Video Game Review - Batman: Arkham Knight

A Game Review by Hank:

Two kinds of gamers play Batman: one that just loves the character and wants to experience a Batman story first-hand…and another that wants to become the ultimate Dark Knight and 100% the game and challenges.  While the former gamer should be content with the Arkham Knight story, the latter gamer might find the video game lacking in several areas.  But one thing is for certain, as of this moment, this is Rocksteady Studios’ last hurrah in the Batman universe and they didn't hold back in terms of size or story.

"When I asked you to surprise Barbara on her birthday, leaving the Joker bound and gagged 

in her closet was not what I had in mind."

"Sorry, Jim, but that was the only thing I had on hand that could be wrapped in such short notice." 

STORY:

All is well in the city of Gotham until the Scarecrow decides he wants to unleash a humongous bomb filled with his latest batch of fear toxin on the entire city.  This brings about mass hysteria as every last citizen attempts to depart the city, leaving behind only the GCPD, every villain, and Bats.  What follows is the Batman trying to clean up every square inch of Gotham in one very long night.

If you're looking to play Batman: Arkham Knight for the story, then you're in good hands.  Rocksteady didn't pull any punches throughout.  You'll get twists, excitement, drama, tie-ins to comic book stories, action, and if you like the Joker…a truck load of humor.  Without all the side quests and mini games and riddles thrown about the gigantic Gotham, the main story will take around 12 hours to complete.  And it picks up after the events of Arkham City, so if you haven't finished that game, it's highly recommended you do so before diving into this one.  The main protagonist in Batman: Arkham Knight is the Scarecrow, but there's also another main villain thrown in for kicks, and that's the Arkham Knight.  The Knight is like Batman in a lot of ways, except he doesn't care about taking a life.  You may think the reveal of the character is the highlight of game, but the sad thing is it's a letdown when you finally do find out who it is.  And that's a shame.  But the build-up until that point is excellent, so just try to enjoy the ride before it ends. 

Now if you're wondering if that hurts the story, don't worry, there are still plenty of thrills and twists to be had while pounding baddies into the ground.  And the one thing Arkham Knight can be commended for is the balance of emotion.  You'll be sad one moment and the next be laughing like a hyena.  So be prepared to be tossed all over the place.  And the story is much darker than the previous titles because it dives into the mind of Batman.  His loves.  His fears.  And everything in between.  So even if you're not looking to 100% the game, you'll still get your money's worth in just the story alone. 

"When I say take it back, you take it back."

"Ow. Ow. Okay. Okay. I'm sorry for calling you Nightwing."

"I'm mean how hard is it to distinguish us? He doesn't have bat ears. I have the bat ears. Sheesh."

VOICE OVER AND DIALOGUE:

The Rocksteady Batman titles wouldn't be as great as they are without all the fantastic villains that show up to bother the Dark Knight.  But those villains wouldn't be half as much fun if it wasn't for the talent behind the voices.  Obviously, reclaiming the throne as the Batman is the unbelievable Kevin Conroy.  If you don't know who that is…shame on you.  (Take a week and watch Batman: The Animated Series and you'll understand.)  Is his dialogue perfect throughout?  No.  There are a lot of cheesy lines in the story.  But that doesn't mean his voice acting is terrible.  He's one of the best Batmen out there.  So sit back and enjoy the greatness.  On top of that, the most famous Jedi, Mark Hamill, returns to lend his voice to the Joker once more.  If there's anyone that steals the show, it's him.  He is the highlight throughout the story and when he doesn't show up you'll actually miss his ridiculousness.  And the Joker has one of the biggest moments of the game where his vocals come into play and it is glorious.  Besides the two big names, the rest of the voice acting is excellent also.  John Noble as the sinister Scarecrow and Tara Strong as the hilarious Harley Quinn both give standout performances in their respected roles.  While the rest of cast, Troy Baker included, help support the magnificence happening everywhere else.

GRAPHICS AND DESIGN:

There is no doubt about it, Arkham Knight, is one slick looking game.  From the city streets to the sewers to the interior of buildings, Rocksteady knows the Batman universe and has represented it stupendously.  And with the humongous size of Gotham, you'd think there'd be some loading screens as you traveled around the city from one island to the next.  Nope.  Driving couldn't be smoother, while gliding through the air and taking in the beautiful sights is more fun than it should be.  And character designs are unbelievable looking.  Batman's suit, once again, is one of the best looking designs for the character you'll ever see.  The sexy women of the DC universe are gorgeous and when it comes down to creepy, the design of the Scarecrow is frigging horrendously perfect.  No one has been able to capture DC like Rocksteady's design department and just the aesthetics alone are enough to make you want to play the game.

UPGRADES GALORE:

Upgrades to Wayne Technology have returned in a big way.  If you liked upgrading the Batman in the previous titles than you'll love Arkham Knight, because there's so much to upgrade in this game you might actually get lost in the menus.  You can upgrade the suit, combat, the way the car handles tank mode, the way the car handles driving, the grappling hook, or even the ability to use gadgets as you fly into your enemies.  Are all the upgrades necessary?  No.  The main story can be beaten without worrying too much about upgrades, but if you want 100% completion and the true ending, then upgrades should be selected cautiously.  At times it can feel overwhelming with every menu available, but an overdose of upgrades is better than no upgrades at all.  So if you’re looking to build your ultimate Dark Knight, then fear not, all the customizing is at your fingertips.

