From the company that brought you Demon Souls, Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 comes the new action RPG, Bloodborne. From Software, the developers of the Souls games, seem to really be stepping it up a notch with this new action RPG that has elements of horror and dark fantasy. While they are saying that is not a sequel to any of the souls games, it is being treated as a spiritual successor to Demon Souls, though it seems like something far from it.
It is being co-produced with Sony Computer Entertainment Japan as a collaboration and thus, it will be PS4 exclusive. It has been said that it will run at 1080p at 30fps, but looking at the demo from E3, it was pretty rough with regards to fps and From Software doesn’t exactly have the best records when it comes to smooth performance, however it is still early and so they still have quite a bit of time to iron out any kinks the game might have.
Bloodborne began development after the “Artorias Of the Abyss” DLC in 2012. Now this might lend credit to the theory that Dark Souls 2 was developed by From Software’s B team while the A team has been working on Bloodborne since early 2012.
The game will take place in a city known as Yharnam and from the trailers, it looks to be a Victorian London inspired, dark fantasy setting. It is to be an open world game, which From Software specifies wouldn’t be an open world like that of Dark Souls 2, but more like Dark Souls 1. What does this mean exactly? Is it going to be one big inner connected space? or maybe more of a cohesive world? Nothing is certain yet. Variable weather has been confirmed, however, will certain levels have pre-made effects and lighting, or will it be more dynamic? The latter would certainly be an improvement from the Souls games.
When making a comparison, From Software compared Bloodborne to Theif, in terms of level design. They stated that Yharnam’s world was to be more complex than that of Thief. Now something that got me rather excited, was the fact that Hidetaka Miyazaki, the director of the game, emphasized that the “Tower of Latria” from Demon Souls is their benchmark for what they want to do for the atmosphere of the game. They want to capture that feeling for the entirety of the game, which, I think, is a rather big goal and I am eager to see if they can pull it off.
There is not much known about the plot at this stage, however it seems like its going to be From Software’s standard affair- You have some unknown disease and your journey for a cure brings your to Yharnam, rumored to hold the cure, but the city suffers from a strange pandemic. Seems a bit along the lines of the Dark Souls story lines.
With regards to character creation and customization, both have been 100% confirmed as part of Bloodborne. The game length is said to be about the same as the Souls games, which is a wide range, so details are unknown thus far. From Software has stated that there will be an online element, but they have not disclosed any information with regards that that.
There have been some changes to combat, namely, there are now no shields in the game. From Software has said that weapons are less overall than the other games, but there is still a wide variety to customize your character with.
Now the last major gameplay feature is that your character, throughout the game, collects blood. There is human blood and monster blood. However, there is a catch. If you collect too much blood from monsters… You will end up turning into a beast and will have to collect human blood to turn back, but in this beast mode the game is harder, the reasons, so far unknown as specifics have not been released.
This game is set to be release in the Spring of 2015, leaked dates say March 31st, but nothing is solid just yet. Keep checking Gamer Headlines for the latest gaming news.
