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[Anura]

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

It jumps alot in difficulty during NG+ but it's still a lot harder than the base game on a fresh file

 

[Bloodporne]

How often does transforming a weapon during an attack string actually ever matter?

The axe, for example along with many other weapons I've tried, let you create a ton of extra reach on the fly when extending the thing with L1 after getting some quick R1 shots in. Just to point out a particular moment, it was a borderline necessary move for me taking down Ludwig seeing how the fight was all about quickness and closing distance. You can't start off your combo with the extended version all that efficiently due to the increased wind-up time compared to R1, so I'd dash in, get in two R1 hits then hit L1 as he was trying to dash away from me and got the extra hit in including some additional damage from the transformation.

You obviously played the game, I don't see how you can argue that that's useless in any way. And honestly, even if you personally felt it was useless for whatever reason, I don't think there's any platform to argue that as a fact on.

All that aside, I'm pretty sure most people will agree that it's just plain fucking fun and feels satisfying.

More on topic, #1 is DS1 for me with Bloodborne and Demon's Souls EXTREMELY closely tied with DS1 in spot #2, I can't choose just too damn good.

 

[Theslammer]

The DLC boosts the game into becoming easily the best Souls game in the series, imo.

By default, the gun should be seen as something like a parrying dagger. You use it primarily for defense, but this mindset can be turned around later because certain builds and guns can cause a lot of bullet damage.

I'm playing through Dark Souls 3 for the first time right now and while it's solid, it's really not gripping me the way Bloodborne does. It's WAY faster than the other Souls games but after Bloodborne, it still feels slow.

Maybe it's also some Souls fatigue on my end too. There are only so many destroyed castles and ruined kingdoms I can explore before getting tired of it, you know?

I did hear the 3rd is faster. One of my friends described it as "Soulsborne." Would you agree in some respect?

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

Like the main game, it feels much harder at the start. I didn't encounter the same trouble on my second playthrough, but with the hunter enemies, you'll probably die a lot at first. Just take it slow and explore.

 

[Bloodporne]

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

I'm just now finally going through the DLC after 'saving it' for myself and after taking a 6 mths+ break from the game and it's pretty brutal yeah. I can only comment on NG but it's definitely been a hefty challenge for me.

Spoiler

Ludwig

might've been one of the biggest assholes of all time.

 

[Weltall Zero]

So far it's basically exactly confirming my previous opinion...

Well, that might be a big part of your problem right there.

Sick to my teeth of Dark Souls now, but Bloodborne i can start up a play-through and do everything with 0 fatigue. One of the best games this generation.

It's the exact same for me. Worse, because since I got DS3 I've stopped playing BB because "I've finished it four times, I should play DS3 instead", but I never get around to it (I really should). Instead, I'm addicted to Let it Die. :/

Never really understood this argument at all. How often does transforming a weapon during an attack string actually ever matter?

All the fucking time? One of my go-to attacks with the saw cleaver (especially against mobile enemies or ones that aren't pinned with the standard combo, or even players) was to hit with the collapsed form, then spring the blade for the second hit. This allows you to start with a quick attack, then do a more damaging, more far reaching attack if you miss. Every single weapon has tricks like that, including my favorite, the Chikage, which has a massively powerful transforming attack, perfect for slipping in a combo since the time the weapon is it its life-draining form is minimized.

How is it any different from simply switching to another weapon in most of the other games when transforming outside of combos?

Aside from the above, which is the main point:
- The limitation that a weapon's forms are fixed, rather than being able to mix and match weapons, means choosing a weapon is a strategic choice where you have to balance how much you value each of its two forms.
- Additional attacks depending on when you transform it (dodging, in the middle of a combo and depending on which hit, running, etc.), adding a richness of options to each weapon in addition to having twice as many moves by virtue of being two weapons in one.
- The fact you have two transforming weapons to switch from means four choices of weapon, more than in any other Souls game. All that, with no possible confusion as to where you would cycle next, since you know from and to where you can switch at any time.

"Incredibly original" in that they are basically the same weapons we've already been using in the previous games, but with small modifications.

That's ridiculous reductionism and we both know it. The transformation mechanism design of each weapon is what makes them unique and original. By that token, literally nothing of what Demon / Dark Souls does is original in the slightest.

