I Still Fear the Old Blood - Replaying Bloodborne

[Falselogic]

I was without internet this week and looking for something to play... I really didn't want to start something new but I wanted something that was going to be challenging. I had just reconnected my PS4 and so I thought Bloodborne would be a good choice.

I played the game through its entirety, including the expansion when they came out and I thoroughly enjoyed them. I used a guide to get the "ascension" ending. I think that is what it is? Anyway, I remember loving the game and its been a few years since I played any "soul-likes" (the last one being Sekiro, which is a bit different.)

The first time I played through the game I used the Threaded Cane and the Pistol. I wanted to do something different this time and so selected the Saw Cleaver and Blunderbuss. I still love the atmosphere or Yharnam, it's so evocative of Victorian gothic - The architecture, the sounds, the gloom and oppressive darkness. All it needs is fog shrouded streets but I understand why that would make an already difficult game even more so.

Turns out playing one of these games is not like riding a bike because I am getting walloped. I dont know if its becuase I am using a different weapon or if I'm still thinking about Sekiro but I am consistently staying too close and risking too many hits before retreating or evading. The big brutes and the scourge beasts consistently kill me. Funny enough though I did defeat the Cleric Beast on the first encounter. I was much more cautious there though.

I had forgotten that the first time you make it to the Hunter's Dream there is no one there to interact with, and that you can't level up until you gain some insight. I kept worrying about keeping my blood echoes and then not knowing how to trade them in!

Anyway, I've made it to Father Gascoigne. I had some sixth sense when I walked into his arena something was going to happen but its so far away from a lamp that I wasn't expecting it to be the boss. He killed me.

 

[Falselogic]

Can we also talk about the stage/level design in this game? I couldn't tell you how to get from Iosefka's Clinic to the Great Bridge but I can unerringly navigate the seeming warren of Yharnam streets to get there. It's stunning.

 

[jpfriction]

Definitely my favorite setting of the From games. You never really know why you are there and what you are trying to do. Don’t think too hard about it, hunter, go hunt some beasts.

 

[Issun]

Of the From games since 2009 that I've played (all except Sekiro), it's my least favorite. That means it's still miles above most other games. I might have liked it more if Shadows of Yharnam hadn't hit me at a difficult time in the middle of an already difficult pandemic when I played through the game last year. I beat the game (kind of, didn't fight Gherman but whatevs), but the baggage associated with the Shadows (as well as the frustration with Gascoigne the first time around in 2018) makes me reluctant to play it again.

I did have a harder time with some late game bosses in Dark Souls III, but the community for that game on Steam is much more lively than BB's community, so help was much more forthcoming.

I'd probably be more willing to give it another go if it was available on PC, since the PS4 is currently a shared platform among me and the kids.

 

[Paul le Fou]

I played it for the first time a little more than a year ago? It was V. Good. I loved the setting and the mythos; I love it in the Dark Souls games too, but the sequels are kind of retreading similar ground to the original DS. Getting a whole fresh world and backstory with the same style was pretty fantastic. Reading through the old thread, it seems like the game aged better in my mind, climbing a bit higher in my esteem than when I first played it.

Gameplay-wise, I wasn't as big a fan because the builds were much more limited. You couldn't really choose a heavy armor or shield build, for example, that latitude simply didn't exist; you had to play essentially like a DS-series dex build. Building strength vs dex (or whatever they were called?) was basically just which weapons you could unlock, but didn't otherwise feel particularly distinct. The two(?) different magic-stat builds were even more limited and locked behind specific (late-game) items; they're basically only for replays or challenge runs and it would be madness to build into that from the get-go.

The weapons were pretty great though. My first playthrough I mostly stuck with the basic saw cleaver and the boom hammer; the cleaver was dependable and felt good to use, and the boom hammer was just fun. I started an NG+ that got about halfway through, settling on the whirligig saw—perhaps the single most fun weapon in any one of these games—and the arm of amygdala, which was less wondrous no less fun to wallop baddies with. It's a big flailing chicken wing bone! What's not to love?

I still occasionally think about going back to my NG+ or the second NG character I had who was going to be a dex build. I have so many other games to play, I probably won't anytime soon... but I'll still think about it. That arcane build may still call to me...

 

[Voncaster]

Bloodborne is battling Demon's Souls as my favorite From Software game. I expect Elden Ring to challenge those.

I beat Bloodbourne on Halloween night 2017. I remember the hub grave yard fight vividly for that reason.

I love the gothic atmosphere of Bloodborne. The level design is, as in most From games, excellent.

I also like all the transforming weapons and the addition of the guns. The guns feel good but not overpowered (at least in the build I played).

My one criticism of the game is I wish your hub world had more NPCs. The Nexus in Demon's Souls remains my favorite hub because of the variety of characters in it and how the NPCs add to the world building. I like the doll and the old man, but I wish there were more NPCs in the hub.

I have not re-played any From Software game besides Demon's Souls. I always feel ready to be done with the challenge of a From game by the time the credits roll. As much as I like Bloodborne, I don't see myself returning to it. Especially not in the near future with Elden Ring on the horizon.

