One thing's for sure though, Sony has done very well for themselves by nailing Bloodborne down as a PS4 exclusive. As enjoyable as Infamous, DriveClub (eventually) and Killzone were, they never rode such a continuous wave of hype after release.

Rewarding enemy encounters; The game world design is stunning; Regain system encourages aggressive style

Long loading times; Combo variation is very limited; Attack interruptions can be inconsistent

A masterclass in design, and a lesson for other developers.

Watch a full 20+ minute video review of Bloodborne from Joaby embedded above Bloodborne is an action RPG created by FROM Software, a Japanese company most famous for its Souls series of games.

Bloodborne is amazing. I'll admit, I come in with some Souls experience, but I'm still fairly bad at tough video games. Bloodborne simplifies the minutiae contained in the Souls experience but keeps the core things that make it great.

Methodical rewarding combat; expansive areas; challenging boss fights

Long load times; necessity to grind for materials

HIGH Charging up an axe attack that stuns large dudes so I can rip their innards out. Neat! LOW The Chalice Dungeons look and feel almost identical no matter which variations are triggered. WTF The 'real' ending. Who thought that would be a satisfying conclusion to a forty-plus hour adventure?

Charging up an axe attack that stuns large dudes so I can rip their innards out; Neat

The Chalice Dungeons look and feel almost identical no matter which variations are triggered

This is part 3 of an on-going review of Bloodborne. Read Part 1 and Part 2. This is a long reflection on what's it's like playing and discussing the game, rather than a strict focus on the game itself.

Best game ever made!!! From Software have out done themselves. The boss fights are some of the best in the history of gaming, not to mention the psychological aspect to be agressive with the enemy. No other comes close to what has been acheieved. 10/10!!!

It is still utterly fantastic to play. It is still one of the best action fighting mechanics in gaming. It still invokes that deadly and intense sense of failure matched with the heady highs of success that few other games (if not any entertainment) can match.

Many games nowadays are criticized for being too easy, but Dark Souls was a great example which clearly showed that the RPG genre can still bring in quite a challenge. Bloodborne is created by From Software, the same company that brought in the aforementioned title, and despite the change of style,...

You probably understand the pedigree of this game so I don't need to go into details; its like the other 'Souls games but better. A pretty and frightening challenge that plunges you into a fantasy vision of Victorian London viewed through a Lovecraftian lens.