It's hard, frustrating and packed with grime, but if you can hack it this is unmissable stuff

Deeply satisfying; Smart design; A rich world

Very frustrating at times; A hefty time investment

An invigorated spirit occupying a reassuringly recognisable body, Dark Souls' life force flows through Bloodborne's revitalised veins. Intelligent and intense, it's simply PS4's best exclusive game.

Another masterpiece - Dark Souls reborn; Gothic visuals rendered in extraordinary detail; Firearms are effective; explosive new weapons in your arsenal; Randomised chalice dungeons boost the game's length

Less incentive to experiment with different classes; You cant level up at; or warp between; lamp checkpoints

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.

is an amazing, exacting, and exhausting pilgrimage through a gorgeous land that imposes the feeling of approaching the bottom of a descent into madness. Though extended load times and minor frame-rate hitches have an effect on the pacing, it's otherwise an intensely challenging and rewarding game.

Stunning world artistry; Fast; tactical combat; Creature/boss design; Level design

Frame rate; load times

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

Bloodborne is in the unenviable position of being a great game that's not quite as great as its predecessors. Making the game more accessible was probably necessary, especially since Bloodborne isn't just another action/RPG - it's one of the selling points of buying a PS4 instead of an Xbox One.

Gorgeous; interconnected world; Exciting; fast combat; Eerie sound and visuals; Weird characters and lore

Not as complex as predecessors; Some graphical oddities

If Dark Souls were a man transforming into a beast, its name would be Bloodborne . All rational, spiritual, methodical thought begins to bleed out, as an insatiable hunger gnaws its away at the walls of the mind.

Dark story on lycanthropy; Eerie atmospheric and sound design; Barren environment; grotesque enemy design; Brutally difficult; just the way you like it; Co-op; PvP; Chalice Dungeons; Insight system

Blood vials not as great as Estus Flasks; Firearm counter not that reliable; Long loading times; can't jump between lamps in one shot; Tags

Your adventure begins with some sort of medical procedure being performed on you, presumably with your approval. Something about becoming a "hunter." Much like the Souls series before it, Bloodborne is pretty vague, but still has an overarching story and a variety of characters that you'll encounter...

Rewarding; challenging combat; Massive and intricate maps; Procedural Chalice Dungeons ensures replayability

No real defensive options; Long loading times

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

Update: Now that Bloodborne is out in the shops for real people to buy, Brett has finally had a chance to check out its multiplayer functionality. His impressions are below, and you can see his final score over there on the right. You've probably seen it already. That's OK.