Everyone
has games that they can boot up and just relax and whack away at blocks or
build a house or even create a simulation of themselves, but every now and
again, a gamer might need a little more gratification when it’s all said and
done. A little more hair pulling right
before you go to bed or to work or on vacation.
Sometimes a gamer needs a game that will not only kick them in the
virtual nuts, but also help destroy a few controllers in the process. Because let's face it…who doesn't like a
challenge? Or a feeling of unbelievable
accomplishment when you defeat a game that kicked your teeth in so many
times? And if you're looking for
hardcore gaming action with a side of nausea and aggravation, then look no
further than From Software. From
Software are the creators of the Souls series and the newest idea of hardcore
addicting action: Bloodborne. And no
other series of games will make you want to punch through a wall, but then feel
the greatest sense of relief once a boss is dead like these wonderful
titles. But the problem is so many
gamers hear those names and see From Software and instantly get turned
off. They'll exclaim out loud, "Those games are way too hard!" or
"I want to relax when I play, not
get more stressed out." And
while those statements are completely true.
No other games will allow you to boast more than the From Software
games, because of their high difficulty.
No other games will make you feel like a true gamer once you've beaten
them like the From Software games. So if
you're looking to add a little pain, but also a feeling of ecstasy once it's
all over, then go ahead and pick yourself up one of their titles. But you may be thinking, "Well, where should I start?" And that, my joystick fondling junkies, is
exactly what we're here to figure out.
NOTE: P&P understands that the Souls Series started
with Demon’s Souls, but since Dark Souls is on a wider variety of platforms and
has a bigger community, it’ll be discussed instead. Bloodborne is being compared because it's the
newest From game and it's also available on the bestselling system of this
generation. So it's more likely to be
accessible to gamers. Thank you for your
concern, but this is just an opinion article and not a From Software thesis, so
relax and praise the sun or…welcome home, good Hunter.
"Yeah, my man! You're getting it. You're getting it. Now just keep moving your legs side to side with
the beat and the ladies will just be throwing themselves at you."
SIMILARITIES:
Even
though Dark Souls and Bloodborne look like completely different games, they are
made by the same developers and have many similarities. If you enjoy walking around with a humongous
sword and crushing enemy heads with it, then these games will fulfill that
love. Both games have bosses that need
vanquishing in each level before you can move on. Both titles will make you pull your hair out when
you accidentally blinked and had your ass crushed by an opponent. And most importantly, both games will allow
you to roll into barrels, which becomes an addiction early on that you can't
stop doing no matter how many hours you've sunk into each game. But with Bloodborne having an upgrade in the
graphics department, revamping the combat, and removing your shield along with
upgrades to a lot of accessories…that's where the similarities stop. So picking between the two will all depend on
how many RPG elements you want in your action title.
UPGRADES AND
MORE UPGRADES:
Both
Bloodborne and Dark Souls have upgradable items. But Dark Souls takes that to the RPG
extreme. If you're the type of gamer
that enjoys having to repair your equipment (shields, swords, armor, etc.) then Dark Souls might be more your
speed. If you're just looking to—every
once in a while—repair your weapon, then Bloodborne is your game. Bloodborne also removed the necessity of
having to repair your armor. In fact,
you could happily get through Bloodborne wearing just one set of armor (clothing really) and not have to worry
too much about what it does. The armor
system is greatly streamlined. From
Software also removed the humongous amount of different weapons that can be
found in Dark Souls. So if you're not
looking to collect a whole bunch of different swords and halberds and axes and
staffs, then Bloodborne might be more your speed. Because it seems, From Software, wanted to
streamline every element from their Souls Series and just focus on letting a
player carry a big sword and swing it at enemies' faces. In fact, to cement this point, Bloodborne
actually reduced the use and worth of magic so much, that barely any player
uses it in Bloodborne, unless they are trying to make the game harder than it
already is.
"I know we've had our ups and downs. But you know it has to come down to this. Just remember,
what I'm about to do is done out of love. I'll never forget you."
