Bloodborne: FromSoftware’s Unparalleled Cosmic Horror Masterpiece

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Bloodborne is often recognized as FromSoftware’s masterpiece among their illustrious collection of games, standing out for many players as the studio’s crowning achievement. The excitement for Bloodborne was already high before its official unveiling at E3 2014 due to leaked images and gameplay clips, and the release of its first trailer only fueled this eagerness even more. When Bloodborne finally launched on March 24, 2015, it quickly became a commercial and critical triumph for FromSoftware, selling approximately 150,000 copies in its initial week and reaching over 1 million units by April 2015.

Ever since the release of “Bloodborne”, this game has gained an almost legendary status in comparison to other games produced by FromSoftware. This is due to its unique character as a game of contrasts. Although “Bloodborne” shares similar gameplay mechanics and is from the same studio as Hidetaka Miyazaki’s previous games, playing it reveals that it demands forgetting everything known about the “Dark Souls” series in favor of combat design that emphasizes swiftness, aggression, and relentless pressure on the enemy. Unlike the high fantasy and epic world-building found in the “Dark Souls” trilogy, “Bloodborne” offers a self-contained and powerful cosmic horror narrative that ranks among the greatest works of Lovecraftian fiction. It explores paradoxical themes about the healing power of blood while acknowledging its potential as a carrier of disease. Strangely, despite fan requests and its proven success within the FromSoftware library, “Bloodborne” remains confined to a last-generation console.

Bloodborne’s Combat Remains Unique Among the FromSoftware Soulsborne Games

One distinctive factor that sets Bloodborne apart from other FromSoftware games is its innovative combat style. Although it retains some characteristics of Miyazaki’s past works in enemy encounters, such as the need for strategic combat through careful observation and response to enemy attack patterns, and the use of a stamina meter to govern actions, Bloodborne emphasizes aggression and speed. This results in a faster-paced game that feels significantly quicker than its predecessors, Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2. Miyazaki later incorporated this swift pace into Dark Souls 3, but the “Rally” mechanic, which rewards aggressive play in Bloodborne, is a unique feature exclusive to that game.

In comparison to other games from FromSoftware’s “Soulsborne” series, Bloodborne stands out due to its incorporation of Firearms. The game’s omnidirectional dodge, which is the primary method for dodging enemy attacks, is quicker and more agile than any other evasive maneuver in a FromSoftware game. What sets Bloodborne apart is the use of Firearms to parry attacks, a mechanic that varies significantly from similar options found in games like Demon’s Souls, Dark Souls, or Elden Ring. The absence of shields in the game encourages players to be proactive and attack enemies continually. Using a weapon to parry enemy attacks is an effective way to convey this change in strategy to players, while also maintaining a consistent, in-game mechanism.

A Decade Later, Bloodborne’s Narrative Has Earned its Place as a Pinnacle of Cosmic Horror

In simpler terms, when discussing cosmic horror, the term “Lovecraftian” is often used casually but only a handful of works truly capture the same depth of existential fear, discomfort, and intense terror as authors like H.P. Lovecraft and Robert W. Chambers did. The narrative of Bloodborne, however, deviates significantly from the style, mood, and storytelling methods of the Dark Souls series while also becoming one of the rare “Lovecraftian” narratives that can match the heights set by its genre’s originators. In fact, Bloodborne‘s story stands side-by-side with H.P. Lovecraft’s works in the realm of cosmic horror literature, a position few other creative works have managed to achieve. The central theme that makes Bloodborne‘s story so captivating, something that has puzzled and held our fascination for centuries, is the power of blood.

It’s clear just from the title that Bloodborne emphasizes blood, but when you explore its story and make connections (some explicit and some implied), it becomes clear that blood serves as a potent and intriguing symbol throughout the game. In the world of Yarnham, blood is the medium through which citizens are cursed: they turn into raving monsters after being infected by the illness that originated from what was supposed to be a cure.

On the contrary, blood serves as the principal method for the Hunter to recover, and this contradiction amplifies the Lovecraftian storyline of Bloodborne, transforming it into a tale where the player holds the power to shape its meaning. The game’s cosmic horror narrative unfolds as players grapple with questions about whether to embrace the healing properties of blood, resist it, or decide between escaping the nightmare or prolonging it indefinitely. However, the resolution to these questions lies not in predetermined answers but rather in the choices made by the player themselves.

The Question Remains Over What the Next Ten Years Could Hold for Bloodborne

Over the past few years since its release, Bloodborne has managed to remain beloved among both longtime and new fans due to its unique character compared to other FromSoftware games. However, this raises the question about the future of the IP. Fans have run out of “hope fuel” (copium) after multiple false promises of a remaster, remake, or PC port, leading many to wonder if Sony has any plans for Bloodborne in the future. On the 10th anniversary of this exceptional game from FromSoftware, it may be time for fans to accept that Bloodborne’s status as an unusual title within their catalog makes it a piece of history worth appreciating, but not necessarily something that needs to be brought back to life again.

Despite many gamers eagerly anticipating a sequel or remaster of the classic Bloodborne game, the closure of Sony’s Japan Studio makes such an event seem highly unlikely. Previous rumors related to Bloodborne have all proven to be unfounded, as history has demonstrated. Regardless of the enduring affection for Bloodborne, it holds a significant and unique position in FromSoftware’s collection, with an unblemished legacy. It may be best to preserve its status by letting it remain a cherished memory rather than attempting to recreate it, ensuring that it continues to shine as an undeniable peak in the FromSoftware catalog and a game without equal.

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2025-03-24 21:55