Bloodborne - PlayStation 4

The creator of Demon's Souls & Dark Souls sets yet another benchmark for hack and slash - action RPG's, as Bloodborne delivers on every turn. I've played about 5 hours already, haven't beaten the first boss yet, and have died numerous times and I've never had more fun doing it over again. Combat and mechanics are very tight, leaving little to no leeway when landing devastating blows. If you're even a hair late on avoiding a foes attack or sending one of your own, it will most likely lead to your death. For those who haven't played a Souls game before, the game is very unforgiving. You will die a ton, but it will teach you to slow down your combat mechanics, figure out the perfect time to strike the enemy, and which moves to use to help down your bosses. Because of this progress is very rewarding. If you need help during enemy encounters you can summon friends to come help you at almost any time, and leave hints for others to help their journeys as well. In terms of graphics Bloodborne is no "Order 1886", but it's not bad at all. The art style makes up for what lacks in the graphics department and you'll be constantly set in gloomy areas, and surrounded by even darker enemies. The only complaint I have so far is some pretty bad load times, which if you're dying a lot, you'll experience a lot of. They last around 30-45 seconds, but is a small hitch in an otherwise outstanding game which can definitely be patched later. Buy this game, you will not regret it. And bring an extra pair of clothes for your character, you're about to spill lots and lots of blood. Everywhere! 5/5

It's nice to have a game that doesn't hold your hand. Instead of telling you what to do and where to go at all times, Bloodborne drops you into a strange world of confusion with not so much as a goal. It slowly starts to come together, the story, the mechanics, the weapons, it's all there. It's a game that respects the player, but also demands respect of it's own. It's tough, yes, but that's not all the game is about. It's beautifully designed, meticulously balanced, and every nook and cranny has meaning and life. If you want to experience a game that let's you play how you want to play, this is for you. If you want your hand held and cannot tolerate defeat, you should move on. The best game I've played in a long time.

It's everything Dark Souls was, cranked up to 11. This is the best non-remake game on new gen yet. (The Last of Us was one of my favorite games of all time, however). This is a system seller if there ever was one. Hard, but not in stupid ways. It challenges you to be better and you will, or you will die repeatedly.