*rolls into barrel and falls off edge*
THE WEIGHT OF
ARMOR:
In
Dark Souls you have a choice of many different armor sets. In Bloodborne…not so much. There are several different sets of armor
that you can mix and match to make your character look as gentle or as horrific
as you want, but in reality, armor sets in Bloodborne aren't that much
different from each other. Sure some
have slightly higher points in poison, thrust or frenzy defense, but nothing to
really distinguish the sets apart except for their looks. Is this a problem? No. If
you're not looking to worry too much about what the armor does or how much is
weighs, than Bloodborne is right up your alley.
The humongous difference in Dark Souls is not only does the armor look
different, but its weight comes at a cost.
In Bloodborne it doesn't matter what you're wearing, your character will
still move at the same speed, but in Dark Souls, heavy armor becomes a gigantic
disability. If your character's
endurance isn't very high and you equip heavy armor you'll have what is known
as the "fat roll." The slowest, most awkward looking movement
and roll known to pixelated man. So not
only do you have to worry about getting hit in Dark Souls or if your armor and
weapon are upgraded enough, you'll also have to worry about whether or not you
can move fast enough. This armor system
can be a huge turn-off to some gamers, while others will thrive on being able
to tweak every aspect of their character.
"You know, up until a few years ago, I used to sleep with a teddy bear named Edwin the Third. Bet
you didn't see that coming?"
"Nope."
"I really feel like we're bonding here."
"Nope."
COMBAT:
In
Bloodborne the main thing you're worried about near any type of enemy is rolling
the hell out of the way, because your character does not get a shield like in
Dark Souls. Instead, you get some type of
gun which you can fire at the right time to stagger your opponent and then
light them up with your sword. But
that's okay because your character is fast enough to dodge roll away from an
attack and then strike behind an opponent.
Well…not in Dark Souls. Even with
the lightest armor you barely have the time to get back up and strike the
enemy. It really all comes down to the
armor you're wearing, your endurance, the weight of your weapon, and what type
of enemy. In Bloodborne none of that
really matters because all weapons come in a super quick form and you'll always
move the same speed no matter what the hell you’re wearing. The other good thing about the parry system (firing your gun) in Bloodborne is it can
be done far enough away from the enemy, so that if you miss they might not hit
you. In Dark Souls if you miss the parry
(swinging your shield) you're too
close to avoid getting massively hurt, which leaves almost no room for
error. The other major difference in
combat is the age of Dark Souls. This
game has been around for a while, so movement and striking isn't as smooth as
it can be. Bloodborne on the other hand
is built for the new generation, it's fast and smooth and very responsive. On top of this, Bloodborne is more of an
aggressive combat system. It rewards you
with pushing forward. If an enemy hits
you, the last thing you want to do is back away. You want to strike them back and push
forward, because you will acquire some of your health back. In Dark Souls this is not the case. If you're hit the best thing you can do is
get the hell out of there, build your stamina back up, and then slowly creep
back in. So if you're looking for a
combat system that is a little more forgiving, then Bloodborne should be your
first attempt at a From Software title, because every hit you take in Dark
Souls is considered a mistake and will probably get you killed.
"Now listen, if you two do not stop arguing, I will turn this quest around and take everyone
home. Do you hear me?"
CONCLUSION:
If you've never played a From Software game and
are looking to give yourself a real challenge, then both of these titles are a
great place to start. If you're looking
to not worry about too many RPG elements and the weight of your swords and
armor, and all you want to do is run around and whack things with a humongous
sword, then Bloodborne is your best option.
It'll teach you the mechanics of a From Software game, without having to
worry about all the extra stuff. But
that doesn't mean that it's any easier in the gameplay department. It just means it's a little less complicated
to understand. But if you want more
swords, shields, armor, magic and dragons in your life, and want to manage your
attire much more closely, then start with Dark Souls. Either way you're bound to have the same
reaction once a boss is defeated: a general feeling of relief mixed with
elation and accomplishment. And if
you're like most gamers, you'll probably start with Bloodborne and then have
the compulsion to tackle its grandfather, Dark Souls, anyway. So if you've been itching to push your gaming
skills to the next level, then look no further than From Software. Now go forth and Praise the Sun, good Hunter.If you enjoyed this article, you may also like:
Bloodborne: The Perfect Mix of Pixelated Addiction
Surviving Bloodborne - Part One
Video Game Review: Bloodborne