That's even leaving aside the truly original weapons like the pizza cutter, the mace made out of your own blood, or the saw cleaver itself, which is so original and iconic everyone recognizes it.

You could have summed it up by saying that you have a useless shield, no magic and less options for weapons.

Not true. You have more options for weapons. You just have less skins for each weapon.

Also not true about magic; you might be confused by the fact they're equipped as items. My arcane build wrecks more shit than any mage I've made in a Souls game.

Not only are there less options, but just like the other Souls games, a handful of weapons will greatly outclass the rest.

Again, not true. Precisely unlike Dark Souls, virtually every weapon is as powerful as every other, and for every single weapon you will find a large group of people who swear by them. You won't find the same for half the weapons in a Souls game, if that.

 

[silva1991]

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

The hardest DLC in the series not counting side coop areas in DS2 DLCs.

Unless you are terrible at these games, I think NG+1 is the way to go.

 

[Akuun]

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

The DLC is plain harder than the main game by default, and NG+ makes it even harder. Do it if you're looking for a challenge.

I did it in NG+ for the first time and while I got wrecked hard for hours, I found it very rewarding to eventually beat it that way.

Just expect a few extra hours thrown into boss attempts.

 

[Art Vandilay]

I just started playing it myself. So far it's been great. It's definitely different not having a shield though.

 

[bumleforce]

It's cool. It's not my favorite. It's still awsome. All the soulsbourne games are. I still like all 3 dark souls better. People like what they like. I like how different it is for not giving you a shield use guns etc but that's it. I feel like souls games are all just slightly better. World design game play. It may just be my playstyle idk. It's not the 2nd comming like some people think it is but a damn good game

 

[nailbombxx]

All the fucking time? One of my go-to attacks with the saw cleaver (especially against mobile enemies or ones that aren't pinned with the standard combo, or even players) was to hit with the collapsed form, then spring the blade for the second hit. This allows you to start with a quick attack, then do a more damaging, more far reaching attack if you miss. Every single weapon has tricks like that, including my favorite, the Chikage, which has a massively powerful transforming attack, perfect for slipping in a combo since the time the weapon is it its life-draining form is minimized.

Oh man, the transform attack IS the Chikage's bread and butter. One of my characters is a Bloodtinge build with the Chikage in mind. If you ever play PVP with the Chikage then catching someone with the transform attack is absolutely devastating. Does massive damage, staggers them, and leads into a combo of a couple hits usually. Anime as all hell. No other katana in the series plays that way.

 

[Akuun]

I did hear the 3rd is faster. One of my friends described it as "Soulsborne." Would you agree in some respect?

Yeah, I think that's accurate in that it tries to take a few cues from BB combat while retaining the Souls feel in terms of level design, lore, and atmosphere.

In DS3 you are a lot faster than you are in other Souls games in that you fight/roll faster, and Estus chugging is way faster than before. It's still slower than BB though. The new L2 weapon skills are also a neat way to add new ways to use existing weapons, though I haven't toyed with them that much yet.

In terms of systems and level design, it still very much feels like Souls instead of Bloodborne. Lots of destroyed castles and hollows and the like.

 

[elchebib]

I never thought that I would enjoy this game. Before heading into it, I was more into playing games for relaxation and fun. I thought these types of games are grueling and not worth it.

However, after all the praise I heard from various internets, I bought the game and started playing it. The feeling you get after you defeat a boss is so gooooood. Father Gascoigne fight was a boss fight that I have never encountered in my life playing games (didn't play any of the previous Souls games). It took me many tries to beat but damn it was it satisfying. Every encounter puts you on the edge and the feeling you get after downing an enemy is so great in Bloodborne.

I'm definitely looking forward to Bloodborne 2 if that ever comes out or whatever From Software has cooked up.

Bloodborne's gameplay mechanics are much more satisfying. It encourages aggressive play and evasion as much as possible. Definitely a game that is awesome in terms of gameplay and environments.

 

[wild wild rice]

I would consider it perfect if it were not for the need to do farming runs for healing stuff and bullets. And Chalice Dungeons are garbage, but they can be completely ignored.

 

[into.it.over.it]

Playing through for kind of the second time. My friend loaned me their PS4 when it was first released and I got through about about 80% of the game, I think, before i had to return it.

