This game is one of the few reasons why I choose the PS4. Compared to the other Souls games this was just the one for me. It was challenging but not impossible. I spent so many hours dying, but I didn't mind because they were my mistakes.

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

It was a wild ride but my journey through the nightmare is complete. Unfortunately, it's happened a tad premature. As I approached the final boss, I had a feeling it was him but I had to be certain.

Purgatory. Getting the chance to re-live every painful moment, every mistake you ever made, a thousand of times. The time your first pet died, that day you realised Santa Claus wasn't real, the first time you got dumped: every classic stomach-sinking moment on a constant loop. For ever.

Smart level design; Consistent; satisfying mechanics; Thick; moody atmosphere

Frequently frustrating; Obscure style may annoy

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

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

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

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...

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