing mechanics that weren't needed. Death was supposed to be a teacher, but they punished you with health being removed or the durability of weapons being utter garbage. Worst part was that instead of making the areas a risk vsBest game I've played in years! Big fan of the Demon Souls and Dark Souls. I was pretty bummed when I played Dark Souls 2 since they threw in a bunch of player punishing mechanics that weren't needed. Death was supposed to be a teacher, but they punished you with health being removed or the durability of weapons being utter garbage. Worst part was that instead of making the areas a risk vs reward and seeing how far you can push.. they turned it into a grind fest so they will stop respawning after a while. All this had me really worried.

    Thank god the original director came back and threw out all the BS I mentioned above and made an already awesome combat system even better!

    Literally everything in Bloodborne was epic.. level design, weapon system and dual weapon combos! Armor style = Epic!

    The World of Bloodborne literally had me wanting to explore more and more.. I wanted to just play for an hour and ended up being like 6 or 7 and only knew that when the wife came over and yelled at me for being on to long!

    My literal only complaint is that it had less weapons and armor than dark souls 2 and less covenants to join. The weapons and armor are epic but I was just wanting more since dark souls 2 had so many. For the covenants, I didn't like how you can just swap a rune to show your allegiance and it's literally for pvp only except for some armor.

    Other than that, if you haven't already left for Gamestop or Best Buy to purchase this game... you're wrong.. you literally must buy it.. best game in Years!!!    … Expand
  81. chegsfd
    Mar 29, 2015
    9
    This is a very good game.

    It's basically dark souls, but with a focus on dodging and dealing damage as much as possible. WEapon variation is smaller than dark souls, and they all kinda feel the same, but the awesome combat makes that fact almost irrelevant. Enemies are much more vicious and have several strong attacks, meaning that even the weakest enemy might kill you really    This is a very good game.

    It's basically dark souls, but with a focus on dodging and dealing damage as much as possible.

    WEapon variation is smaller than dark souls, and they all kinda feel the same, but the awesome combat makes that fact almost irrelevant.

    Enemies are much more vicious and have several strong attacks, meaning that even the weakest enemy might kill you really fast.

    Graphics are pretty good, and the places you see through the game are really impressive.

    Bosses are disturbing and will give you a hard time, although some of them feel like bosses we've killed in previous games.

    My only real beef with this game is the absurd loading time and the constant frame-rate drops, but they never really impact the gameplay.

    So it comes down to this: Do you like dark souls? If you do, you will most likelly love bloodborne.
    If you dont like DS, there is nothing here that might make you change your mind.    … Expand
  82. Decrata
    Mar 30, 2015
    9
    As a brief disclaimer, I started playing the souls games with the first installment, Demon's souls, and after putting about 8 hours into it and not understanding a single thing, I quit. My friend, a fan of the series, urged me to continue, and told me a thing or two, and I started a new character with fresh eyes backed by experience. What resulted was one of the most amazing andAs a brief disclaimer, I started playing the souls games with the first installment, Demon's souls, and after putting about 8 hours into it and not understanding a single thing, I quit. My friend, a fan of the series, urged me to continue, and told me a thing or two, and I started a new character with fresh eyes backed by experience. What resulted was one of the most amazing and rewarding gaming experiences I've ever had. From then on, I was hooked. After playing Demon Souls and Dark Souls for over 400 combined hours, I was ready for Dark Souls 2. Dark Souls 2 for me was a bit of a let down, and I didn't enjoy it nearly as much, so I picked up Bloodborne:

    Bloodborne is a breath of fresh air. A massive spike in difficulty compared to DS2, and new mechanics to learn. Fans of the series will feel right at home with the combat, with some interesting changes. Combat is obviously the focus of all the games, and the faster pace and unbelievable power your character has on attack make your ability to be killed immediately an interesting balance. The beauty of a souls game, is that no matter how strong you are, any enemy can kill you if you aren't paying attention, and this game is no different. When I am on in combat, the ass-kickery on screen is amazing, when I am off...I'm dead...

    For me, this game is a 10+ and I can't wait to put more and more hours into it. The reason why I rated it a 9 is because of something another reviewer posted. Souls games come with a 'members only' feel to them, and if you aren't in the club, you won't enjoy the game. Having felt that way with Demon's Souls, I have the recipe for bringing people into the game. I currently have gotten 3 of my friends 'into the club' so to speak, and now we are all loving and playing Bloodborne.

