The story to Bloodborne is seemingly brief, but yet very deep and meaningful at the same time. That sounds like an odd blend, but it's one that works remarkably well as you find yourself immersed in its world.

Brutal; but yet addictive gameplay; Captivating gothic world to explore; Enchanting soundtrack; Meaningful levelling up and upgrade system; Fantastic creature design; Clever level design; with hidden rewards and smart short-cuts

Difficulty may put off some

Bloodborne is the next evolution of From Software's RPG niche, taking us from dark medieval fantasy worlds where shields are king to an even more unforgiving gothic backdrop where striking first and hard is the way to go.

+ Atmosphere and setting unmatched; + Combat is challenging & satisfying; + Enemy & weapon design delightfully evil; + Changes from Souls welcome; not unwanted

- Frame-rate dips & enemy pathfinding issues still persist from Souls; - NPC character models & character creation need improvement; - Loading times can take a bit too long

You wake up to find a strange man staring at you, only to get eaten by strange zombie-like creatures just seconds later in what looks like the end of your story before it even began.

The evolution of the Souls formula to the next generation, this game demands your time and attention.

Super aggressive combat; fantastic world and art design; and wonderfully mysterious environments

Death sometimes comes from slight control and camera issues rather than a player mistake

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.

I walk through the hallways of a Victorian hamlet, cautiously advancing, mindful of even the slightest shift of a shadow in the dull moonlight. It is the night of the hunt, where beasts roam the streets and civilians hide inside, in fear of the lycans and crazed, plague-infested madmen.

Combat is smarter; faster; and bloodier; Trick weapons add versatility and personality to your arsenal; Engrossing atmosphere and themes; Bosses and enemies are varied and exciting; Chalice Dungeons and NG+ provide tons of replayability

Framerate can get spotty in some areas; Load times range from short inconvenience to almost a full minute wait

Bloodborne is an Action RPG that will transport players to a dark and terror-filled gothic world, a world full of deranged beings and nightmarish creatures.

It may seem impenetrable at the beginning but Bloodborne rewards perseverance and dedication.

It’s been a bit of a rough start for the PS4 when it comes to AAA retail exclusives. Both inFamous: Second Son and The Order: 1886 were disappointing to one degree or another and that has left Bloodborne as the great red hope of the console’s initial exclusive retail line-up.

It's no surprise that the current generation of consoles have been underwhelming since launch. They have boasted an insane amount of HD re-releases, uninspired first parties, and broken games.