The first truly compelling PlayStation 4 exclusive: hard, weird and magnificent, Bloodborne is a true gamer's game. If you're up for the challenge.

Gloriously gothic and creepy; Imbued with a weird logic of its own; More action-based than previous From Software games; Challenging and deeply satisfying

May be too hard for some (particularly in its initial stages; Occasional frame-rate issues; Camera can go haywire; Long death screen loading time

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

For those who see themselves as true, committed gamers, few objects generate a greater sense of anticipation than a new game made by From Software. The Japanese developer has cultivated a fearsome reputation as a complete no-compromise merchant, primarily by making its games so difficult that in...

It's the night of The Hunt. Supercilious laughter joins the suffused glow of lamplight spilling from beneath locked doors and barred windows. You are a hunter, expected to exterminate the beasts taking over the twisted laneways of Yarnham.

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.

Bloodborne is truly a remarkable game, more appealing than its predecessors, more cohesive, and more satisfying from a mechanical point of view. It also has a compelling atmosphere and a captivating world to explore, full of beautiful vistas and horrific creatures to battle, as well as an ample...

Great visuals and art direction; Engrossing atmosphere; Solid combat; Very good level design; Very challenging

Very long loading times; Occasional wonky camera angles; The controls misfire from time to time; Obfuscated story; Very challenging

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

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

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...

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