"Batman, hold my hand."

"Seriously, Dick?  I thought you outgrew that?" 

"I bet you still hold Robin's hand when he asks."

"Still playing favorites? This is why I broke up with you."

"What? I broke up with--"

"Enough! Give me your hand."

GAMEPLAY AND COMBAT:

Everything you remember from Arkham City, the tremendous group fights, brain-hurting Riddler puzzles, grappling hooks, gadgets, stealth takedowns, and even detective mode...is brought back in Arkham Knight, with some parts even grander than you remember.  The button configurations are balanced and the Dark Knight reacts to your movements smoothly 99% of the time.  Occasionally you will have Bats accidentally fall off a wall or get trapped behind a trash can, but it’s a huge game and silliness from time to time will happen.  But no Batman game would be complete without hordes of foes to slap around.  This time you’ll have the ogre types which require stomach pounding, medics that’ll revive fallen baddies, ninjas that’ll cut you up and even grunts with shock sticks.  Each new foe helps ramp up the combat and make it required that you actually pay attention to what you're doing when facing thirty men at the same time.  If not, it is lights out for Bats and you’ll be starting all over again.  Now, are there parts where Bats will occasionally punch the wrong guy, wiping your multiplier?  Yep.  Is it frustrating?  Yep.  Is it enough to make you quit the game?  No.  In fact, with a little patience and probably a couple of do-overs, you'll move through the main story without throwing the controller or pulling out all your hair.   

Adding to the fun of kicking everyone's ass are duel combat sequences.  Bats will team up with Robin, Nightwing, or Catwoman to bring down waves of enemies.  The sequences aren't a major part of the game, but they do help freshen up the combat and make it a tad gentler on your multiplier.  You can even switch effortlessly between the two characters during these battles which allows you to get a feel for different fighting styles.

The only thing that might be a downer for some is the disappearance of boss battles in the game.  Sure you’ll kind of face off against the Arkham Knight, but nothing compares to the one on one boss battles of Arkham City and Asylum.  Does this hurt the narrative?  No.  Because most of the face-offs are done in cut scenes and the story will just play out.  So if you're one of the gamers that loved boss battles from the previous titles, then you might be heavily disappointed.  But that’s alright, because filling that gap is Gotham's most wanted: a series of side missions for your Batjoyment.

"Ivy, I just want you to know that--"

"You've always loved me, Batman?"

"--I analyzed that rash you have on 70% of your body. 9/10 dermatologists recommend 

Calamine lotion and some type of steroid."

SIDE MISSIONS & CHALLENGE MAPS:

It’s true…Batman: Arkham Knight is riddled with side missions.  They are everywhere. You get to choose from taking down the Riddler by driving along his many Batmobile courses or solving his brain-crushing riddles, to stopping bank robberies, fighting the Man-Bat, blowing up the Penguin's money, saving firefighters, bomb disposal, to even finding a serial killer and more.  So there are numerous activities in Gotham that will keep any gamer busy.  And to get the true ending of game (the one after the main story is over) you have to 100% it.  This could take a very long time considering how much help you receive along the way.  On the plus side these missions are fun and go along with the narrative of the story being told.  The downside is they can't be played through in one whole arc.  Instead, you're teased with a side mission and then you’ll have to wait until you complete more of the main mission to finish it.  But the real question is…why?  Why, in 2015 are gamers still subject to parts of a map that aren't accessible?  Within Gotham, you basically can't go everywhere with the Batmobile until unlocking all the bridges.  And the only way to do that is by playing the main story.  So what happens is you get excited about a side mission, but then get literally road blocked from continuing it.  You might even go onto the main story and forget all about that side mission you obtained an hour ago.  This is the only part of the game that ruins pacing.  If a gamer decides he wants to play through a side mission before going on to anything else, why doesn’t he have that choice?  Why does he have to play the main story to unlock certain areas?  Aren’t we in a time of gaming where you should be able to tell your own Dark Knight story and weave your own path?  Oh well…at least there are plenty of side missions to be had, even if you have to wait till the end to do them.

If it feels like the game is weighted down by side missions, then it’ll feel lightened in the challenge map department.  There are only a few different maps among the challenges and after a while they become slightly repetitive.  It seems the meat of the content was sunk into side missions.  Does this hurt Arkham Knight?  Only if challenge maps were a big part of the Batman games for you.  If you respond more toward the story, then this shouldn’t bother you in the least.  If you’re looking for more content once the main story and side missions are over, then you’ll probably take to the internet for some raging with fellow challenge map lovers.

