This review contains spoilers
A massive loveletter to Fromsoft's Souls/Souls-adjacent games.
It does a particularly excellent job at incentivizing aggressive play while balancing with encouraging good use of all defensive options.
The "HP regain when attacking" mechanic that Bloodborne I do think is an excellent example of this game's design philosophy, as here you only get restorative attacks after you regularly block an attack.
Another great example of this philosophy is how you recharge the Estus equivalent by attacking, allowing you to heal more than you might have otherwise.
Many of the upgrades in the game also serve to strengthen defensive and/or aggressive play, and definitely help make the game more beat-able for someone like me who is not particularly great at these.
One of the most important aspects of these types of games to me are the tools available to the player, and I think this does a fantastic job at giving many strong options should the player need or want it.
Shout outs to the passive Estus recharge upgrade.
It does a particularly excellent job at incentivizing aggressive play while balancing with encouraging good use of all defensive options.
The "HP regain when attacking" mechanic that Bloodborne I do think is an excellent example of this game's design philosophy, as here you only get restorative attacks after you regularly block an attack.
Another great example of this philosophy is how you recharge the Estus equivalent by attacking, allowing you to heal more than you might have otherwise.
Many of the upgrades in the game also serve to strengthen defensive and/or aggressive play, and definitely help make the game more beat-able for someone like me who is not particularly great at these.
One of the most important aspects of these types of games to me are the tools available to the player, and I think this does a fantastic job at giving many strong options should the player need or want it.
Shout outs to the passive Estus recharge upgrade.