If you're a fan of Souls and you're aware of what these games entail, then definitely buy Bloodborne. It lives up to the hype. The city of Yharnam is gorgeous in all of its gothic grotesque glory. The combat is faster than before and equally, if not more, intense. The story is still ambiguous leaving the interpretation and theories to the player. The game is almost perfect. So far, the only two cons I have with Bloodborne, albeit minor, are 1: occasional drops in frame rate, and 2: loading times. The reason these are minor is because they're literally the only defects I can think of that actually lessen the experience if at all. Honestly, the load times aren't nearly as bad as some people have made them out to be. I think they feel extra long because it's just a black screen with the word Bloodborne on it for an entire 40 seconds (most of the time less). Dark Souls loading screens at least had item descriptions. The only time it is definitely noticeable and irritating for me is when I wish to travel to another location from a location. So, for example, if you're at Central Yharnam and you wish to go back to the first floor, you have to go to the Hunter's Dream, and then from there load the new location you wish to go to. That's an extra loading screen which is honestly pointless. This can feel very time consuming for a game that punishes players with frequent impending deaths. So I think the only thing I like about Dark Souls more than Bloodborne, is that it had the convenience of fast travelling between bon fires. Bloodborne seems to go back to how Demon Souls location travelling was. As for the frame rate issue, I only notice it on rare specific occasions, or when I'm spinning the camera around my character fast. Don't worry though, it never reaches deplorable frame rates such as Blighttown from Dark Souls. One of the biggest and most obvious changes is that the game emphasizes the offensive. There is no longer blocking with shields in Bloodborne. You need to be on the attack at all times. In Bloodborne, the best defense is a good offense. Some people might like this change more than others. With the new depth of diverse weapon attacks, an offensive play style gives way to a faster pace. The best thing about this new combat style is that it's putting most Souls veterans out of their element. Most of us are used to using shields and hanging back until we can place a perfect timed attack on our vulnerable enemy. You still need to time your attacks, but you have to pay so much more attention to your foe's. Depending on their attack, you may need to stun them with your gun, dodge, or attack the enemy first. The combat feels much more risky, therefore more intense and rewarding. While I don't necessarily view this new offensive combat as better or worse than previous Souls games, I think it's a perfect device to keep players on their toes. Most fans praise the game they played first the most. Why? Because it was the most difficult for them. Why? Because the experience was new. By the time they went on to play Dark souls 2 for example, the game felt too easy for them. Bloodborne prevents that from happening. Everyone's learning curve is reset. We have to get used to the new methods and tricks of combat in Bloodborne that make it special and unique to the game. This brings me to a frequently asked question: Is Bloodborne more difficult than past Souls games? In my opinion, it's around equal difficulty to Dark Souls (Or whatever the first game you played was). That's obviously a relative statement, but considering how the core game experience is the same, and the new implemented combat style, the difficulty feels similar to the first time you played a Souls game. You have to learn from your mistakes at all times. Like past Souls games, you will struggle, become frustrated, die and die again, and in the end, be rewarded for your efforts. I can't recommend it enough! This is the best game I've played in a long time. I hope From Software keeps making these games. Happy hunting! P.S. for those of you who have never played Demon Souls or Dark Souls, and are unsure of whether you'd enjoy Bloodborne's challanging gameplay and role playing game elements, just rent the game. It's the kind of game people either love or hate. It's definitely not for everyone. If you don't know what you're getting into, and you expect a fast paced EASY game, then you're in for a rude awakening. I'm sure most of you are aware of how hard these games are, but just in case you're completely new to them, don't buy Bloodborne expecting a fun relaxing game. It requires diligence, patience, and an active effort at all times. If you're interested in a non-linear game that allows you to explore and discover your own story through hard work, by all means, buy Bloodborne. You will be rewarded for your efforts! The sense of accomplishment is like no other. Summary: Pros: -Stunning environment/atmosphere (I don't think anyone can overstate how amazing the locations are in this game. The world is my favorite character) -Engaging combat is fun and challenging -Weapon's mode diversity gives way to more strategy than ever before -Chalice Dungeons add replayability and more multiplayer Cons: -Occasional frame rate drops -Loading times can feel cumbersome, particularly when switching locations

Miyazaki is the name that is headed in the direction of Loved Director Hideo Kojima. The man behind some of the most punishing, but really rewarding experinces is BACK testing the waters on this PS4 Exclusive. This game has been worth the wait. Not to give anything away in terms of story...but know this... YOU WILL DIE. A LOT! Dont go into this game expecting an easy setting and breeze through it, because guess what? ITS NOT! Thats the beauty of it...even in the first few minutes, if you dont strategize, you will suffer. This game does not hold your hand and tell you where to go, you have to pay attention to the beautiful environments, and also the NPCs. They provide clues on what to do next. I absolutely love this game and it is easily 60-80 hour game. If you want to do EVERYTHING in the game, you are looking at 100 hours minimum! Do yourself a favor, if you own a PS4 and are up for a challenge, This game is for YOU!

This is a purchase for a veteran, patient gamer. The learning curve is steep but rewarding once mastered. This is an action/rpg game, but requires patience in dealing with frequent deaths and perseverance in learning from those deaths to face and defeat the enemy. This is along the same vein as the Dark Souls games but with slight tweaks in systems and more action. Be prepared for long load times, but this is being patched by Sony at some point in the future. I have enjoyed what I have experienced from this game thus far.

I heard this game was tough but wanted to try it anyway . It was a good and interesting game but having to start over and over again began to wear on me it is a quality game but not for me. I am giving it four stars since it draw me in but I did not have the time or patience to finish it.

One of thew Best PS4 games to day and now is below $20 A must buy!