Bloodborne is the latest release from critically acclaimed developers From Software, most known for their Demon / Dark Souls series. Following closely in the former titles footsteps Bloodborne feels instantly familiar, borrowing a lot of the core gameplay mechanics, whilst still feeling unique...

Stunningly atmospheric and tense from beginning to end; Refined combat makes the challenge ever more rewarding

Handful of bugs and rough edges, patches overdue, Less of an RPG emphasis than Souls; a little too streamlined

Bloodborne is one of this year's most highly-anticipated console exclusives. Does it live up to its forebearers? Matt Maguire files the following tear-sopped review.

Harsh but fair; Terrific level design; You can bring friends into your game; Terrifically imaginative

Long load times; Some minor camera issues; Difficulty and reticence can be off-putting

From Software and Sony's Japan Studio teamed up to release Demon's Souls as a PlayStation 3 exclusive back in 2009. They might not have guessed it at the

Comprehensive combat options for the pro-active player; Plenty to uncover through thorough exploration; Great enemy and boss design; Cohesive world

Story is cryptic and vague; Long load times

While Bloodborne never reaches the same dizzying heights of Dark Souls, it still retains the creative spark that made it so special. The dark atmosphere, the intense boss fights, and the minimalistic storyline still work to make a game that feels like nothing else out there on the market.

I've been playing From Software's Souls series since the very beginning with the release of Demon's Souls, and since then, my play-style has largely been the same; From title to title, I don a suit of plate armour, pick up straight sword and shield, and rigidly stick to that kit from beginning to...

The fact that Bloodborne carries so many stark similarities to previous games of the Souls series means that it can't escape from comparisons with them; and; in many ways; its deficiencies will stick in the craw of some of the series' fans

I suppose I should start off by saying that I’m not a veteran Souls player. I did play Dark Souls a bit on the PC, but the conversion was fairly bad from the console so I didn’t really get what I think would have been an otherwise good experience.

An eldritch horror of the highest caliber.

In the last console generation, From Software rose to prominence based off of the success of a few games. These games, specifically Demon's Souls and Dark Souls , gained notoriety for their harsh fail states and the rather cryptic means by which they convey their mechanics and narrative, favoring a...

From Software's unforgiving PS4 hack and slash is no horror show

quick delivery

It took longer than we would have hoped, but here it is: the PlayStation 4's first must-have exclusive. From Software's Bloodborne is a beautiful, brutal masterpiece that differentiates itself just enough from the standard Souls formula while still retaining what makes that series so extraordinary.