THE BATMOBILE:

In almost every mission of the game the Batmobile is needed.  Now, the inclusion of the vehicle is unbelievably awesome.  Spinning donuts or ramming into brick walls and watching them crumble is fantastic.  But having the need for the car in basically the entire story might be a sore spot for gamers that loved the previous Rocksteady titles.  If you're not familiar with the gameplay, the Batmobile can turn into a tank like vehicle and blow the crap out of air and ground drones throughout the game.  It's also used to access inaccessible areas of Gotham by using a wench and maneuvering the vehicle over obstacles.  In other words, the car becomes the other playable character in Arkham Knight.  And that wouldn't be so bad if you had a choice to use it or not.  But the problem lies in being forced to use it throughout the game.  It's needed almost everywhere.  So if you like the Batmobile, then you'll love this game.  If you see it somewhat as a nuisance…then you might have a humongous problem with Arkham Knight.  Either way, you're stuck with it throughout and have to make the best of it.  So in between chasing down foes and blowing up drones, take the time to enjoy the car by smashing into everything you can and spinning a few donuts in the GCPD’s parking lot for laughs.

"Fellow officers, there's only one man that could make this suicide run and bring back what we need."

"Oracle, send me the location of the closest Dunkin Donuts." 

CONCLUSION:

Batman: Arkham Knight is a fantastic end to a great Batman run by Rocksteady.  They brought graphics, increased the gameplay, upgraded the map, added a vehicle, and even kept the proper voice talent throughout.  With only a few minor gripes on side missions, challenge maps, and the continuous use of the Batmobile, Arkham Knight still brings the goods in terms of story and overall twists and turns.  This puts Batman: Arkham Knight easily in the running for P&P’s 2015 game of the year.  So if you enjoyed the previous Rocksteady outings of Batman, then don’t think twice about picking this up. 

4 out of 5 Stars (minus a star for stunted side missions, a forced Batmobile, and the Arkham Knight reveal)

Writer & Editor: Hank – Twitter / Twitch

What Elements Make a Great Hitman Game?

Cue the beautiful, yet slightly unsettling, Ave Maria.

An article by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

Nothing warms a gamer's heart more than dropping a pixelated piano on someone, or spiking a wedding cake with poison, or even dressing like a scarecrow and snatching up unsuspecting victims in a cornfield.  That's right, boys and girls, if you didn't know already a new Hitman game has been announced from those wonderful developers at IO Interactive.  So this December, gamers everywhere can strap in and hopefully have the most fun that can be had in pixelated assassinations.  But between Hitman: Blood Money (2006) and Hitman: Absolution (2012) sat a lengthy six years, and die-hard fans of the superb (yet slightly outdated) Blood Money were somewhat dumbfounded when it was announced that Absolution would be an easy welcome into the Hitman world with the added Intuition system, new Disguise mechanics and even *gasp* checkpoints.  And in less than six months, IO Interactive will release a new Hitman game and attempt to appease long-time fans and new-comers alike.  But the question is: What are the elements that make a great Hitman game?  How can IO Interactive keep from veering off the tracks?

"Dammit, Lady, you said you didn't feel good.  Just give me one burp and I promise it'll help."

SOMETHING FRESH:

When you're a developer or a creator of anything—and you've done that anything a few times over—there's always a feeling of having to reinvent the wheel.  Make that "something" feel fresh.  Feel revived.  And when that feeling comes, here's what a creator should do: take all the new ideas, write them down, stick them up on the fridge, stare at them for a good long time, and then douse them in gasoline and set them on fire.  Because completely changing something isn't what fans of that something want.  For instance: The Splinter Cell series was awesome…right up until the point they took Sam Fisher's patented outfit away and stuck him in the sunlight.  They even gave him slow motion shooting abilities, virtually making him a Rambo instead of Sam Fisher.  Ubisoft basically took all the main elements that made Sam Fisher…Sam Fisher, and flushed them down the toilet.  So what are the elements that the Hitman franchise is really known for?  Large sandbox environments, incredible—yet whacky—kills, and stealth.  That's the basics.  Those three things should be kept no matter what is done to the game.  Because the secret is fans of a video game don't want a completely new experience.  They want the same experience they felt when they first played the original game, just enhanced for the current video game times.  If you're going to change something so much that it doesn't resemble the original form any longer, then slap a different name on it and sell it as something new.

"Sometimes people throw out the silliest things.  Why just yesterday, someone tossed a perfectly 

good Cappuccino maker...and now this." 

FREEDOM:

If you think back to all your favorite moments from Hitman: Absolution or Hitman: Blood Money, what do you remember the most?  Do you remember the claustrophobic hallways and tiny checkpoints you had to get through in Absolution?  Or do you remember the pixelated playgrounds in Blood Money?  Most gamers will remember the do-anything playgrounds that were prevalent in Blood Money.  Why?  The Freedom.  Sure, Absolution had some nice updates to combat and graphics, but nothing in that game came close to the amazing environments of Blood Money.  Being able to go anywhere and do anything at any time is a staple of the franchise.  This is the heart of Hitman.  Oh…there are three targets to take out?  Cool.  Letting the gamer decide who dies first is the key to making a Hitman game feel like a Hitman game.  The greatest feat Blood Money ever achieved was talking to your friends and finding out they took a completely different route to a level than you did.  The shock that anything could be done to obtain the Silent Assassin rating and that no two gamer's play-throughs would be exactly same is the key to victory.  Creating checkpoints and tiny hallways and linear environments takes everything that is pure about the Hitman franchise and throws it out the window.  One of the best moments in Absolution was the cornfield, and not because of the idea or the environment or the crazy nuns…no, it was a great moment because the level was large and you had more freedom to take out your objectives.  If this new Hitman game wants to recreate that magic, then freedom is the key.  Do away with checkpoints.  Allow the player to decide when they need to save and who they need to kill.