    The first thing for new players, is find an experienced player, a friend, someone line, or guides and learn about the game. There is no hand holding in the game what so ever, so consulting with people that understand the game will help tremendously.

    Another, is don't be afraid to join a friends game to learn how to beat an area with 2 people, then go back with your own character. On that note, don't be afraid to summon people into your game too. It isn't cheating, it's part of the game.

    Three, don't attack something unless it starts attacking you first. Many souls players have killed NPCs and people who help you upgrade without knowing they are helpful...sometimes even hitting them a few times will cause them to not help you anymore.

    Four, if you are having trouble staying alive, do a little grinding, and upgrade your weapons and stats. Upgrading your weapon a few times at the bench will do wonders early game, so it is advisable to do this as early as possible.

    Once you commit to the game, and you learn how to beat bosses and keep going, you will find that the death isn't as bad. The game requires patience, and this one is the hardest of all the souls games by my estimation, so those that are just starting will have a difficult time, and veterans are dying left and right as it is.

    If you are only going to do one of these things, it's team up with a friend or resource online to learn about the ins and outs of one of the most deep and complex games on the market today. Sure it might be members only, but I got kicked out of the club once, and now I am one of the leading recruiters.    … Expand
  83. Centrey
    Mar 28, 2015
    8
    PvE: Amazing. Reminiscent of Demon Souls (Keeping that difficulty as well).
    PvP: Takes ages to actually invade... When you do; Amazing.
    Overall verdict: Very good. Just fix load screens and PvP
  84. Bolkie
    Apr 6, 2015
    10
    Right! I'm a racer, a COD-er, and these type of games are not my cup of tea. Never ever touched Dark Souls games before. So many friends of mine were playing though, and were very enthusiastic. I bought the game with the aim of selling quickly if too difficult or just not fun. I won't be selling, this game is so challenging and full of atmosphere. I've already had an heart attack so manyRight! I'm a racer, a COD-er, and these type of games are not my cup of tea. Never ever touched Dark Souls games before. So many friends of mine were playing though, and were very enthusiastic. I bought the game with the aim of selling quickly if too difficult or just not fun. I won't be selling, this game is so challenging and full of atmosphere. I've already had an heart attack so many times. Yes, it's difficult, very difficult, but the the thrill of playing the game invites you to restart again and again, and yes, I am getting better. The hype is deserved, and I'll get countless hours on enjoyment. Don't be put off if you don't understand a thing in the first 10 minutes, even I managed to figure things out.… Expand
  85. miniMilkSLB
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    I never played Soul's games. Is so annoying in the beginning. Now i just can't stop.
    One of the best games i've ever played.
    Don't give up the game!!
  86. jkoclanis67
    Mar 30, 2015
    9
    Easily the best game I've played on my PS4, and best PlayStation exclusive since The Last of Us. I'm generally not into games that beat you down, but the level design and world building in Bloodborne is beyond compare and keeps bringing you back for more, and has you constantly thinking about it even when you're away from the game. The initial learning curve of understanding the combat canEasily the best game I've played on my PS4, and best PlayStation exclusive since The Last of Us. I'm generally not into games that beat you down, but the level design and world building in Bloodborne is beyond compare and keeps bringing you back for more, and has you constantly thinking about it even when you're away from the game. The initial learning curve of understanding the combat can be a bit daunting, but then all of a sudden everything kind of clicks and you find yourself able to progress further and further into the game. It still may not be a game for everyone, but if you're even slightly curious you owe it to yourself to give it a try. Knocked it down from a 10 to a 9 due to the long load times. Otherwise Bloodborne is a true masterpiece!… Expand
  87. BosstiCom
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. An exceptional game. A masterpiece. A genre king. A must-play argument to own a PlayStation 4. Bloodborne is all that, and more.