Spoiler

The last boss I beat was a big moon guy with a bunch of other little moon guys. I also remember coming across a huge sleeping monster at the bottom of a cave (?) that I was too scared to start a fight with at the time.

Got a PS4 slim over christmas and i'm playing through again making decent progress but after watching EpicNameBro's casual lore run i'm thinking that the chalice dungeons could be fun in co-op. I know a subscription is cheap but, he only other games I have on the PS4 are FFXV and Dishonored 2 so I don't want to pick up a PS+ subscription if there are no other people to play with.

What's finding players like at the moment? I'm guessing there are more than usual at the moment with Christmas and everything.

 

[myco666]

Never really understood this argument at all. How often does transforming a weapon during an attack string actually ever matter? How is it any different from simply switching to another weapon in most of the other games when transforming outside of combos? "Incredibly original" in that they are basically the same weapons we've already been using in the previous games, but with small modifications.

It works as an attack. Usually a pretty good one. No need to stop attacking if you want to change style of weapon.

You could have summed it up by saying that you have a useless shield, no magic and less options for weapons. Not only are there less options, but just like the other Souls games, a handful of weapons will greatly outclass the rest. Same thing applies with this game, but it's an even larger disparity since you have so few options to begin with.

Shield isn't useless and there is magic. There are fewer weapons yes but pretty much zero palette swaps. Weapons feel actually unique unlike in Souls where all weapons in the subcategories feel very similiar to the point where I don't get whats the point even. And handful of weapons don't greatly outclass others. Pretty much everything is equally good.

 

[tskeeve]

Bloodborne is the best Souls game, IMO. Also, magic is not useless. After all the patch buffs, you can build a fairly powerful arcane caster now (though you will have to mix it up with weapons once in awhile).

 

[DriftingSpirit]

GotG.

 

[Manmademan]

I just started playing it myself. So far it's been great. It's definitely different not having a shield though.

Fun fact: shields aren't useless in this game, despite popular opinion.

 

[evilromero]

Btw just beat the witch boss, which was a very unique battle and also unsettling. That percussion crescendo that builds sent chills down my spine. So good.

 

[darkslayer101]

OP hasn't reached the DLC yet and calling it among his most fav rpg... yea done deal
Bloodborne GOAT

 

[Kill3r7]

Bloodborne is the best Souls game, IMO. Also, magic is not useless. After all the patch buffs, you can build a fairly powerful arcane caster now (though you will have to mix it up with weapons once in awhile).

I still think that an arcane caster is the equivalent of a pyromancer in Souls.

 

[J-Skee]

I absolutely love Bloodborne. Top 5 game of all time for me. But for some reason, I just cannot finish Dark Souls 3. I don't if it's because I've hit a wall with a boss, or that trying to go for the platinum trophy is a pain in the ass or that there's just so much stuff to get. I appreciate the scaled back approach Bloodborne take when it comes to items. And I guess it doesn't help that Bloodborne was my first Souls game & I tried to play Dark Souls 3 like I was a hunter. Shields are nice though.

 

[Bloodporne]

Shields are nice though.

But not if they engender passivity

 

[DaciaJC]

3) BB has top of the tops level design

BB levels easily rival DaS3 levels and guess what? They were FIRST.

Eh, I don't know about that. I believe Demon's Souls has generally the best level design in the series, followed by Dark Souls III. Bloodborne is about on par with Dark Souls in this regard, not the previous two games, and I would say that because you'll notice the drop in quality as you progress through the game. The first few opening areas, Central Yharnam and Cathedral Ward, are excellent for both their density and intricacy, with multiple paths and approaches through the levels, but that doesn't quite hold true for many subsequent areas in the game and is a feat more consistently achieved by Dark Souls III aside from a couple of areas. Still an excellent game, though, Bloodborne, it vies for my #2 favorite spot in the series after Dark Souls with DS3 depending on my mood (I just love medieval European settings too much).

 

[Akuun]

I absolutely love Bloodborne. Top 5 game of all time for me. But for some reason, I just cannot finish Dark Souls 3. I don't if it's because I've hit a wall with a boss, or that trying to go for the platinum trophy is a pain in the ass or that there's just so much stuff to get. I appreciate the scaled back approach Bloodborne take when it comes to items. And I guess it doesn't help that Bloodborne was my first Souls game & I tried to play Dark Souls 3 like I was a hunter. Shields are nice though.

