When first introduced to Bloodborne, one might mistake it as a a game simply about hunting beasts and corrupted denizens of Yharnam. However, as with most From Software games, there is a narrative that runs far deeper than the surface may let on.
From the introduction of the game, players are constantly teased about the power of this mysterious blood, and only as players delve into the depths of Yharnam do they uncover more about the mysterious Great Ones and their impact on the city. The Great Ones are touched on in the lore, but there is so much potential to expand the lore of these mysterious, powerful beings if a sequel is ever made.
What are the Great Ones?
Great Ones are a type of celestial being that appears in Bloodborne during the game's later half. They are first teased, and their impact can be seen in the city, but the scope of their corruption is not truly realized until much later. The Great Ones are multi-dimensional, eldritch beings with tremendous powers - strong enough to be worshiped and seen as gods among the Yharnamites. The Healing Church and the scholars of Byrgenwerth sought to harness the power of the Great Ones to advance human evolution.
These supernatural beings were first discovered by Byrgenwerth scholars in the lost labyrinth of Pthumeru, and later became religious icons in the city of Yharnam. Whether these supernatural beings were actually gods or just extremely powerful is up for debate, but they were certainly strong enough to warrant the Healing Church and Byrgenwerth scholars looking into them.
The Kin, and the Power of the Blood
The major reason why the Church and Byrgenwerth were so interested in these eldritch entities was the potential to advance the human race. However, advancement came at a cost. A plague broke out in the world, and many flocked to Yharnam to seek a cure. During this time the Healing Church began doing blood ministrations, injecting those who sought a cure with Old Blood, blood of the Great Ones, to cure the disease. However, these blood ministrations had a drawback, for when Old Blood and Human Blood mix inside a person, that person turns into a beast. Soon Yharnam was overrun with beasts and the city crumbled into chaos.
Hunters began scouring the city to strike down the beasts that roamed, and ultimately it was the player's Hunter who discovered the deeper story behind the transformations. With the city in ruins, it may be time for From Software to leave Yharnam behind in the sequel.
An interesting side-effect of the presence of Great Ones in Yharnam is the rise of Kin, those who have shed their human appearances to transcend to something greater. These beings exist somewhere between Human and Great One, but will never truly ascend to be a Great One. These creatures turned into some of the most terrifying and challenging enemies in Bloodborne. Creatures like the Winter Lanterns and Fluorescent Flowers were things of nightmares, all thanks to their close contact with Great Ones. Perhaps if Bloodborne 2 focused on the Great Ones then perhaps there could be a greater focus on the Kin and the stories about them could be expanded more.
Every Great One in Bloodborne
First on the list of True Great Ones is Amygdala, which resembles a giant brain with a spindly body and seven arms/legs. They can be seen hanging from buildings after players amass enough Insight.
The Brain of Mensis is another True Old One that is found in the School of Mensis. While not hard to fight, the Brain of Mensis made navigating the School difficult as it would cause frenzy whenever players entered the light it casts.
Mergo's Wet Nurse is one of the later bosses in the Bloodborne story, and while not incredibly difficult, the Wet Nurse can catch players off guard with its rapid attacks.
Odeon is a more ambiguous Great One, as it is so powerful that it transcends a physical body and exists in an incorporeal form. Odeon is tied closely to the blood that is used throughout the story as it is his method of creating children inside humans.
The Moon Presence is Bloodborne's secret final boss and is a challenging end to the game. The Moon Presence created the Hunter's Dream. If defeated, the Hunter will then turn into an infant Great One themselves, destined to advance humanity's evolution further.
Bloodborne's 'The Old Hunters' DLC features two new Great Ones, though only one is alive when the players meet it. Kos is found dead near the shore of the Fishing Hamlet. The Old Hunters (Gherman and Maria, but likely also Ludwig, Willem, Laurence, and Micolash as well) did unspecified horrific things to Kos before its death, horrid enough that Maria cast her weapons into the well of the Hamlet. The residents of the Fishing Hamlet worshipped Kos, which resulted in them turning into horrid fish-like creatures. Kos also had a child, The Orphan of Kos, who is considered one of the hardest boss fights in Bloodborne.
Untapped Potential
So much is still unknown about the Great Ones, like where they came from or how they became so powerful. Clearly they are strong enough to manipulate reality itself, transforming beings into stronger monsters, but there is still so much to learn about these interplanetary beings. If Bloodborne 2 happens, the Great Ones should make a return and have their backstory fleshed out more.
There is little design fidelity between the different Great Ones, outside of a theme of eyes, so clearly there are lots of different Great Ones out there. The Great Ones were powerful bosses and some of the best boss fights in Bloodborne, so if they make a return it'll likely make a lot of fans happy that they will get to take on more of these powerful and interesting beings. Moreso, Bloodborne's ending means that there are going to be new Great Ones and Kin being created in Yharnam, so it leaves the door open to return to the beautiful and haunting city.
Fans of Bloodborne are eagerly awaiting any news about a possible sequel to the hit From Software game, but unfortunately they may still be waiting awhile. Clearly From Software is working hard to get Elden Ring out to fans, but perhaps after that launches, Hidetaka Miyazaki and the rest of the team at From Software will be able to give Bloodborne the sequel it truly deserves.
Bloodborne is available now for PS4.