Let’s not forget the richness of Yharnam, either. Bloodborne heavily draws inspiration from Lovecraft’s horror fiction. From disgusting hooded tentacled appendages to large brains covered in horrific eyes, Bloodborne has truly brought the genre of gothic horror to life in video games. In an age of gaming where players have become so used and so desensitized to zombies and ghosts, Bloodborne turns the tables on us by bringing a brand of horror that’s rarely seen in video games.
There is a sense of community when playing online, too. As you explore Yharnam, you’ll come across messages left by other players, providing you with cryptic clues leading you to a shortcut or warning you of an ambush. You get to examine bloodstains on the ground and witness the grisly deaths of your fellow hunters. You feel a sense of dread before facing a boss and you take a breath before entering the arena only to see the faint outlines of other hunters standing around you, feeling just as nervous as you are.
Yes, Bloodborne is an extremely punishing and unforgiving game. But no, you don’t have to be a ‘hardcore’ gamer to have a fun time with it. I applaud From Software for daring to release a game that’s meant to beat you down over and over again until you finally learn from your mistakes. It just makes your inevitable victories taste so much sweeter.
Whether you’re breathing a sigh of relief from unlocking a well-designed shortcut back to a lantern or whooping in happiness from finally beating a particularly tough boss, your victories in Bloodborne feel earned, and more importantly, they just make you feel so damn good about yourself. And that’s way more than what can be said about most of the other video games that have released this year.
If you’re feeling intimidated by everything you’ve heard about Bloodborne, there’s no shame in that. You should be. But if you’re starting to feel a little intrigued by what From Software has to offer and wondering if Bloodborne might be a good entry point, I’d highly encourage you to give it a try.
I hope you give this game a chance, dear reader. And remember: a hunter is never alone.
Keep checking back all this week for more opinions from Twinfinite on which game should be Game of the Year! And finally, next week, we’ll announce our Game of the Year!