I think I really need to stop doing this in DS3, even though I keep gravitating towards it. I'm already running shieldless with a parry-able sword in my off hand. I roll everything and very rarely block. I keep trying to go back on the offensive after taking a hit even though there's no health regain in this game.

DS3 is not Bloodborne. I need to stop trying to turn it into Bloodborne.

 

[Endo Punk]

Still the best game of this gen for me. I can only think of 3 games which may dethrone it; Read dead Redemption 2, death Stranding and Cyberpunk 2077. And the latter 2 don't even have release date/window and may even miss this gen entirely.

 

[agentreza]

I bought this during the holiday sales from bestbuy. Is it a good game for somebody who has never played the demon/dark souls games? I was waiting for a pro patch but might as well give it a go.

 

[Matrix XII]

Nice breakdown OP.

I'd have to agree with most everything you say! Glad to hear you have so much of the game left and you are loving it!

 

[BinaryBear07]

This is one of the games that I bought day one and it still sits on my shelf unopened. I need to tear myself away from another game to start this.

 

[WhiskerFrisker]

I'm glad you're enjoying it. It was my GOTYand it's in my top 10. You haven't seen anything yet but make sure you play the dlc. It's very good.

 

[Opa-Pa]

Good to see you're enjoying it so much, OP. When I went from DeS to DaS I thought nothing could ever impress me as much as DaS, so I was curious to see what was so impressive about Bloodborne, I mean, I loved the aesthetic but surely there had to be something else... And holy hell did it impress me. Somehow it hit all the right notes and ended up my favorite Souls, game of the generation and one of my favorite games ever.

It's especially great to see you're loving it this much having so much yet to see! Try to pay a lot of attention to the story. It's easier to follow than in other Souls games and figuring it out will blow you away.

I bought this during the holiday sales from bestbuy. Is it a good game for somebody who has never played the demon/dark souls games? I was waiting for a pro patch but might as well give it a go.

It'll probably be hard to adjust to its gameplay and challenge at first, but it's a fantastic game either way. Once it clicks it'll become a drug.

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

I haven't played it in anything but NG, but Old Hunters has some of the most difficult content in the series by default, including two nightmarish bosses, so I shudder to think what it's like in NG+ lol. I made extra sure I finished it before the main game and I'm so glad.

 

[tskeeve]

I still think that an arcane caster is the equivalent of a pyromancer in Souls.

Hmm...that's a pretty good comparison. I think the Kos parasite further complicates things though (a parasite build would probably be more of a pure mage).

 

[WhiskerFrisker]

Is the DLC supposed to be as hard (as it seemingly is)?
I had a fresh newgame+ save and jumping into the new content was very challenging.
Is it a mistake to play it in newgame+ ?

Dlc is best on NG+. That's when I played it and I was BL 180. I still got smacked around.

 

[ch4fx_]

I bought this during the holiday sales from bestbuy. Is it a good game for somebody who has never played the demon/dark souls games? I was waiting for a pro patch but might as well give it a go.

BB was my first SoulsBorne game as well, and it's ended up being one of my favorite games, ever. If you understand & are ok the difficulty/learning curve, I HIGHLY recommend playing through the game.

AFAIK, no pro patches on the horizon for BB.

 

[electroaffe]

I think Dark Souls has the best level design. The areas had much more verticality and are connected in a very clever way. Most areas in Bloodborne branches off from the cathedral area and are dead ends. Though I really enjoyed the level design in the DLCs research building. One of the best areas in the series.

 

[Rap2thaMoon]

Playing Bloodborne at this very moment, finished all the base game bosses except the last one. It's a fantastic game that I spent way to much time playing this week and it made me wanting to buy Dark souls 3 exponentially more.

Easily top 5 game of last year.

Witcher 3 is still the goat thou.

 

[Laughing Banana]

The ONLY game so far this gen that still compelled me to invest possibly hundreds of hours AFTER I platinumed it. The combat is just THAT GOOD.

 

[KiteGr]

Welcome to the club.

