A look back on the gameplay and lore of Bloodborne. Subscribe to the channel: / @acritical Twitter - / acriticaltv Twitch - / acriticaltv #bloodborne #fromsoftware
In hindsight, perhaps it was wrong of me to suggest that Bloodborne is the most celebrated From Soft title (even though I do not say it definitively - hence the use of the word "arguably"). Still, "fan favourite" may have been better. I suppose it depends on how many factors you take into consideration when using the term "celebrated". Also, I read that every Great One is either female or unspecified (with the exception of Oedon) so I just stuck with she for all of them, including the Orphan of Kos.
When it was released, and even after Dark Souls 3 was released, it singularly stood out. It wasn't medieval fantasy. It wasn't knights in armour. It didn't have bazillion swords to swing. Like it or not it was different, yet recognisably Souls-like. That's a very good reason to celebrate the title. That is if you've been fortunate enough to play it. It's a game held back by platform exclusivity. But far as I can tell it's been a system seller for some.
Percentage-wise, Bloodborne is for sure the most celebrated title. Since it was a PS4 exclusive, saying that gets shot down by all the fans who haven’t played it (they will always outnumber us until a PC port becomes available).
@@AlastorAltruistGaming no souls game can match Bloodbornes world and atmosphere imo... yharnam, upper cathedral ward, the path that leads to byrgenwerth after shadows of yharnam etc Also, the soundtrack is my all time favourite any game
One thing I'll say is that I always count Ludwig's second phase AS a hunter fight. The transition between phases is Ludwigs humanity coming back to him through his moonlight blade. With this reclaimed humanity, he fights you in a valiant duel reminiscent of a dance, not unlike the fight with Maria. Ludwigs second phase just feels like a hunter fight to me because not only does it have the feel, Ludwig is at least what I took to be THE hunter lore wise. Ludwig was the hunter among hunters. It's hard to even call him a beast at that point. Plus in his second phase he loses his weakness to fire and serrated weapons, which are the typical beast weaknesses
Ludwig is my FAVORITE boss in the whole game, and one of my favorites in the whole Souls series in general. His *hunter* phase kicked my ass for hours, but the fight still felt fair enough for me to feel like I accomplished something huge once the fight was over.
On thing a lot of reviewers sleep on in my opinion is the clothing graphics and physics. I always crack a smile whenever I open a pair of heavy doors and see how a gush of draught caused by the air pressure difference between two rooms that seem to have been long closed off from each other pushes the fabric of your character's clothing backwards. It's 😘👌
there is an interview somewhere with one of the devs emphasizing how much effort went into clothes specifically, especially making them look "soft", which I always thought was the case, even before learning of this tidbit.
This is the best summary of Bloodborne I've ever seen and I agree with pretty much all of it. It truly is a masterpiece; one of the greatest games ever made. As much as I love it, I also feel like I don't want FromSoft to risk spoiling it with a sequel. They've already proven that they can create amazing new things with Sekiro and Elden Ring.
I feel the same way. I would love a sequel because of how amazing BB is. But as a game and story, I feel it is complete and does not need one. A true masterpiece on its own (even with certain flaws like blood gem farming).
@@hmq2007 Hell yeah. If they ever do remake it, I hope they take the RNG out of the gem farming and maybe cut down the chalice dungeons and the material farming needed to create them.
Playing this as my first FromSoftware game currently. 7 hours of dread with my hand/controller shaking and heart pounding but I just don’t feel like putting it down. I don’t remember when was the last time I was this addicted to a video game.
I missed this for the longest time because of console exclusivity. In a way I view it as a hidden gem in the Souls community. Well less 'hidden' and more 'unattainable'. It has a lot going for it. Looking at Bloodborne and Sekiro, I hope From will do more interesting singular releases in the future.
I have been gaming for over 3 decades, and have witnessed the life cycle of every major console, and played many great games!.. That said, I can honestly say that Bloodborne is one of the best games of all time!... It is a true masterpiece, in every aspect, from gameplay, character designs, and especially lore and music!.. I have been dying for more of this world!
Man I really loved the chalice dungeons, especially the storyline ones. I noticed the Queen of Yarnam wasn't covered in your boss fights, which leads me to believe you haven't finished them (or rather you haven't seen all they have to offer).
... and the game directly tells you they in fact are connected in some way when the doll tells you Gehrmann sleeps more peaceful now after you beat the Orphan.
Most vivid memory of this game is being sent to Hypogean Gaol and taking the stairs down, never realizing after 30+ deaths that there was a bonfire 30 seconds away if i had taken the stairs up instead of down... aaah i got good at parrying w/ the gun i'll tell you that xD
Without a doubt the worst sound ever created by human hands is the crow attack noise. It’s a masterpiece. Combine that with the fact that the fuckers never become consistently predictable (especially in groups) and you have a horrific experience altogether. Top tier stuff
With no doubt in my mind, Bloodbourne is the best game I’ve ever played. All of Fromsoft games are very good but to me this is the crown jewel, Fromsoft’s goat.
