Definitely one of the most unique and fun action adventure games I’ve ever played. It was my first Souls game I played and to this day it remains my #1 favorite game From Software has ever made. The combat is fast, fluid, and satisfying. The amount of blood that appears in the game world is insane. Weapons are handled in a different way this time and they work very well for the game they made. There are over 20 weapons but they all have an alternate mode you can switch to on the fly. You can turn a short sword into a whip, or you can turn your axe into an even longer axe. There are less weapons in this game than in other Souls games, but unlike the souls games, every single melee weapon looks and feels very different from each other. They all have a use and purpose. The parrying mechanic is a good change of pace for the Souls type games. A perfectly timed gun shot will briefly incapacitate most enemies in the game, giving you the opportunity for a visceral attack, dealing insane damage.
The Victorian setting of Yharnam is extremely cool, and the lore behind the experience is, unsurprisingly, excellent and very well thought out. Really makes you think. I won’t spoil much, but all I can say is this: The game’s story isn’t just about hunting beasts in a city. There’s so much more behind this story.
Also the bosses, for the most part, are phenomenal. And yes, they put up a good fight.
Also the atmosphere is great and immersive from start to finish. Nearly all of the areas are completely unique from each other.
I could write a novel detailing every little thing I enjoyed about this game. It’s just that good.
But it’s not perfect. I think the bosses on the whole could’ve been a little better, and there’s really not that much build variety for your character. You HAVE to play aggressively. There is 1 shield in all of the base game, and it’s completely trash. But that’s the kind of gameplay decisions they were going for. Dark souls heavily rewarded slow and methodical combat, while Bloodborne rewards a fast and aggressive (but still methodical) playstyle. So if you’re looking to play this game defensively or as a tank character, well I’m sorry but this may not be the game for you.
Overall: 9.5/10. Instant classic. It’s a shame that it’s a PS4 exclusive, because it’s in my opinion that everyone should experience this game in some way. If you have a PS4 and don’t have Bloodborne, I would strongly recommend going out and buying this game now.