Bloodborne Isn't The Kind Of Game I'd Normally Play, But Here's Why I Fell In Love With It Anyway

The odds are that I would never play from a thematic standpoint, but that same theme is exactly what made me fall in love with it. The 2015 hit title by FromSoftware, designed exclusively for PlayStation 4 consoles, is a fan-favorite among soulslike players and a lot of it is due to its unique gameplay. While still a soulslike game, the title set in Yharnam has a remarkable trick weapon system that allows players to, essentially, wield two distinct weapons in a single slot, and alternate between them seamlessly.

Unlike many other games in the popular sub-genre, is not set in a dark medieval fantasy world and, instead, plays out on the streets of a gruesome Victorian-style city called Yharnam, which has been plagued by a mysterious blood cult that has been transforming regular denizens into monsters. With a much more somber approach, is more akin to a horror game than a regular adventure one, and that melds into the narrative. This is exactly why playing in the first place is such a surprise to me: I do not play horror games.

Although many want the next soulsborne game to be a sequel to Elden Ring, Bloodborne 2 would be the better option for FromSoftware's next project.

Some sort of unresolved past trauma or never-developed fortitude to mentally withstand the pressures of horror as a genre is exactly what has kept me away from titles like and all my life. I know the types of stories and, often, masterpieces I miss out on, but there is a psychological trigger that impedes me from proceeding into a dark room where I know bloodthirsty danger lurks. The big difference with is that it was never marketed as a horror game, even if consistent fear is part of its guiding narrative.

Upon being ambushed by a Garden of Eyes in the most hideous jumpscare of my gaming experience and having my brains sucked out, I came to the realization that I was not playing a standard-issue soulslike game with a darker setting.

The fact that it was a soulslike was an attractive selling