Sequel?/Prequel?
SPOILER WARNING
While the endings of Bloodborne may not pave the way for post narrative expansions, the beauty of From Software’s games is that new entries under the same banner are never impossible. The strongest tie between the two Dark Souls games is their brutality, and seemingly impossible obstacles. The spirit of the games is shared so that fans are able to receive something familiar, yet also completely new. Bloodborne also shares that same spirit, although at a much faster pace.
The thing about Bloodborne though is that the city of Yharnam and everything it encompasses has become the star of the game. Yes, the gameplay is superb, and the character customization lends itself to some high quality RPG gameplay. But, the world and its mysteries stood out and rose to the top, even more so than its infamous brutally difficult bosses. For that reason, another game would have to take place within the same world. A successor to Bloodborne needs to be more direct instead of spiritual.
This does raise one issue. Bloodborne instills a sense of freedom within players. The game does have a deep narrative involving the world, and its various NPCs, but the story of the player controlled hunter is created by that player. How exactly will developers be able to create a new experience that ties into Bloodborne yet still retains its player agency?
Perhaps From Software can go the route of allowing your Bloodborne hunter to appear in a sequel, not as a playable character (since strange things happen to him/her depending on the ending you chose), but as a possible antagonist or ally…or if the game is anything like Bloodborne, a mixture of both. It honestly seems like the best course of action for the series to move forward. Having players encounter their former avatar as a Gherman-like NPC, or as a Great One who has transcended mortality would be interesting, and definitely something to look forward to.
Alternatively, From Software can introduce players to a pre-nightmare Yharnam. One where the sun shines, and humans roam, but the advent of something dark, and decidedly evil, lurks just beneath the surface. It would be interesting to see what Yharnam was truly like before its eerie transformation.
It’s refreshing to see a company release a game with no obvious plans of gouging the wallets of their fans later on. And it’s amazing to see so many gravitate towards that game and build a community around it. A community that at the moment is actively enjoying digging into every nook and cranny Yharnam contains in the hopes of discovering something new. But, in due time, there will be those who want more, and they’ll be just itching to find out what From Software has up its sleeve.
Is there something you hope to see come to Bloodborne or another entry? If so feel free to share in the comments.
