Bloodborne: An immersively thick cut above its gaming rivals

It's bloody and it's marvellous - even when you're dead

Dying to succeed

Still, dying has its plus side, as it allows me to farm and upgrade, which gives me a much needed sense of progression. Stopping to take screen shots during combat isn’t an option. The level of concentration needed for this game is almost unbearable and yet I keep coming back.

Cleric Beast wins a prize

Tactics are essential now that I’m without my trusty shield – wood shields just don’t cut it – from Dark Souls. The combat is much more spritely than Dark Souls – it’s all about dodging and wielding my Saw Cleaver with precision timing. Firearms and Molotov cocktails are essential for distraction to pick off stragglers and separate them from the pack, and helped me take down the Cleric Beast on my first try.

Getting the timing right of the Regain system gives me an advantage and, as I play, it becomes more and more essential to my success. Playing aggressively and going in for that last hit will claw back some much needed health, but this has to be done when the orange bar appears in my health bar. That takes some getting used to and I felt often had more to do with luck than skill.

Stakes and ladders

At this point, which – with the humongous amount of content this game offers – is still very early on, I am looking forward to running my first Chalice Dungeon. However, it seems an impossible goal right now – especially after several hours lost in the sewers being bitten by rats – as does PVP.

Bloodborne shows stunning commitment to a gaming philosophy. Sincere and refined, it is the most accessible From Software title so far. Time will tell if this is the PS4 exclusive we have all been waiting for, but there is no better time to buy a PS4 in my opinion.

Better red than dead

The Reg Verdict

Bloodborne, bizarre Japanese horror RPG at it’s finest, is rewarding and frustrating in equal measure and definitely an artistic tour de force for all involved. Still worth every penny even though your taxes are sure to rise due hospital admissions for rocketing blood pressure. Bloodborne is bound to keep me busy till Witcher 3 arrives. ®