 

[Falselogic]

It took me much longer than it should have but I beat Father Gascoigne. I forgot so much about this game but its slowly coming back. I can parry with the pistol!

I've moved on to the Oedan area. And there's the church, a safe space, but part of me remembers that maybe it isn't safe. Oh, and this game is just beautiful in its dark, oppressive way. I really wish I could just walk through Yharnam. Make a walking simulator that is set in this world.

 

[pudik]

bloodborne vr, really feel the sickness

 

[Paul le Fou]

I know there are people out there who can mod or hack Bloodborne, but I'm not sure how they do it. I know you can make that happen in the Dark Souls games on PC (though I don't know how involved the hacking is).

 

[Falselogic]

I made it down to Old Yharnam and found my way to the Blood Starved Beast. Took a couple of times but finally defeated them.

Then kind of got lost and couldn't figure out where to go from there? Wandered around the Cathedral Ward thinking I must have missed something. Lost about 25k of blood echoes and got mauled by a guy that took me to Yhar'gul the Unseen Village.

And I have to say I don't remember any of this. Currently getting wrecked by Abductors. Do not recommend.

 

[Alixsar]

B O O M H A M M E R​

Do it​

 

[Klatrymadon]

I made it down to Old Yharnam and found my way to the Blood Starved Beast. Took a couple of times but finally defeated them.

Then kind of got lost and couldn't figure out where to go from there? Wandered around the Cathedral Ward thinking I must have missed something. Lost about 25k of blood echoes and got mauled by a guy that took me to Yhar'gul the Unseen Village.

And I have to say I don't remember any of this. Currently getting wrecked by Abductors. Do not recommend.

If you're still at the prison area, explore it fully before going back via the bonfire - I'm told it changes quite a bit when revisited later on, and I found a great weapon there. (Also, if you're up for fighting them, the snatcher guys can be farmed for the twin blood stones you need to level up your trick weapon. Try luring them down the stairs near the bonfire - they'll get their heads stuck and be easy pickings.)

I'm not much further in than you (and this is my first time playing it in earnest), but if you're still stumped as to where to go next, the Cathedral Ward should put you on the right path. Beyond a big gate and a couple of giants, you'll fight an important boss and gain access to what I'm assuming is the next major area.

Spoiler: Slightly clearer version:

Go fight Vicar Amelia in the Cathedral, and be sure to touch the beast skull behind her to open the way to the Forbidden Woods. Don't be intimidated by her, either - I beat her in four seconds by using a bit of fire paper and attacking her legs.

 

[Behemoth]

A few months ago I stalled out on my NG+ playthrough of Bloodborne at Ludwig. After beating Elden Ring I returned, and despite the two games playing very differently (or at least my builds being very different, as I went with a faith-based sword and board approach in Elden Ring), my time with Elden Ring made me better at Bloodborne. After a brief period of adjustment I started kicking everyone's ass. I took down Ludwig on my fourth or fifth try. I took out Lawrence on my second try. I took out Maria on my first try. I took out the Orphan... Okay, that one took me like 15 tries, but I took him out by myself, which I hadn't done before. It gave me the confidence to consider a NG++ run, and maybe even do more than dip my toe in the chalice dungeons.

 

[Paul le Fou]

I have a half-ish done NG+ from way back when, where I burned through an early chunk of the game with the pizza cutter wheel, wreaking havoc and giggling madly. I also have a new character that I think I only beat the Cleric Beast with, maybe Gascoigne. The lack of a respec option really hurts that game though. I'd love to play an Arcane build with all the tools, but by all accounts it sucks to get through the first part of the game with since all the tools are back-loaded (and it relies on bullets which are pretty strictly limited per rest/rely on sacrificing health to replenish or regularly use any significant amount of). In DS2, DS3, Elden Ring, I can respec an endgame character and enter a NG+ with a bunch of gear and allocated stats, instead of in BB where you have to do half the game before you get a decent arcane loadout, and a lot of the stuff is in endgame or DLC areas; I could switch to arcane stuff in NG+ but my stats are garbage for it and I'd have to farm a ridiculous amount to get them up. It honestly makes me not want to replay it much at all. Also I don't think Elden Ring has made me any better at these games at all, possibly quite the opposite, so BB might offer me only pain.

 

[balder the brave]

I tried multiple times to do Arcane builds and I always give up halfway through. It's mildly interesting to use that flamethrower weapon and firebombs early in the game for high damage (scales with your Arcane stat). And it's interesting to have this goal "let me just get through this until I get some gems." But once I actually get the gems and unlocked some of the spells, it just didn't seem worth it. Are the spells really good enough to make it worthwhile? It didn't seem so to me.

 

[balder the brave]

I had soured on Bloodborne a little bit upon multiple playthroughs because your weapon choice is so limited early in the game.

But the DLC really pulled me back. The lore and bosses of the DLC is some of the best Souls content, hands down.

 

[Falselogic]

The big rumor is that this will be coming to PCs now that Sony has stated they will be bringing more of their exclusives to the platform.

