With Dark Souls firmly established as a franchise, it was exciting to see that the fourth game in the series wouldn't be a whole new IP, ditching the medieval-fantasy setting that players had become used to, and transporting us to a Gothic alternative reality that seemed to come from some ghoulish shared consciousness of Edgar Allen Poe and H.P. Lovecraft. The land of Yarnham is quite unlike anything we've seen before - filled with horrifying deformities, fallen hunters, and menacing bosses that seem to be made of hellish tendrils and mutated cartilage. While the foundation of Dark Souls' gruelling stamina-based gameplay is here, there are myriad differences that ultimately make Bloodborne a distinct - and tougher - experience. You can't hide behind your shield here, and must rely on dodges and counters to survive. The game rewards you for more aggressive gameplay, so you'll often have to go against your cowardly survival instincts and take leaps of faith if you're going to progress deeper into this fascinating, enigmatic world. Bloodborne is that classic 'Souls' emotional rollercoaster that takes you from raw elation upon beating bosses, to hair-tearing despair when you die and need to work your way back through a treacherous level to retrieve your blood echoes. But the spectacular new setting and sweeping gameplay changes to the Souls formula make Bloodborne the most unique and mechanically brilliant RPG of the year.
Gamer, Researcher of strange things.
I'm a writer-editor hybrid whose writings on video games, technology and movies can be found across the internet. I've even ventured into the realm of current affairs on occasion but, unable to face reality, have retreated into expatiating on things on screens instead.