"Will you quit squirming!  This is the only way to get rid of the hiccups." 

HUMOR AND WHACKY KILLS:

Every time someone mentions Hitman, the next thing out of someone's mouth is a ridiculous assassination they pulled off.  You never hear someone talk extensively about how they just snuck behind someone and pulled the trigger.  Why?  Cause that's not what makes Hitman…Hitman.  Sure those moments happen, because they might be necessary to move forward on a mission, but it's the humorous situations and crazy environment kills everyone talks about.  Remember that time 47 snuck into a hallway and lumped an idiot over the head?  No?  Okay.  But you do remember knocking on a van and offering poison-laced donuts to unsuspecting agents now don't you?  Or entering a Christmas party as Santa Claus and injecting a sausage with sedatives.  Why do you remember these moments?  Because they're unique and frigging hilarious at the same time.  It's the unique kills or accidents and the dark humor that makes Hitman remain Hitman.  Sure the story can be a little dramatic at times or maybe even sad, but never forget to inject the gameplay with a little humor to make it memorable.

STEALTH:

This is the biggest factor of the Hitman franchise.  Any fool can go Rambo style, pull out an Uzi, and gun down every moving thing on a level—not that there's anything wrong with that.  But the real Agent 47 is all about stealth.  Not being scene.  Having targets virtually disappear and no one knows how or why it happened.  This is Hitman.  And adding slow motion shooting or the ability to go full commando is not necessary to a Hitman game.  Leave that for the hundred other games that'll come out.  If you want a Hitman game to succeed, it has to have uniqueness.  Not match every other game on the market.  So the addition of close combat kills and a cover system were excellent upgrades in Absolution, because they kept the stealth vibe.  But being able to gun down enemies in slow-motion does not.  Sure, 47 might be in a sticky situation and have to resort to over-the-top violence, but every level/environment and target should be able to be dealt with by using only stealth…should the player wish. 

"Alright, hold still."

"Are you sure about this?"

"I guarantee you, enough of these bad boys and it'll look like you have a full head 

of hair again. Trust me." 

CONCLUSION:

Sure there are other factors that can be improved and/or talked about to create a great Hitman game, like the disguise and scoring system or maps or dealing with witnesses, but to make a Hitman game still feel like a Hitman game, just three simple elements are needed:  Sandbox environments, unique kills, and stealth.  If IO Interactive sticks to these basics, the next Hitman game should appeal to all audiences and even feel fresh amidst all the Rambo-style games that will be adorning the shelves this Holiday Season.  Here's hoping IO Interactive knocks it out of the park.  Do you have an opinion or disagreement about the above?  Or want to share your favorite Hitman moment?  Feel free to vent in the comment section.  Thanks for reading.

Why is Everyone Playing Rocket League?

An article by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

Some games deliver heart-pounding stories with twists and turns at every corner.  Some games bring expert mechanics allowing you to dish out perfect head shots and exhilarating winning moments.  And then there are some games that are just damn fun and super hard to stop playing.  So which one of those categories does Rocket League fall under?  Easy: The ridiculously fun and addicting, yet unbelievably competitive category.

Now you may be thinking, "That's cool, but what the hell is Rocket League?"  Well, this article could go all scientific and explain that it's a physics based game with spheres and rectangles and rocket propulsion, but who gives a crap about all that?  While the physics are expertly executed by the game's developers, Psyonix Studios, this is still a game, so let's describe Rocket League in a simpler way.  Its soccer (football to the lovable Europeans) without all the rules and instead of a human, you have silly cars with rockets strapped to their asses.  What's the goal of the game?  To get a giant bouncing ball in the other team's net.  It's so simple to grasp.  And that's really the first reason why everyone is playing Rocket League.

SIMPLE, YET COMPLICATED:

Now you're thinking, "Hold on there, Pal, how is something simple and complicated at the same time?"  As ridiculous as that sounds, it's a true statement.  See, one of the reasons everyone is playing Rocket League is because any gamer from any walk of life at any age can understand the concept of putting a ball in a net.  Simple.  But if you want to win and become good at the game, that's when things get complicated…or much or interesting.  Learning to drive and strike the ball is as easy as pushing a button and aiming at the big bouncing sphere.  But being able to fly into the air and pull off a perfect kick into the net is a totally different story.  And this is where the game can become very in-depth.  If you have the commitment and drive (no pun intended) to become an expert player of Rocket League, than the depth of an actual Esport is all here.  This is why people keep returning, time and time again.  Because you show up first for the simple fun of driving around with your friends and being silly, but then end up staying because you want to master the competitive gameplay.