Since it's very easy to screw your playthrough in this game, here are some usefull first timers tips:

• Reposting with the guns does wonders in the white faced enemies in the cathedral ward.
• It's becomes useless in the middle with enemies that swarm you or are to big to be repostable with guns, and it becomes mandatory again in the end with some end-game bosses.
• If you've beaten the Bloodstarved beast consider going to two certain areas.
  • First from the oedon chapel (where you send refuges) the door is now open, and it leads to another area, that it self leads near the grand cathedral for those who don't want to buy the expensive key. You should go there at least once to experience it, to find an awesome badge, or having a chance to find one of the game's best secrets and potentially a better ending.
  • Second, some snatcher enemies have appeared, (one right outside the oedon chapel hidden in a corner) and you should let them kill you once. They send you to an area that you'll normally visit much later. The area is much more different this early on, and you should tottaly go there to find some awesome weapons, awesome atmosphere, awesome life saving sortcut that you should totally open for later on, a survivor NPC (that talks to you only if you dress with church atire) and an optional boss (that you shouldn't complete before progressing the Ileen the crow questline as it bugs it out if you do).
• In the next area you would normally go, (
  Spoiler

  foresty area
  ) there is an awesome dejavu hidden shortcut that allows you to go back to and inside Iosefca's Clinic from a back door. If you haven't done it already, attempt to return back to the starting area from the main entrance (without using this sortcut) to you'll find something weird involving a certain suspicious NPC. While the NPC IS evil, you shouldn't annoy her or kill or even approach her when/if you manage to find the above mentioned backdoor to the clinic, as if left alive until the next time change, she'll offer one of the items for the extra ending.
• You can send survivors to ether Oedon chapel or Iosefca's Clinic (if you whent back and spoken to the NPC from the main entrance). Needless to say, they die if you send them to the clinic, but there one NPC that can screw your game if you send him with the others similar to Yurt from Demon's Souls. two other survivors are on the cathedral ward's doors, but won't ask for safe heaven until you've beaten at least 3 bosses. One of the survivors can offer late in the game an item for the extra ending, but it's tricky to keep him/her alive.
• As you've already figured out, time progresses after you beat certain bosses. The next time progression however comes with does big changes and most NPC quest lines end upon initiating it. So do your stuff before beating a certain boss
  Spoiler

  in a certain lake.

 

[StoppedInTracks]

I hope this game won some GOTYs cause damn... if there ever was a title that needed them!

 

[WhiskerFrisker]

I hope this game won some GOTYs cause damn... if there ever was a title that needed them!

It was robbed a couple times.

 

[aravuus]

I can't get into Dark Souls 3 now. Nothing feels right.

Maybe I'll just start a new Bloodborne playthrough.

e: Vaati's "BB Story explained" video just popped up in my Youtube recommendations. After just finishing the game. Creepy.

 

[Mass Effect]

Bloodborne is definitely my favorite "Souls" game. It's just more my style; the faster pace, attacking feels better [than Dark Souls], being able to dodge (instead of roll).

And the game is just oozing with style. Don't think think I've ever played a game quite so grotesquely strange, but beautiful.

 

[AstroNut325]

I quit the game. Couldn't get past the BSB. I wasn't enjoying it.

 

[Kudo]

It's the game of all-time, gaming perfected in its purest form, for me nothing else comes even close.
Glad you find it great too.

 

[shouamabane]

game of the gen

 

[silva1991]

I hope this game won some GOTYs cause damn... if there ever was a title that needed them!

It won over 30 GOTYs

Easily the m most awarded game in tehs eries.

 

[ChrisD]

The total difference in play between nearly every weapon is my favorite part of the game. Sure, your R1 while un-transformed is often the same, but your R2 and transformed R1 AND R2 are very different amongst each other.

And those animations.

Mmmmm Blades of Mercy

 

[Alfredo_V]

BB is GOAT-material. A true masterpiece. From Software also did something many developers fails to do, they took their game formula and made something new and fresh.

 

[Shock32]

Forbidden Woods is my favorite level out of all the levels in the souls series. I just love how everything loops together there, also it was super refreshing to get lost in a game. I mean I was scared to death because I was searching every nook and cranny while trying to stay alive wt the same time.

That place was love/hate. Loved the design, enemies, getting lost. Hated the design, enemies, getting lost.

 

[Transistor]

That place was love/hate. Loved the design, enemies, getting lost. Hated the design, enemies, getting lost.

That's the best thing about it. Seriously, it's so damn frustrating and tense, in a great way

The nightmare frontier was the first place that actually caused my heart to skip a beat, though. I froze in fear when I saw it for the first time.