First Souls game I ever beat. I didn’t find it super hard (most of the bosses you can just walk behind and smack around), but it was super addictive. The lore is so engrossing as it’s paced out so amazingly well. Well done laying it out in a clear way.
29:10 no dude you’re spot on. I thought the same thing, this whole scene, including when the moon presence/ paleblood is slowly descending, is just so mesmerizing.
This was my first Fromsoft game. And as hard as it was in the beginning, I thought it was one of the best games I’ve ever played. I’ve played every single game in the series since then and Bloodborne is still the most satisfying, and memorable games in my life. I have played this game over 10 times and is to date the only game I have a Platinum trophy on. Perfect game
I'm playing DS 3 currently for the first time after Bloodborne, man I really miss BB's dash when locked on to enemies and rally mechanic instead of chugging flasks 🔥💯
My 1st play through, just got to Orphan of Kos, fighting him on a 50 inch flat screen TV is the most amazing thing in the world! I love the aesthetic in that game it's timeless, everything Miyazaki does is timeless, GOAT.
Interesting note: It's been widely suggested and in some corners accepted that all of Bloodborne is part of the Dream. The only time you can be absolutely certain your character, the hunter, is seen outside of it is the 'New Dawn' ending. Though people will cite the 'awaken above ground' message on the Hunter's Dream tombstones, but it should be noted that it says that when heading to the Nightmare Frontier and Nightmare of Micolash.
You can actually make the witch of hemwick fight even easier by going in the fight with 0 insight because the jim Henson nightmare Muppets will not spawn lol. I found this out by accident but honestly I try to always keep 50 insight at all times because the music is so much better with 50 insight especially in the hunters dream.
No lie the first two FromSoftware games I ever tried were DS2 and Bloodborne both back in 2015 and for the life of me couldn't get used to the way either game played especially with the inability to pause the game that took some getting used too. I literally didn't touch another FromSoft game till Sekiro came out then went back and played bloodborne after I got past the learning curve it became my most favourite game in the series I've played them all and bloodborne is definitely the best to me.
to be fair ds2 has the clunkiest controls and slowest combat. also even tho you have 8 directional roll and attack the game still likes to stick to 4 direction. then bloodborne is the complete opposite of ds2. wouldnt be surprised you struggled with those two games. cause they teach you two different styles of play.
@@tripps_on_knives exactly I didn't get out the first times so in my mind DS2 was the worst fantasy game ever and that if DS2 is this bad there's no way DS1 can be good(which is wrong on all ends) and Bloodborne I thought was the hardest game ever that beginning level is brutal.
@@dvsh7168 to be fair i still think BB is the hardest fromsoft game. but that is subjective. granted i have beat it multiple times and my main is on NG+4 and i have over 400 hours in it now. still think its the hardest one. edit: yes central yarhnam might just be the hardest level in the entire game of BB. from a pure first time low level introduction point. cause while yes other areas are more challenging. you also have more levels and equipment to help you get through them.
There was recently the tiniest tidbit of news, on some playstation-affiliated podcast, where some host was quoted as saying "You haven't seen the last of Bloodborne". Now, we can probably assume that Bloodborne 2 is gonna happen at some point, given the 1st game's prestige, but, given that Elden Ring came out so recently, I imagine what is more likely is a remaster of Bloodborne, possibly just for PS5, ideally for all platforms. Who knows tho, just some conjecture on my end based off of "news" that amounts to very little lol. Well, here's hoping at least.
I like how in the story it's kind of ambiguous when they talk about these powerful entities, and how the scholars wanted to harness this power of these gods. You don't understand until you actually see all the Amygdala's with insight that you gain over time. Everything connects well in the story like the insight, the characters, chalice dungeons, they're integral to the story.