"I don't know, Fred, for some reason I have the feeling this isn't going to end well." 

FLUID AND FRAME RATES:

There are a lot of people who can't sit down and watch golf or baseball because of the down-time between the action.  This is where Rocket League excels.  There's never any down-time once a match starts, which makes playing the game or even watching the game, very addicting.  And with short matches of only five minutes, you never get tired of your opponents or the arena or the vehicles zooming around.  Everything within the game is in a constant state of flux.  What else can you ask for when creating a sports game?  On top of this non-stop action are perfect frame rates.  The game runs smoothly even when the action is turned up and there's chaos all over the field with eight players all smashing into one another.  Never does the game stutter or choke or cough or even sneeze while you’re racing to victory.  And that can even be said about the online play too.

SILLY, YET SOPHISTICATED:

On the surface, Rocket League is just a bunch of ridiculous looking cars, ranging from pimped out vans to flame-painted hot rods, rocketing around a field after a ball, while crashing into everything.  And not only do you get to paint your car, but the game gives you the option to wear a fancy hat while doing so.  And what's better than flying around and pounding balls into nets, while sporting a top hat or colorful propeller?  Absolutely nothing.  But while the cosmetics may look fun and goofy, there's a physics-based engine underneath the gameplay—that if not executed properly—would wreck the entire game.  And that's just good developing right there.  So why can't a game be serious and silly at the same time?  Why can't everything have a little humor injected into it?  So while you're zooming around a grass field, smacking a sphere around and laughing your ass off with friends, remember…that wouldn't happen if the game wasn't coded correctly.  So Rocket League is perfect balance in gaming: silly, yet sophisticated.  Well done.

"Umm...Phil, you wanna get down from that wall.  There's a game going on."

"Sorry, a bee was chasing me."

"Phil...you're in a car."

"I'm not following...?" 

THE PROPER DESIGN:

Now, all the above sounds great in theory, but without the perfect art behind it, you wouldn't have half as much fun.  Yes, the physics and fluid gameplay make Rocket League addicting to watch and play, but the art design also has a ton to do with it too.  From the well-designed arenas to the colorful grass to the toy-like look of the vehicles…everything works and comes together like a well baked pixelated cake.  There isn't a corner or section or pixel of the game that doesn't say fun.  And the artists and concept designers of Rocket League should be commended for their fantastic ideas. 

UNLOCKABLES AND AESTHETICALLY LEVELING UP:

Another reason why gamers keep coming back is the customization of their personal flame-fired vehicle and all the locked items that you can obtain by simply playing the game.  As you progress you can unlock new paint jobs, rims, vehicle designs, hilarious hats, and even silly antenna ornaments.  But here's the most important thing: none of that helps you play the game any better, and that's a humongous game-design plus.  Why?  Because there's never a feeling of getting creamed by the other team, because they have better vehicles, or faster engines, or more tricks up there sleeve.  In other online games you'll jump in and instantly feel inadequate because the other side has better weapons and better armor and you're standing there with a pea-shooter and a face draped in confusion.  But in Rocket League, if you're winning, it all has to do with being a better player.  Plain and simple.  So this aesthetic-only leveling system allows new-comers to file in with ease and enjoy the game too, which is why the number of players in Rocket League continues to grow every single day.

"Jesus, Tim, I said business casual for dinner tonight."

"This hat is business casual, Karen.  I could've went with my Wizard hat again and acted out 

scenes from Harry Potter.  But I didn't...for you."

CONCLUSION:

So why is everyone playing Rocket League?  Easy.  Perfect physics, smooth frame rates, colorful aesthetics, fluid gameplay, a fair leveling system, steady multiplayer…and it's all covered by a blanket of humor.  What else could you possibly ask for?  In the end, when playing a video game, it all comes down to whether or not you're having fun.  And with a small game that can deliver on every one of the above fronts, Rocket League lands right smack in the middle of ridiculously fun.  So if you haven't played Rocket League yet and think that it looks stupid, never judge a game by its simple cover.  Give it a few minutes of your time…because that's all you'll need to become hooked on the exhaust fumes.

Surviving Bloodborne - Part: Two

"Now I have a Holy Blade. Ho ho ho."

This is Part Two of Surviving Bloodborne.  Head over to Part One if you’ve missed it.

A video game guide by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

WALLS AND DOORWAYS:

Bloodborne doesn't hold back on you when it's pounding your character into the ground, so if there's anyway to relieve that pressure—even if the tactic seems cheap—use it to your advantage.  Some enemies are either too big or too wide to fit through a doorway.  And boy, is that the perfect opportunity to sit back and attack from afar as they struggle to get through.  For instance, when dealing with multiple werewolves, always run through the nearest doorway and wait for them to attempt to get in.  Then one by one, hack and slash their asses until all the werewolves are stacked up like piles of beef.  Don't feel ashamed by this tactic, because sooner or later you're going to get creamed anyway, so take advantage of the game while you can. 