That would be very, very nice. Though I imagine they will be stupid enough to try and compete with Steam...

 

[Alixsar]

That's been a rumor for like four years running? I wouldn't get your hopes up.

 

[Oathbreaker]

Best way to approach an arcane build is to rush to that early Fire gem underneath the Upper Cathedral Ward, slot it into your preferred Saw Cleaver/Spear, do the early chalice dungeon that awards another, and then painstakingly search for some chalice dungeon codes that have good non-physical gems in chests or dropped by easy enemies (I don't remember if you need to progress the default chalices to do that or not), or turn the save file into a low level Ludwig death fest, and then do the chalice thing after you have the Moonlight Blade. And that sucks.

The main game proper is laughably lacking in Arcane damage on its own. The spells ARE good, but gimmicky as hell and you'll never have enough bullets to delete half a boss's healthbar the way a bone ash Cannon can. The tentacle one is arguably the best because you can get viscerals off of it if you hit enemies in the back. It's really a huge shame overall though because weapons can get to absurd fun numbers if you're willing to slog through chalice boss farming for the best gems. The Wheel is a really fun weapon to mess around with but without some pretty damn good gems it's just not good. Tonitrus is basically the only one that's good out of the box because its arcane scaling is applied to its buff, so the game's physical gems can still get good use on it.

 

[Falselogic]

That's been a rumor for like four years running? I wouldn't get your hopes up.

Except this time Sony has actually come out and stated they will be releasing exclusives on PC. it's a long shot, sure. But this is the closest its actually been to maybe happening.

 

[Behemoth]

Also I don't think Elden Ring has made me any better at these games at all, possibly quite the opposite, so BB might offer me only pain.

I feel like the enemies (especially the bosses) in Elden Ring are faster than the enemies and bosses in Bloodborne, but your character is slower. When I returned to Bloodborne I could see their tells coming a mile away and dash out of the way. Especially with Maria it was like I could see the Matrix all of a sudden.

 

[Paul le Fou]

Damn, I might get along alright then. I suppose I could start a new run and see what happens... Wait, what the hell am I saying?! I'm just getting free of Elden Ring!

 

[pudik]

yea, there are ways in elden ring to mitigate the fast combos and small punish windows that build most of the bosses, but bloodborne is just more focused around a specific sort of timing. parries are easier to read and less punishing to miss, movesets have generally less commitment, and of course you gain health back if you attack after getting damaged. It's maybe not easier on the top end, and you get less variability (maybe deviation is a better word) in builds/playstyle, so perhaps less ways to make things easier if you get stuck, but it definitely feels more fair.

 

[Issun]

As stressful as Shadows of Yharnam were, I did eventually solo them, and I'm not sure I could do that with, say, Morgott or even Soul of Cinder. It seems like Bloodborne was the inflection point between design philosophies, where with Demon's-Dark II it wasn't as hard to find your way to compete with even the hardest bosses. Then Bloodborne pushed that philosophy to its absolute limit, but the odds being stacked against you was still the illusion it was in the first three games.

In DS3 and Elden Ring, the illusion is gone. The odds really are stacked against you, and the time commitment required to move the needle back in your favor is absolutely unreasonable.

 

[Issun]

Started replaying BB and I'm doing a lot better this time. Beat Cleric Beast in 3 tries and Gascoigne in 2 (would have beat him first try but I got greedy with 1 hit left and tried hurling a Molotov instead of dodging). I'm pretty sure this is all thanks to Elden Ring. Playing Bloodborne after the first 3 games with the huge jump in aggressiveness of enemies was really difficult to adjust to. After the even more aggressive and reactive enemies and bosses of Dark Souls III and Elden Ring though, Bloodborne almost feels like slow motion.

 

[Issun]

Man, I am doing so much better this time through. Blood Starved Beast and Vicar Amelia both took 3 or 4 tries each. The real test is coming up, though. If I can do the Shadows in 10 tries or less, I'll be doing pretty good.

 

[Issun]

Holy shit! I just beat the Shadows in a few tries! If you saw the OG LttP BB thread they took me a week of pain the first time. I am so fucking stoked! I literally just white boy danced through the entirety of We Like to Party! I have never felt so good after beating a boss.

 

[Issun]

Here is the ultimate Shadows easymode strat, for posterity:

Spoiler

Summon homedude so you can focus on Katana Guy. Homedude will be dead about the time you take out Katana, but by that point it won't matter. Because then you fire paper up and go ham on the mage, which won't take long. Then you quickly hit Candlejack so he can't snake and, thanks to a no Hunter's Dream run I watched on YT, I know that as long as you're moving towards Candlejack, he'll just sidestep, so you move towards him and hit and trap him in the loop and then you win.

Easy peasy!

 

[Paul le Fou]

Hell yeah! I remember having a lot of trouble with them on NG and then getting in there and clowning on them in NG+ which felt great. And not like I was just brute-forcing through them either, like I'd actually figured out how to kite them around and stuff. That Candlejack strat looks pretty great too, I'll have to tr

 

[Falselogic]

If I can extract myself from Elden Ring I could get back to my playthrough of this game...