Bloodborne was a revolutionary new IP from Hidetaka Miyazaki and the team at From Software, and it quickly made its way to the top of the PS4 charts as one of the best games on the platform. Released in 2015, the fast-paced dive into Lovecraftian Horror was something entirely original and unlike anything else out there at the time, and even after five years, there hasn't really been another game quite like it.
From Software brought the challenging and intricate combat design philosophy from its popular Dark Souls games and introduced it to a completely original setting and story. Combine that with some conceptual changes to combat and terrifying boss fights and From Software stumbled upon a recipe for success with Bloodborne- and it's time for the developer to make a sequel.
Thriving in Gothic Horror
One of the best parts of Bloodborne is the game's setting and tone. When players step into Yharnam for the first time, they are hit by the stunning Victorian architecture, the sprawling city streets, the striking denizens of the city, and the moon hanging high above the city. As with most From Software games, players are given little context or guidance, and are thrust headfirst into the world to uncover the story for themselves. While Bloodborne 2 may want to leave Yharnam behind, there is definitely a case to be made for keeping the visual aesthetic similar in the new setting, as Bloodborne is synonymous with the Victorian Gothic look and clearly that design really stuck with fans.
In terms of narrative and story design, From Software did as one might expect and let the player uncover the story with little guidance. Clearly something is wrong with those wandering Yharnam's streets, and players work to uncover the story of the Pale Blood and the corruption that has seeded itself into the heart of the city. The story starts off as just a simple horror narrative, but as players defeat bosses and uncover more secrets in Yharnam, the Lovecraftian influences start revealing themselves. This self-discovery element is beloved by many and is one of the biggest requests for Bloodborne 2. The Insight stat that players accrue is directly tied to the state of Yharnam - or rather the degree to which the player can see the state of Yharnam. With enough Insight, players will begin noticing the giant alien creatures dangling from buildings and hear the calls of the Pale Blood.
To add to the brilliant design of Bloodborne, the bosses begin evolving and taking on more abstract and alien forms as players progress further into the game. As players start uncovering the truth behind the Church and the blood transfusions, the bosses transition from creature and mutated humans into actual Old Ones - creatures much more ancient and powerful than anything found naturally in Yharnam. Some of the best bosses in Bloodborne are these alien creatures that are straight off the page of the Necronomicon. It's no wonder that fans of the game want more of these creatures to fight against.
Swift and Challenging Combat
It's no secret that From Software loves challenging combat. The inspirations from Dark Souls can be easily felt in Bloodborne's combat. From telegraphic enemy attacks to kiting enemies around the map, there are a lot of similarities to Dark Souls. However, Bloodborne's combat is much more rapid, rewarding players for taking risks and attacking any and every opening an enemy shows. Where Dark Souls relies on parrying via shields to create openings, Bloodborne is all about dodging or using a gun to parry an attack.
The game even goes so far as to reward the player for being aggressive. After taking a hit, instead of backing off to regroup, if players damage an enemy they can earn back a portion of the health they lost. The combat is one of the best parts of Bloodborne, and it's one of the many reasons why people want a Bloodborne 2. One top of that, Bloodborne had a large number of melee and ranged weapons for players to experiment with. With so many different stats to build off of, there were so many different ways to approach combat in Bloodborne and each way felt unique and powerful in its own right.
A Deep and Interesting Narrative
Bloodborne, much like many of the other From Software games, required a little digging in-game to truly uncover the story. But once players start uncovering it, the story is surprisingly in-depth and interesting. What first starts off as a simple purge of corruption quickly devolves into a tale of science turned wrong and the Church dabbling with powers that they could not comprehend. This is only further expanded in Bloodborne's 'The Old Hunters" DLC, where the Hunter goes into the Hunter's Nightmare and defeats the Old Hunters who were there at the start of the corruption. The Ludwig and Laurence fights were not only some of the best in the entire game, but they also showed how the first experiments with Pale Blood proved to be far more dangerous and corrupting than any of them imagined. Dark Souls has been known for its environmental storytelling, and Bloodborne does that incredibly well, which is why many fans are disappointed that a sequel is supposedly not currently in development.
Bloodborne ended on quite a strange and ambiguous note, and with how odd it was there could always be room to create a new storyline. Even if From Software decides to leave Yharnam behind, there could be plenty of new narratives to write about the Old Ones and the power of their blood. While Yharnam's story feels complete, the Hunters could certainly find purpose in a new setting.
Bloodborne earned a place into the hearts of many as one of the best titles on PS4 when it launched back in 2015, and five years later fans are still eagerly awaiting news about a sequel. Many players return to Bloodborne every year to keep the game alive while waiting for Bloodborne 2, but it seems like fans still have a long time to wait before they will get to return to the franchise in a new installment.
Bloodborne is available now for PlayStation 4.