    I was 2 hours into Bloodborne when the sense of adventure lead me into the Yharnam canals through a one-way. I was lost, not knowing the way back to the next lantern; of course there's always a fast way to enter the hunter's dream: By dying. But since dying means losing your precious Bloodechoes (which are basically gold and exp in one package) I was determined to cling to life as long as possible. Another 2 hours later, covered in blood and almost out of the canals I had increased my Bloodecho count to almost 4000 when I suddenly discovered bodies hanging from the canal ceilings, glowing with loot. The moment I chopped the second body I fell as well; surviving the ledge only just, my hands full of sweat I suddenly saw a pack of giant rats turning around and running towards me. Instinctively I backed off while healing myself, throwing Molotovs and transforming my axe into a halberd, wide swinging at the hungry beasts. I had developed some skills over the past 4 hours and they proved to be enough to also survive this encounter. Once the dust had settled, I began to collect the loot when I suddenly found my first new weapon. This moment alone contained a sensation of satisfaction most other entire games don't come close to. And I hadn't even seen the first boss yet.

    Of course those moments of success are nothing new to people who are used to From Software's Souls games. What sets Bloodborne apart is the shift in gameplay mechanics that rewards offensive play and eliminates magic; it's a little bit like comparing the momentum of Gears of War to the momentum of Vanquish, with Bloodborne being a much more tense and emotional experience. There are no viable shield options in Bloodborne and your firearm is mainly for setting up ripostes or luring enemies away from their groups. In the middle of the fight however, it's all down to the question how good your evasion skills are and how much you know about your weapon's reach and speed. It's about how competent you are with following the rhythm of the battle and distinguishing the avoid notes, always looking for the target harmony of victory.

    Reading your enemies' movements and predicting their attacks is the key to survival in Bloodborne, or at least to survive a little bit longer. Make no mistake: this is still very much a Souls-like game which means you'll die. A lot. It will be infuriating at times but Bloodborne is crafted so virtuoso that it's almost never the game that's to blame.

    To mitigate some of the possible frustration, you should play Bloodborne online whenever possible. Sure, inviting friends to help with bosses will make the game easier; but what's more important are the hints and messages that every player can leave in the world. Those will often tell you about an enemy ambush that lies ahead, give you advice what the weakness of the following enemy is or tell you about a hidden item that you might miss otherwise.

    Soon you will start to leave messages as well, probably to participate in the community and help other players. But you will also get help in return; messages can be rated good or bad and a good rating from another player will actually heal you. It might not sound like much but if you're in close quarter combat with Pater Gascoigne and a quick note pops up how another player found one of your messages helpful and thus healing you in the middle of a boss fight, you'll experience the most badass form of Karma in your gamer's life.

    Ultimately, Bloodborne is more than just a mere test of skill, it's a test of character. It's not a game for people who like to blame the world for their mistakes or expecting their environment to compromise for their comfort. It rewards patience, curiosity, deductive reasoning and adaptability. It doesn't make you a worse person if you allow the game to break you, but bathing in its waves of bitter drubbing and sweet triumph may actually make a better person out of you.

    This game is an epiphany, stylistically confident not only in its game mechanics but also with its Victorian environments and Lovecraftian creatures. It wants you to get lost in its game world, showing you the story instead of telling it. It doesn't restrain you and all it asks in return is that you don't expect it to be restrained. It deserves the critical acclaim and praise it's getting but more importantly it deserves your attention. Every bit of it.    … Expand
  88. Benadict
    Mar 30, 2015
    10
    Amazing game. This is my first From Software game so there was a lot of frustrating moments when I began the journey, but once you understand how this game works it is a true gem. Having said that, I am disappointed at the frame rate, not because its 30fps but because in my experience its drops below that much too often thus creating stuttering of game play. I have watched a lot of YouTubeAmazing game. This is my first From Software game so there was a lot of frustrating moments when I began the journey, but once you understand how this game works it is a true gem. Having said that, I am disappointed at the frame rate, not because its 30fps but because in my experience its drops below that much too often thus creating stuttering of game play. I have watched a lot of YouTube videos where it seems like it runs smoother, so maybe there is something going on on my end, but it's not a custom pc where hardware varies, it's a console, so I doubt it. Another issue a lot of people complain about is the loading times, and though they are long I really don't mind it too much, just more incentive to take it slow and not get killed. I want to give this game a 10 but the frame rate drop in environments where there are many enemies and smoke effects makes this game a 9 for me.… Expand
  89. AlemaoBohrer
    Apr 1, 2015
    10
    Awesome game, great graphics, ambient ... its damn hard, but when you there you forgot everything and foccus.. there's no escape..
    hehehe

