Bloodborne isn’t out yet for most of the world, but the embargo on press reviews lifted in the wee hours of the morning today, and they’re tricking in. Although we haven’t yet gotten our hands on the game yet, the consensus seems to be pretty clear, it is a critical hit.
Developed by From Software, the same people behind hits like Dark Souls and Tenchu, Bloodborne is a PlayStation exclusive. The action-role playing game shares many characteristics with Dark Souls, such as the unusually dark tone, hard to master gameplay, and a long campaign mode.
Here’s what the lucky souls who have played the game has to say:
Gamesradar (9/10): Bloodborne lies somewhere between Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, better than the latter but not quite as good as the former. The fourth time following the same template means the master strokes, however masterful they are, are anticipated. But take nothing away from this brilliant, brooding, brutal reinvention, because almost as great as the best game ever is pretty bloody great.
Rich Stanton, writing for Eurogamer, asks if Bloodborne is the best game ever made or just the second-best game. He praises the game’s design, and especially its clever level design, even above that of Dark Souls. “The way that Bloodborne’s locations twist and turn around themselves, with side-corridors opening into labyrinthine digressions and entire areas hidden round nondescript corners, sets a new bar for 3D environment design,” writes Stanton, though he can’t pick a favorite.
Destructoid (9/10): Bloodborne is an interesting mix of everything From Software has learned throughout its storied developmental career. Not everything will gel with fans old and new, but for the most part, the shift towards a combat-oriented game is a net positive. From Software is still one of the only developers left that makes you work for your satisfaction, and Bloodborne is damn satisfying.
Gamespot (9/10): The finest treasures are found within the city of Yharnam and the forests, lakes, and purgatories beyond it. Only Bloodborne would be so bold as to bury an entire factional player-versus-player mechanic within an optional region, which is in turn buried within a series of oblique steps you might miss if you aren’t exploring every nook and cranny, or ignore the game’s enigmatic hints. I finished Bloodborne in less time than I did Dark Souls II, yet I treasure it more in spite of its few missteps. In death there is life, and in blood, there is redemption. More hyperbole, yes, but for a game this theatrical, only hyperbole will do.
Digital Spy (5/5): Bloodborne may not be a Souls game and it doesn’t fall into the horror genre, but it captures everything that makes the series so satisfying, so terrifying and so magical. I want to keep playing, I want to discover its secrets, I want to fight every monster, try every weapon, discuss theories and explore as many of the community dungeons as possible. To put it bluntly, I want to bleed the game dry.
The lowest score the game has received on Metacritic at this point is an 80/100 from a handful of sites. With time, we’ll see some negative reviews trickle in for sure, but as of this writing Bloodborne is one of the most well-received games of this console generation.
When it was launched, many opined that Dark Souls was reason enough to buy the PS3. Boing by the reception, it seems like Bloodborne is set to continue that illustrious epithet. This, for now, is reason enough to buy a PS4.