The other fun thing to do is use walls to your advantage.  In the world of Bloodborne, apparently most walls are magic barriers that only hold back your character and not their weapon.  So the next time you're having trouble with an opponent, run through a doorway or around some type of structure and then strike through it.  Enemies will most likely stay stuck to the wall or structure, trying to get to you, as you strategically plant your weapon upon their face.  Now, you may think you're slick using this tactic, but beware: these silly walls also affect enemies in the same way.  So if they're stuck to a wall swinging some type of weapon and you're too close…say goodnight, because they will magically rip your face off from the other side.  So use the walls to your advantage, but stay a safe distance until you're ready to strike.

"Here I am having a perfectly nice lunch next to this gorgeous tree, and some giant A-hole has to

come along with his stupid lantern and ugly hair, and ruin it."

SHORTCUT ELEVATORS ARE YOUR FRIEND:

Every level or area in Bloodborne has a short cut at some point to get further into the level without having to run the entire way.  Use these elevators to your advantage as best you can.  If you've been going for a while through a level, odds are there's an elevator somewhere close or you might have missed it.  So always take the time to search the entire area for these shortcuts.  They'll allow you to quickly go back to the Hunter's Dream and level up and then come back to the exact same spot.  Don't forget though, elevators have to be activated to work.  So if you're not going to use it at that moment, at least run in and out of it to activate it.  That way if you die, you can still use the elevator when you return.

CHECK THE BATH MESSENGERS OFTEN:

Bath Messengers are the little skeleton guys hanging out in the birdbath type things when you go back to the Hunter's dream.  They offer various items (clothing, weapons, augmentations, blood vials, etc.) to help you through the game.  But here's the thing: as you progress through and kill certain Bosses and such, you'll gain badges which will allow you to buy different weapons or armor and if you don't check them at least once after each level, you may miss out on something very important or helpful.

INVENTORY BANKING:

Characters in Bloodborne have magical bags that allow them to carry items over their limit.  For instance, your character can only hold 20 blood vials at any one time (24 with a special upgrade later in the game), but that doesn't mean if you come across another blood vial you shouldn't pick it up.  If you're holding your limit in any one item and you pick up another one, it magically gets banked back at the Hunter's Dream.  Now this doesn't mean if you use a blood vial that it magically gets replaced.  No, your immediate inventory will show 19 blood vials instead of 20.  But if you die or head back to the Hunter's Dream, then your inventory will be refreshed.  So if you've banked a ton of blood vials and only have three in your inventory with a Boss fight right around the corner, best thing to do is head back to the Hunter's Dream to refresh your inventory (and level up if you can) and then go back to your last spot using a shortcut that you found and fight the Boss with a full amount of blood vials.

"I told you guys to leave me alone while I'm eating.  I even offered you some of my PB & J.  But no,

you had to try and gnaw at my ankles.  *sniffle* We could have been friends." 

BOSSES:

Well this is it.  The last piece of advice P&P can offer in Bloodborne.  Just as stated in the "How to fight" area of this guide, always…always study your opponents attacks first, before rushing in blind like a jackass.  This is the first and most important rule when dealing with bosses.  How do you do this?  By simply running up to a boss or even the other Hunters in the game and then backing up and watching how they attack.  Do you even Math?  Counting is important while fighting Bosses.  Why?  Because most will strike with a certain pattern.  They may swing three or four times in a row and knowing when their last strike will happen is essential to rolling forward and landing a hit yourself.  So roll in and roll out and then watch and learn.  This is the number one tactic when dealing with any Boss.

Now, there are two types of Bosses in Bloodborne (with a tiny exception here and there): small and large.  When facing humongous bosses like Vicar Amelia or The One Reborn or The Cleric Beast, your best option is to roll to the inside of these bosses after they strike.  Pretty much staying under them is your best tactic to winning the fight.  Some large bosses will swing in a 360 degree circle, so you may have to wait until the attack is over and then dive in and pound the crap out of them.  But generally speaking…if the boss is huge, stay underneath and whack away.  Smaller bosses are much trickier.  When you finally face bosses like The Shadow of Yharnam or the Blood-Starved Beast or the last boss, or even the several other Hunters spread throughout the game, staying on the inside of them is a sure way to get killed.  They move faster.  Swing faster.  And spin around faster.  So diving toward them will only give them an opportunity to punch you in the face.  It's best to dive away while they strike, dive back in, strike once and then get out. 

This leads to the second most important rule when dealing with bosses.  Never get greedy.  You're going to get that itch that tells you to stay next to the boss and swing just one more time and it's a sure way to get your face pounded.  Don't be greedy.  If you've gotten in a couple of hits or just one hit and the boss is winding up, get the hell out of there.  Sure the battle may take you a minute longer to fight, but at least you won't be dead and have to do the whole thing over again. 

