I finished it a couple days ago and have been gathering my thoughts + reading up more about the game's lore and the cut content, etc. Even now I'm still not entirely sure what I think about the game is truly correct in my own terms, but I can't get rid of it from my mind.
In many ways, Bloodborne is far from a perfect game. Entire areas seem like they weren't well-designed/needed more work. The Forbidden Woods, especially, is a great example of all the flaws of the game; overdrawn, confusing, and haphazard enemy placement. Other lesser examples would be the Nightmare Frontier, Yahar'gul and even DLC areas such as the Research Hall, and the Fishing Hamlet.
I won't get into the details of why Forbidden Woods just sucks, but boss pretty much says it all. Contextually, it shouldn't even be there. They are the Queen's retainers/bodyguards as proven later in the game. Why are they in the Forbidden Woods if she's not even close to there? I'm half-convinced they put them there 'cause their limbs are kinda "snake-like" and that's that.
It feels like Bloodborne was compensating for giving the player so much freedom of movement and control that they thought the best solution was to place as many lesser enemies as possible. Strength in numbers is boring. Design enemies that make me feel challenged. Unlike past Souls games, where the player's freedom is limited and the level/boss design has to work around that freedom, Bloodborne is a massive departure. The player is God, and God can hit, dash, then shoot in the time the Chosen Undead takes one sip of the Estus.
It needed more time in the oven to truly push all that is Bloodborne to its limit and perfect it. In the same way that Dark Souls 3 needed Dark Souls, and Dark Souls needed Demon's Souls, Bloodborne 2 needs Bloodborne.
But in spite of all its failures, I'm still in love with it.
Bloodborne is the most perfect imperfect Soulsgame. The game is aesthetically beautiful in the weirdest way. The story/lore is sprawling, brilliant, while also absolute nonsense, and nonexistent. The trick weapon system is fantastic, but ultimately plagued by its DS heritage. Some of the best enemy and boss designs but also some of the worst in the series. Best written NPCs with the most soulful voice acting, but not enough of them, and too many cut lines.
Despite its setting, this is the nerdiest, quirkiest, most manic pixie soulsgame. I'll never forget it.
In many ways, Bloodborne is far from a perfect game. Entire areas seem like they weren't well-designed/needed more work. The Forbidden Woods, especially, is a great example of all the flaws of the game; overdrawn, confusing, and haphazard enemy placement. Other lesser examples would be the Nightmare Frontier, Yahar'gul and even DLC areas such as the Research Hall, and the Fishing Hamlet.
I won't get into the details of why Forbidden Woods just sucks, but boss pretty much says it all. Contextually, it shouldn't even be there. They are the Queen's retainers/bodyguards as proven later in the game. Why are they in the Forbidden Woods if she's not even close to there? I'm half-convinced they put them there 'cause their limbs are kinda "snake-like" and that's that.
It feels like Bloodborne was compensating for giving the player so much freedom of movement and control that they thought the best solution was to place as many lesser enemies as possible. Strength in numbers is boring. Design enemies that make me feel challenged. Unlike past Souls games, where the player's freedom is limited and the level/boss design has to work around that freedom, Bloodborne is a massive departure. The player is God, and God can hit, dash, then shoot in the time the Chosen Undead takes one sip of the Estus.
It needed more time in the oven to truly push all that is Bloodborne to its limit and perfect it. In the same way that Dark Souls 3 needed Dark Souls, and Dark Souls needed Demon's Souls, Bloodborne 2 needs Bloodborne.
But in spite of all its failures, I'm still in love with it.
Bloodborne is the most perfect imperfect Soulsgame. The game is aesthetically beautiful in the weirdest way. The story/lore is sprawling, brilliant, while also absolute nonsense, and nonexistent. The trick weapon system is fantastic, but ultimately plagued by its DS heritage. Some of the best enemy and boss designs but also some of the worst in the series. Best written NPCs with the most soulful voice acting, but not enough of them, and too many cut lines.
Despite its setting, this is the nerdiest, quirkiest, most manic pixie soulsgame. I'll never forget it.