    Best of the Best !!
  90. Riya7a
    Apr 6, 2015
    10
    I never really liked goth-ish looking games other than Dark souls but this game is incredible. Difficult but rewarding, with many different types of weapons, skills, and abilities. The story is very original. Gameplay is very nice. Loading screens many agitate you because you may die a lot of times and then you have to wait a long time. Lots of different types of enemies with their ownI never really liked goth-ish looking games other than Dark souls but this game is incredible. Difficult but rewarding, with many different types of weapons, skills, and abilities. The story is very original. Gameplay is very nice. Loading screens many agitate you because you may die a lot of times and then you have to wait a long time. Lots of different types of enemies with their own styles. This game does not lose depth. I enjoy the great level design. Some people say that the frame rate was an issue but for me it was exceptional… Expand
  91. Isometric
    Apr 6, 2015
    10
    This is, without a doubt, one of the best games I've played in a long time. The game play is amazing, only rivaled by games such as inFamous. The unforgiving nature of the enemies makes for a challenging, offensive, and strategic combat system.
    It takes quite a while to get past the first boss (or even the first alley :P), but once you do, you are in absolute bliss. The risk VS. reward    This is, without a doubt, one of the best games I've played in a long time. The game play is amazing, only rivaled by games such as inFamous. The unforgiving nature of the enemies makes for a challenging, offensive, and strategic combat system.
    It takes quite a while to get past the first boss (or even the first alley :P), but once you do, you are in absolute bliss. The risk VS. reward system is stellar, offering mechanics such as a temporary opportunity to regain health by striking an enemy.
    Every new weapon that is unlocked changes the way the game is played, and the "Blood Echoes" currency system pushes this game one step further.
    I love this game, and I strongly believe that anyone with a PS4 and $60 should have the opportunity to play this masterpiece.    … Expand
  92. seburo
    Mar 27, 2015
    10
    Awesome game. Just what's the problem with the stupids that rate with 0s? It isn't a 0 by far from any point of view. Hateful rat-kids!! Sheeesh... Great job from From Software. Keep it up!
  93. Synk_Zero
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Absolutely the best in the Soul series. Intuitive UI, fast & precise combat and gorgeous atmosphere make this game a fine contender for GOTY 2015. I highly recommend you to pick this up ASAP if you don't own it yet.
  94. SynysterSlayer
    Mar 25, 2015
    10
    I feel like most of these negative reviews are coming from folks who don't like the souls series or do not own a PS4. This game is in no way shape or form a 0.

    This game is for people who enjoy challenges. This is not a title you can pick up and roll through with your eyes closed. You will sweat, you will cuss, and you will hate this game until you finally beat the part you've been    I feel like most of these negative reviews are coming from folks who don't like the souls series or do not own a PS4. This game is in no way shape or form a 0.

    This game is for people who enjoy challenges. This is not a title you can pick up and roll through with your eyes closed. You will sweat, you will cuss, and you will hate this game until you finally beat the part you've been stuck on for hours. When you finally do there is not another game that can match the sense of accomplishment and joy of getting over that hurtle.

    The graphics are great. They are not shiny and polished, which for some reason are the only style a lot of people consider "good". It's murky, gothic, and extremely detailed. The sounds and visuals keep you guessing to what may be around the corner. The graphics do a great job of creating a unique atmosphere which this world resides.

    As far as story goes, Fromsoft does things differently than other developers. You are given a small taste of what is going on in the short intro, then it is up to you to search around and discover everything else. If you mash through it only to try and get to the end expecting it all to be explained then, you will be disappointed. This game may only be 40 hours long if you rush it, however if you search around every nook and cranny to discover what is really going on, along with some great hidden treasure and bosses, only then will you have truly completed this game.

    The barrier of entry is high as it always has been with this series. You are given a brief over view of controls and that's it. Nothing else is handed to you. You must discover everything on your own. While it's easy to look online to have other people tell you what to do, that method ruins what the game is about. While choosing this method will make the game much easier it also drains a lot of what makes his game fun.... Mystery.

    Co-op is not made easy either. You have a limited item that allows you to call for help. There is a reason for this. This game is balanced around you vs the world. When you get stuck it allows for you to get help and it makes beating a boss SO much easier. This is why when that boss is beaten your co-op partner is returned to their own world. When I say limited, you can easily call on a friend to help you with every single boss if you wanted to, but the items you get to do this are very rare early on.