OPTIONAL BOSSES:

Throughout Bloodborne there are optional bosses that can be fought for new badges that will give you either: new areas to explore, new weapons, or new armor.  And some of them are even harder than the main story's bosses.  If you want all the trophies and want to fully explore the game of Bloodborne than kill each and every one of them.  But here's a secret: if you're having trouble beating one, then just leave them for now.  You can always come back and crush their face later.  In fact, you have the option to go anywhere at any time as long as you haven't fought the very last boss.  Once you fight that boss…then the game is over.  So build your character into a badass and then just before you take on the last boss, go back and mop the floor with every optional boss you had a tough time killing previously.

"Man, I look badass right now.  All I need is the perfect tune for this moment."  

*Hits play on Walkman*

...What's new, Pussycat? Whoa, whoa.  What's new, Pussycat? Whoa, whoa...

"Perfect."   

CONCLUSION:

Bloodborne is the type of game that when you first begin, it will make you want to pull your hair out.  But with a little time, some patience, lots of deaths, and with the help of this guide, you'll begin to play Bloodborne to relax.  That's right…after you've learned and have played the game so much, you'll actually start it up and enjoy the face smashing and vase breaking.  Bloodborne may be challenging, but with a tiny of bit of perseverance, it can be one of the most satisfying games you have ever played.  Thanks for reading.

Surviving Bloodborne - Part: One

"Come out to Yharnam, we'll get together, have a few laughs..."

A video game guide by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

So you came here because you want to turn on Bloodborne, grab a controller, and run through the game like you were taking a Sunday stroll through a park, right?  Maybe you even want to crush the game in one sitting and then tell the world about your video game greatest.  Well…you better strap on your big-boy pants and put the controller in a protective rubber slip, because that baby is probably going to go flying no matter how many articles you read, how many walkthroughs you watch, or even how many tips you receive.  Because Bloodborne wasn't made to be easy—sure you can lessen the pain—but the hurt is still going to come no matter how much you prepare.  Now, if you still want a tad bit of help so that you don't pull out all your hair—just some—then please continue on.  Just know that no matter how much stress you endure during your travels in Bloodborne…in the end it's all worth it.

DYING IS A FACT OF LIFE:

If you think you're not supposed to die in Bloodborne, the game will remedy that feeling about three minutes in, when a werewolf eats your face and you stare at the screen dumbfounded and confused.  But relax, dying in Bloodborne is good.  Not in the sense that you've lost, but in the sense that hopefully you've learned something.  Did a walking basket of skulls rip your head off?  Well now you know not to go near it without a massive sword on your back.  Did a boss step on your face?  Now you know to avoid that one foot.  See…every time you die in Bloodborne you learn a lesson.  And each time you learn a lesson, you become a better player.  So instead of dropping the controller and kicking the TV, just head back into the game with one purpose in mind: to get your blood echoes back.  This is what makes the game so addictive.  It's not the end of the world when you die.  You have a chance to pick up exactly where you left off…so take it.

"Figures...right in the middle of combat, and I have to take a piss.  It's just no good to get old."

YOUR WEAPON OF CHOICE:

Weapons in Bloodborne are no small matter.  When you first start, you are given the choice of your first two weapons in the game without a fee.  Every weapon gained from then on, must be achieved by either killing something or for an exchange of blood echoes.  So even if you pick a weapon that doesn't suit your play style, you can always go back and obtain the one that will.

But the question is: what is your play style?  Do you want to wield a heavy weapon that does the most damage, but takes the longest to swing?  Then you want the Hunter Axe.  If you want a fast weapon that doesn't do a lot of damage, but will surprise foes with its quickness, then you want the Threaded Cane.  If you can't decide on either, then choose the middle of the road with the Saw Cleaver.  There's also a secondary weapon you can wield in the game, which is some form of gun at first.  The Hunter Pistol will fire quicker, but does less damage and the Hunter Blunderbuss does more damage, but fires slower.  Unless you want either of these two weapons to be your primary weapon in the game, then the Hunter Pistol would be the best choice for its quickness…at least in your first play through. 

Also, keep in mind, only one—that's ONE—weapon can be upgraded to a plus ten by the end of the game.  Throughout your play through, you'll pick up items to fortify your weapons, but to get your weapon to the highest level (a plus ten) you need a Blood Rock, and there's only one in the entire game and it doesn't come until near the end.  So do your best to use and love one weapon in the game and upgrade it, because if you spread all your upgrade items across many different weapons, by the end of the game, you'll be swinging for the fences and not doing any damage.  And that's just going to be a bad time.  Now, if you want a heavy weapon that does a lot of damage, has fantastic knock-back, and will constantly be useful throughout the game, then Ludwig's Holy Blade is a very good option.

ALLOCATING POINTS:

In the very beginning and throughout the game, you'll get the option to upgrade your character.  And doing so will make or break your character by the time you get towards the endgame.  It is highly recommended that your first play through be focused on strength, as swinging a weapon at anything that moves is the easiest form of game to comprehend.  But what the hell does focusing on strength mean?  Well, you basically want to be a tank like character.  You want to be able to take the damage while also dishing it out.  So when leveling up, drop points in Vitality (to increase your health bar) and strength (to make you hit harder).  Now with that in mind, the next two attributes you should drop points in every few levels or so are: endurance (you'll want to swing that heavy sword more often without getting tired) and skill (allows you to use certain special weapons throughout the game and increases your damage output).  Those are the four main attributes you'll want to focus on if you want to be a Tank type character. 

