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- Games of the Generation: Bloodborne is a Lovecraftian nightmare that will keep you coming back for more
Generation Games As the release of PS5 and Xbox Series X approaches, TechRadar takes a look back at the games that made this generation great. This week's entry? Bloodborne FromSoftware is perhaps one of the most popular game studios. After the release of Demon Souls in 2009, game director Hidetaka Miyazaki earned his place among the greats, with his unique style of high-stakes, brutally challenging gameplay that spawned an entire ``soul'' genre, kept alive by the incredibly popular Dark Souls franchise. But just when you thought Miyazaki's game themes and settings were getting stale, in 2015 we got Bloodborne, a Lovecraftian horror PlayStation exclusive filled with unique beasts and deranged beast hunters. Putting you in the dirty, blood-soaked shoes of The Hunter, Bloodborne tasks you with entering the strange city of Yarnham to hunt down the beasts and put an end to the mysterious plague that is ravaging the city. As you progress through the city, you will begin to unravel the mystery of the Healing Church and the conspiracy behind the disease that is spreading through the population. As with all FromSoftware games, the lore of the Bloodborne universe is vast, told largely through cryptic conversations with mysterious NPCs, as well as environmental clues you'll discover as you explore the world.
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(Image credit: FromSoftware) And what a world to explore. Yarnham is dark, disgusting and scary, but it's still intriguing. You never know what he might be hiding around the next corner and if he's going to want to help you or eat you. From the confusingly twisting swamps to the grand Cathedral Quarter, each location you explore will leave you curious and hesitant, as you try to soak up the rich narrative as you fight for your life.
A unique take on the genre
Bloodborne not only breathes new life into the genre with its stunning locations, but also its variation in gameplay. Dark Souls games often put the player on the defensive - patience tends to be your best friend, and while you wait for the first match, your only option. Bloodborne inverts this concept, encouraging the player to go on the offensive. Once you've taken damage in Bloodborne, you can regain some of your lost health by immediately retaliating against the enemy that hurt you. Instead of having a bottle of healing juice that fills up when you rest, like in Dark Souls, Bloodborne gives the player a bank of healing vials that can deplete quickly. It also works to keep the game going as more flasks can be found killing enemies littering the streets of Yarnham. There is always a balance between risk and reward when navigating the environments of FromSoftwares games. Often enemies or even bosses can be avoided if you take the time to explore cities, swamps, and castles well enough. The difference is that in Bloodborne it's usually worth killing. Bloodborne rewards exploration with hidden items and even NPCs that might have been missed without your curiosity. However, the game also punishes experimentation in other areas. For example, the best strategy is to find a weapon you like early on and stick with it. Upgrade materials are scarce, and you'll need to focus on mastering a weapon's moveset if you want to progress. This means that replaying this game is more tempting than most FromSoftware games, but revisiting such a punishing game will be overwhelming for most.
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(Image credit: FromSoftware)
Learn from your mistakes
Although the game is difficult, like all FromSoftware games, it is also fair. The cycle of traversing a dark area, learning the enemy's moves, reaching the boss, learning his attacks, weaknesses, and strengths, before finally killing your prey is rewarding. this game. While at times it feels like you're banging your head against a brick wall, beating a tough boss, upgrading your weapon, and clearing the floor with enemies that towered over you only a few hours ago. one of the most satisfying things in the game. It's the reinvention of a well-established genre mechanic that makes Bloodborne a game people keep coming back to years after release. For a lot of people, this is the game that brought them into the soul genre and we were incredibly excited about the Demon Souls remake on PS5, and the specter of a Bloodborne 2 sequel, if such a thing. it happens one day