    This game has a few flaws, but for being the day after release this game is light years beyond how games are normally released ( barely functional, riddled with bugs, takes 3-4 patches to get the games running smoothly ). I've experienced a handful of frame rate drops that were never in high tense moments. I had a aggressive NPC bug out on a ladder. Other than that this game functions exceptionally well.

    So if you own a ps4, you enjoy a good challenge, and you don't like your hand being held in games then this is worth your time.    … Expand
  95. AC95
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    what is the matter xbox and pc fan boys awww are you guys sad that you will never be able to play this game? just stop writing fake reviews without even playing this game. this game is amazing the best game from formsoftware, game play is great and makes so much fun, the graphics are amazing i just love the dark/Gothic look that this game has. if you own a PS4 and like difficult games gowhat is the matter xbox and pc fan boys awww are you guys sad that you will never be able to play this game? just stop writing fake reviews without even playing this game. this game is amazing the best game from formsoftware, game play is great and makes so much fun, the graphics are amazing i just love the dark/Gothic look that this game has. if you own a PS4 and like difficult games go get it now. and again to all the fanboys stop writing fake reviews and insult ps4 owners you can all go to HELL.… Expand
  96. bombshell
    Mar 24, 2015
    10
    Best current gen exclusive game across all consoles so far. From Software has expanded upon their Souls game formula and made a fantastic new IP game.
  97. alkaabi_of_war
    Jul 20, 2015
    10
    beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest game ever
  98. Dredd731
    Mar 25, 2015
    9
    I laughed so hard at the review written by Toneboat923! X button??? You obviously have not touched this game.

    I am brand new to this genre or maybe I should say developer. I have not played any of the souls games so I am behind the curve and being punished but I am learning and even though I am spending a lot of time dying and running back I think the game is great! Top notch visuals,    I laughed so hard at the review written by Toneboat923! X button??? You obviously have not touched this game.

    I am brand new to this genre or maybe I should say developer. I have not played any of the souls games so I am behind the curve and being punished but I am learning and even though I am spending a lot of time dying and running back I think the game is great! Top notch visuals, pacing and atmosphere. The only issue I have is that load times are a bit on the long side but I have read that this will be patched.    … Expand
  99. joacko1990
    Mar 29, 2015
    10
    This game is insipired by Vampire Hunter D : Bloodlust . ( Amazing anime )

    The art ; gameplay ; Online co-op make this game a must buy for Ps4 owners .

    One of the true Next generation games 100% japanese
  100. godgravity
    Mar 24, 2015
    9
    Excellent title. Really minor complaints, that honestly don't distract from the quality and love the developers clearly put into this work.

    The graphics, the controls, the sound, even the difficulty - all excellent. People complaining about the difficulty are too trained on QTEs (IMHO) to appreciate learning how to deal with an enemy. Those who put a bit of effort in, are justly    Excellent title. Really minor complaints, that honestly don't distract from the quality and love the developers clearly put into this work.

    The graphics, the controls, the sound, even the difficulty - all excellent. People complaining about the difficulty are too trained on QTEs (IMHO) to appreciate learning how to deal with an enemy. Those who put a bit of effort in, are justly rewarded.

    The only drawbacks are the excessive load-times (this might be patchable later, but I doubt it), and the occasional defect with some online functionality not seeming to be very functional at this time. Again, I think some of these complaints may be addressed in a later update.

    Definitely a must-buy for any PS4 player.    … Expand
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Awards & Rankings

3
#3 Best PS4 Game of 2015
1
#1 Most Discussed PS4 Game of 2015
9
#9 Most Shared PS4 Game of 2015

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
92

Universal acclaim - based on 100 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 99 out of 100
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 100
  3. Negative: 0 out of 100
  1. Playstation Official Magazine Australia
    May 26, 2015
    90
    Visually striking, nerve-shredding and a fascinating streamlining of the Souls formula. Bloodborne is an exclusive jewel in the PS4 crown and you need to own it. [June 2015, p71]
  2. Games Master UK
    May 24, 2015
    90
    What a world. What a combat system. What a game. You don't want to miss this. [June 2015, p.56]
  3. Playstation Official Magazine UK
    May 20, 2015
    90
    It offers unparalleled player agency when dealing with From's wonderful third-person combat. [May 2015, p.79]
See all critic reviews »