Now there are two attributes left: Bloodtinge and Arcane.  Bloodtinge increases the amount of damage your secondary weapon does (for example the Hunter Pistol) and Arcane increase your magic damage.  It is highly recommended you do not sink too many points in either during your first play through, as leveling up both will increase the difficulty of the game.  If you really want a challenge, then by all means go for it, but if you want to learn the ropes of Bloodborne first, then Tank is the way to go.  Also keep in mind that there is New Game Plus once you've beaten the game, so during that run-through you can try leveling up your magic just to feel it out, without it being too detrimental to your health.

"You would think with all the bullsh*t I just went through, they'd at least install an 

escalator or something." 

LEVELING UP:

The object of Bloodborne is to become such a badass that towards the end or even the middle of the game you're taking down foes that are the size of mountains.  But how can that be possible with a game that's built to punish you?  Bloodborne is hard, but it's not here to give you nightmares.  You have to know how to strategize and the first thing to learn is when to level up.  So when do you level up?  As you as you get a frigging chance…that's when.  Why?  Because it'll make you a better player and stronger character.  If you're in the middle of a level or area and are close to leveling up, but the Boss is right there in front of you...stop moving forward.  Go back towards a lantern and level your character up first, always.  Never, ever run into a Boss battle loaded with echoes.  You may get your ass handed to you and have a tough time picking those blood echoes up the next time you face that same Boss.  And then you've lost all the experience you've gained.  So if you're debating between leveling up and taking on a Boss…don't…just head back to the lantern and level up. 

Now you may be thinking, "Yes, but then I'll have to fight all the same enemies over again because they respawn."  Exactly.  You could choose to run past every one and go straight for the Boss (and if you're a high level or in NG+ then go right ahead), but if this is your first run through, then you should spend the time farming the level to gain experience and become a better player.  See…what you don't know is every time you run through a level again and take on more foes; you're actually getting better at the game.  With this strategy, it's possible to run through the game taking down almost every Boss the first time—including the last Boss—if you know when to stop moving forward and level up your character.  This will ease the pain of getting to the glorious end of Bloodborne.

FARMING:

Farming goes hand and hand with leveling up.  This is no secret…you will have to farm for blood echoes and/or blood vials at one point in the game.  You could try to run through Bloodborne without farming, but it's a guaranteed bad time.  And more than likely you will quit the game and probably never return.  But here's the good part about farming: Bloodborne is completely and utterly fun to farm.  With all the unique enemies and levels in the game, you should never get bored.  And with the constant urge to grow your character into a badass you shouldn't have a problem with farming.  In fact, you should want to farm as much as possible.  But the real question is where are the best spots to farm?

In the beginning of the game you really have no choice but to farm whichever level you've gotten to so far.  The good thing is you'll become better at the game by farming and you'll come to know certain areas like the back of your hand, so it'll be easier and easier to farm the same level.  But there are better spots to farm once you've gotten almost to the end of the game.  How do you judge the best spots for farming?  By seeing how many blood echoes can be obtained per minute played.  And the best spot by far for farming is Mergo's Loft: Middle.  Unfortunately, you won't get to this part of the game until almost the very end.  The second best spot for farming is the Lecture Building first floor.  And if you've gained access to the second floor, then farming both areas will bring in a hefty chunk of blood echoes also.  But it still goes without saying that once you gain access to Mergo's Loft: Middle, spend some time there before moving forward toward the endgame.

"See...now this is what happens when you continuously breed Chihuahuas with every 

other dog out there."

HOW TO FIGHT:

Bloodborne is all about studying your opponents.  Never run right up to a new opponent and attempt to swing for the fences.  Why?  Because you never know how they'll react.  Instead, if you can, slow walk up to them and hit them with your heaviest attack and then try for a visceral…and then—if it's not dead—get the hell out of there.  Back up as far as you can go and watch their attack pattern.  This also goes for Bosses too, but we'll get to them later.  Every foe in Bloodborne is not only unique in design, but is also very unique in how they attack.  So always size up your opponent first, and then figure out what's the best way to deal with them.

Bloodborne also doesn't want you to run once you get hit by an opponent.  Instead, the game wants you to push forward.  It even grants a percentage of your health back when you do push forward.  So if you find yourself in trouble and have just been attacked, don't turn tail and run like a wussy.  Stand your ground and swing back a couple of times.  And once you’ve gained back some health, roll the hell out of there.  Speaking of rolling, unless the enemy swings its weapon in a 360 degree circle, always roll forward and under their attack.  In most instances, you'll end up directly behind them with their beautiful backside just waiting to get sliced up or flattened, depending on your weapon of choice.

To be continued…

COMING UP IN PART TWO:

Using Walls and Doorways to your Advantage.

Elevator Shortcuts.

Bath Messengers.

Inventory Banking.

How to Fight Bosses.

How to Fight Optional Bosses.

Click here for Part Two