Best artstyle ever! As a fan of gothic victorian era I like Sherlock Holmes and AC Syndicate. But only Bloodborne managed to bring a dark fantasy to life
All the bosses you mentioned that lack depth all implement 1 main variant for a boss fight that I LOVE, but just weren't done to their full potential. Micolash being a chase fight could be really cool if the actual fighting going on was better, or if the level you run through required more tact, skill, stealth or whatever. Living Failures having an area wide attack that has to be avoided is awesome but I kind of wish the shield you find in level was more necessary. What a cool idea that most players just don't need cuz they always know where to stand to avoid the attack. Celestial Emmisary being one boss in a field of look alikes, and then turning into a stronger version at full health is such a rad idea imo. Just really ended up being too shallow and easy of a fight. Maybe more aggressive enemies like the beasts, and you can even use fire to coral them during the fight? Just an idea. The one Reborn isnt the first fight like this From Soft has done, but I don't know the proper way they could implement it. Maybe you can only kill the "archers" if you found a key in the level somewhere? Witches of Hemwick is kind of like the Celestial Emmisaries. You are just searching for an invisible boss this time instead of one in a crowd. But I like the idea of the fight getting harder the longer it goes on, and enemies spawning in to try and stop you while you play hide and seek. I want to see more of these ideas explored in future titles, instead of written off as bad just cuz the first go around didn't really amount to anything
This deserves way more views, it's one of the best analyses of Bloodborne, easy to understand and to the point, most other Bloodborne analyses are either unnecessarily cryptic or they try to be funny (and failing)
Bloodborne is a video game that truly transcended into art, IMO. The attention to detail in the architecture, characters and their backstories is astounding. I hope we get a sequel some day, but I can understand if FromSoft just want to leave this game to stand on its own.
All games are art, even shitty games. Game designers are artists that create art. Games are an artform where art is made. Bloodborne is just a very good work of art.
Your personal interpretation of the lore is interesting, although i have different theories. A very entertaining review+ if i may call it that. Thanks !
Bloodborne will always keep a special place in my heart, I came for the amazing world setting and enticing lore, and I stayed for everything the game offered. Though I was off put by the challenge as it was my first fromsoft game, I ended up enjoying it more than any other game before.
Around Halloween every year, I take a trip back to Yharnam to try a new build or play one of my favorites. Its perfect on a rainy night, lights dim, cigar and scotch lol
im on Xbox and i 100% sekiro and loved every minute of it. i played DS3 and of course im enjoying elden ring. BUT bloodborne is the one PS game id love to play, even it being old i heard about the game before i knew what a FROM SOFT game was. Sekiro was so much fun learning the new prosthetic moves and upgrading them, BUT the parry system was the real skill gap, though it looks fairly easy to pull off and in 1st playthrough it is, its very forgiving but if you dont grasp it at some point, you'll sooner or later get that mini boss or boss that will check your skill at it. Loved it. this was a great video, i know nothing about the bloodborne lore or world but videos like this make me want to play it so much more. ill have to hope itll get ported some day.
My mother in law came to visit us few years ago while I was full focus playing Bloodborne. To not creep her out, I choosed to play with my earphones... and holy shirt! The ambiance is far more creepy than playing with the TV sound. Try it ;)
I LOVE this game and it was my first souls game that hook me to the series and i absolutely agree with what you said also i know its not going to happen BUT... Can you imagine bloodborne remaked in the same scale as Elden Ring...oh my lord
The almighty youtube algorithm just recommended me this video and I really like what I've seen, I'm looking forward to see what's next and will definitely watch the older videos too! :)
The messengers were sent by the doll. The doll is an old one. It is a fact the main character cannot accept or face without succumbing to madness. It is why the winter lanterns drive you to frenzy. They reveal the truth (shaped like the doll, with a mashup of messengers and eyes for a head).
I don't know where you got this from but the doll being a great one sounds feasible. Every time you beat a great one in their nightmare realm, that dream supposedly ends. But when you get the true ending and become a great one after killing the moon presence, the dream doesn't end. And who's there to pick you up? The doll! She coddles you like a baby and giggles. All great ones lose their child and seek for a surrogate! The good hunter is her surrogate! But I doubt it though lol.
i was fairly certain that canonically the messengers were placed by the healing church and hunters of the church. also there are a few messengers in the game that directly state YOU placed it there. even tho it was there before you read it.
@@CannedPsycho- , yes, and when you hit the doll it spills the actual pale blood (or Gehrman's semen, but we are not talking about that). And we can't interact with the doll until we have some insight. Just like the other greate ones who are not visible without a certain amount of insight.
I keep thinking that one day I'll be done with BB lore and critique, but here I am once again 😅 And I super agree that it doesn't need a sequel. IMHO the original IPs are when From is at it's best. Nothing really wrong with Dark Souls 2 or 3, I played them all, but it doesn't feel as inspired to me
Translation issue (Japanese to English) indicates that Kos was actually not dead on arrival to the hamlet - seems the people loved her and worked with her until Byrgenwerth came and murdered her. And it also seems she built the nightmare in order to trap those who took her from her child. Also, every single FromSoft game has had bosses that were there more for lore than challenge. I love (most of) them because I don't want a boss to exist purely as a game mechanic... sacrificing story for gameplay would not be Miyazaki.
So why does this guy not have more subs? Very solid video! Never played demon souls or blood borne they are the only in the from series I haven’t played and i really want to especially after watching stuff like this!
