Saturday, September 5, 2015

Dark Souls vs. Bloodborne: Where Should You Start?


An article by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

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