I bounced off Bloodborne the first time I tried it. The second attempt — about three months later, after a long flight, on a recommendation from a friend — was when the design clicked. This is a review of the second attempt.
FromSoftware's Bloodborne arrived with modest expectations. Six weeks and 85 hours later, I think most of them were warranted — with caveats worth understanding before you spend $70.
Gameplay
Combat in Bloodborne rewards reading more than reflexes. FromSoftware clearly built around the idea that you should always have time to think — but the consequences for thinking wrong are real. The result is the rare action game that respects deliberate play.
There's no fluff in Bloodborne's systems. Every menu is one click deeper than you expect; every tooltip says what it means; every system interacts with at least one other system. It's the kind of design that's invisible while you play and obvious when you stop.
Story & Setting
The story is told mostly through environment and incidental dialogue, which is the right choice for the kind of game this is. There are no twenty-minute cutscenes. There are no NPCs who follow you around explaining lore. What there is, instead, is a world that responds to attention.
The story is told mostly through environment and incidental dialogue, which is the right choice for the kind of game this is. There are no twenty-minute cutscenes. There are no NPCs who follow you around explaining lore. What there is, instead, is a world that responds to attention.
Few things in 2024's release calendar feel this confident about what they are.
Critical Hit Daily
Visuals & Performance
If there's a visual complaint, it's that some interface elements need a second pass. Inventory screens, especially, feel like they were finalized later than the rest of the art direction. A patch could close that gap entirely.
Verdict
FromSoftware has earned the benefit of the doubt with Bloodborne. It's not their best work — that's probably still Hades — but it's a stronger argument for taking small studios seriously than any pitch deck.
We score Bloodborne a 8/10. That's high for the genre, but the strengths are unambiguous and the weaknesses are addressable through patches. Worth the time of anyone with even a passing interest.
Verdict
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Gameplay | 9/10 |
| Story | 6/10 |
| Visuals | 7/10 |
| Replayability | 5/10 |
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to finish Bloodborne?
Main story runs around 30-40 hours depending on how thoroughly you explore. Completionists can spend 2-3× that.
Is Bloodborne good for newcomers to Gothic Souls-like?
For total newcomers, expect a 5-8 hour ramp-up. Once you internalize the loop, it clicks.
Which platform should I play Bloodborne on?
Console version is the most stable on launch. PC version benefits from the modding scene long-term.
Was Bloodborne worth the launch-day price?
Depends on backlog. The replay value justifies the price for genre fans; casual players should wait for a 40%+ discount.
Are there DLCs or expansions worth picking up?
Skip the cosmetic DLC. The story expansion is the only one we'd recommend at full price.
What did FromSoftware get right (and what could be better)?
The systems are confident and the combat is satisfying. The story handoffs and load times are the rough spots.
Comments
Comments are moderated. Be civil — disagreement is fine, abuse isn't.
Did you notice how the side missions tie back into the main arc? That was a nice touch.
Bookmarked for when it drops to half price. Cheers for the honest writeup.
Solid review. I bounced off Bloodborne for the first 5 hours, then it clicked.
Finally finished it last night. Your take on the ending matches mine.