Chasing that rally mechanic has gotten me killed more times than I can count...I learned it's just better to concentrate on timing counter attacks perfectly, and not worry about chasing the rally since you can carry a lot of blood vials.
Nice breakdown! Yes, the "adjustment period" was definitely a hurdle for me. Bloodborne was my first From Software game and I absolutely loved it. After beating it, I simply needed more. So tried out Dark Souls 3 next. And hilariously, I didn't even use my shield at first! I was so hardwired by BB to play aggressively nimble, that I forgot I even had a shield until I was a several bosses into the game! Now the "soulsbornekiring" series is mostly what I like to play and Bloodborne is my absolute favorite video game.
This video is not getting the rec it god damn deserves. The audio, visuals, script? Perfect! You got yourself a new sub man! I love the detail you gave, bloodborne was always one of my favs and this makes me want to go back and make a gun only build
This was my first Fromsoft title, in fact I only started playing this a month ago, and am still on my first play through (hey Im an adult with responsibilities, unfortunately). I always thought Souls games would be too difficult for me but then I tried a game called Mortal Shell, a souls-like that convinced me I would enjoy, and even ‘git gud’ at this type of game. I’ve just taken down Ebrietis and man, I loooove this game. I only hope the rest of Fromsoft’s catalogue is as brilliant, cause I’m set to -lay the rest of em after I beat this masterpiece.
Gehrman was in love with her and created the doll in Maria’s likeness after she committed suicide due to what she witnessed and was a part of. She denounced blood weapons and cast the Rakuyo into the well. A great irony being her choice of weapon in the fight being totally blood based. Blood and fire. I personally think it represents her anger and rage at what was done in the fishing hamlet. Her remorse only taking her so far before it all comes flooding out when our character embraces her. Anyway, that’s my take on it. The blurred lines of reality and the surreal make this game so memorable and explorable in a non traditional sense. I feel like I never hear people dig into the philosophical parts of the game. The Amygdala being named amygdala to start. The fact that you need insight or “knowledge” in order to see and deal with them and relating that to the amygdala being the emotional control center of the brain. A need of awareness to control and the beasts that can take over when those things are hidden. I think there’s a lot of metaphoric brilliance in the layers of this story and I love the analysis and peeling apart of those layers. Anyway, GREAT video! Thanks for this!
Great video, really enjoyed it! I noticed your other videos are right up my alley as well, so I know what I'm spending my evening doing! Subscribed, looking forward to more videos!
there's a thing you didn't mention or didn't know. At the end of the chalice labirinths there is a batle against yharnam, the ptnumerian queen, the one that bows to you when you defeat mergo's wet nurse
OoK can become reaaally easy once you understand that his arm is not part of his hitbox. So by sticking to him, you passively avoid most of his attack (beware of Kos' lightning though)... Laurence is a PURGE however. As for the Dream on fire, I think it's simply that, with the dawn approaching, the Moon Presence influence on the waking world (thus on you) is dwilling and you loose more and more of your connection with the Dream, getting naturaly pull out toward the waking world. I think the big problem with Micolash's fight is he wasn't supposed to be a boss. Some data mining tends to indicate that he was supposed to be an allied NPC. My opinion on the Chalice ? *mumbling in a corner, rocking and sucking my thumb*not the descendant not the descendant not the descendant not the descendant not the descendant not the descendant
I've played almost every SoulsBorne game, except Demon's Souls, and Bloodborne is my favorite in the series. I love the gothic horror with Souls combat. With the PlayStation exclusives coming to pc over the past couple years, I really hope Bloodborne(and Demon's Souls) come to pc at some point.
"Especially gascoigne, can be incredibly challenging..." Me. who beat gascoigne on my first try without any soulslike experience and getting hit twice:Indeed.
Kos was called upon by the village to save them from hunger and when the church heard about it hunters were sent to get rid of kos fearing the village being more powerful then them the orphan takes the form of gahrmen when you fight it. The nightmare is kos's curse to all those who would hunt her and her child
I hope bluepoint make a remake of this game it’d do it the world of good and hopefully they don’t change the music like in demons souls if they changed the atmosphere of it they’d also probably just put a filter in for the original colors anyway
If from ever think of remaking/remastering the game I really hope they make the moon presence and wet nurse really difficult. Give their feat some justice one being a caretaker of an infant great one while the other is a literal great one. The journey fighting both of these boss is like the buildup from the cathedral of the deep then facing the most underwhelming boss ever.
I only wish there was checkpoint outside boss area's and travelling back to the hunter's dream are the only naf parts so far. I'm just up to the witch fight.
To be honest, I'm not entirely sure if the Orphan of Kos even is a 'she', I just labelled the boss as such for the sake of consistency since every great one is either female or unspecified, besides Oedon.
