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.

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Bioshock: Eight Years Later and Still Going Strong

An article by Hank: Twitter / Twitch

A lot of gamers today that have never heard of Bioshock before will watch some gameplay and the first thing they say is, "This reminds me of that game," or "Oh…the way he shoots is just like this game."  What they don't realize is that it's the other way around.  Bioshock isn't like a lot of games today.  A lot of games today are like Bioshock.  It's Bioshock that is the inspiration.  From the story, the gameplay, the physics, to even the way the enemies react, today's developers are still trying to capture the magic that Bioshock brought to the gaming table way back when.  But why?  Why do developers and gamers still talk about a game that's close to a decade old?  It can't still hold any status in the gaming world.  Its ideas and design and story, by this time, have to be boring and outdated.  And there's where you'd be wrong.  Because everything about Bioshock still impacts the gaming world.  It's the type of game that's not only a classic and fun to play, but it's timeless.

"Listen, honey, I promise...right after I kill a few more people we'll go get ice cream. Okay?"

"No.  I want it now. Now. Now. Now. No--"

"Alright! Just please be quiet. *sign* It's times like this I wish I could just climb in a hole and disappear." 

STORY:

One does not just simply beat Bioshock and then walk away without ever thinking about it again.  Why?  Because of its story.  Not only does this first-person shooter come with fun gameplay mechanics, but it's based on an idea that asks many different questions.  If you're not aware, Bioshock's idea of creating a society that puts man and his creations in the highest regard without the intrusion of government or religion is based on an actual philosophy created by Ayn Rand.  A philosophy that basically states any man or woman should be allowed to pursue their own happiness and economic interests without regard to the society around them; that every man or woman has to first respect themselves before they can respect others.  (Recommended reading: Atlas Shrugged.  Easter Egg: Atlas also happens to be a character in Bioshock.)

Well, Bioshock takes that first idea (the pursuit of happiness and economic interests) to the extreme and lets the player run around in an environment where lunatics have taken over.  It all starts with one of the game's antagonists, Andrew Ryan, the creator of Rapture.  He was born a Russian immigrant (just like the real Ayn Rand) and has seen the destruction that socialism and communism can cause first hand.  After escaping to America, he falls in love with Capitalism and freedom and chases his economic dream.  Andrew Ryan, soon after, becomes one of the richest men in the USA.  But his once beloved free nation, America, begins to fall because slowly socialism and communism start to seep their way in.  So Andrew Ryan decides there is only one thing to do: create his own utopia (a reference from Atlas Shrugged) where everyone can be free from the grips of government and religion.  He creates Rapture: a secret city under the sea where the greatest minds from around the world are free to chase whatever dream they have.  But Bioshock asks the question: what really does happen when everyone is free to do what they want without regulations.  And it's at this point where your character enters the story: right after the downfall of the once beautiful idea of Rapture. 

So you want to talk about a story that'll be timeless?  You want to talk about a story that will spark several political conversations?  You want to talk about a story that will last even after it has ended?  Then you want to talk about Bioshock.  This is why no matter how old this video game gets…it'll still be an experience that people will remember.  Now having an idea and a story is one thing, but it takes much more to create a game that’s memorable and also—most importantly—fun.  So what about the other aspects of this pixelated adventure?

"Oh hey there, Sir, I was just wondering if you can point me in the direction of the hotel pool? I tried

to ask one of the maids crawling on the ceiling, but she just growled and kept on going."

GRAPHICS AND SOUND:

Not only does Bioshock still have some of the best voice acting in a video game—even in today's standards—but it's graphics still hold up.  If you fire up Bioshock today, after a whopping eight years, you'll still be amazed at the look and feel of the game.  From the water effects to the fire effects to the aesthetics found in every pixelated nook and cranny of Rapture, it'll still shock you how inventive and extremely well designed Bioshock is.  And if you're looking for a tiny bit of horror, wrapped up in suspense, then look no further.  Bioshock captured the very essence of spooky before all these other games began to flood the market.  And it's just not the look that does it.  It's the sound too.  From what the Splicers (the game's baddies) say while they're wondering the halls to the music to the perfectly placed silence in certain situations.  Bioshock easily still holds its own in both the graphic and sound department.  It even surpasses some games that are out today and that is saying something.

"Darling?"

"Yes, Honey?"

"Why don't you bring me flowers anymore?"

"Because everything died here a decade ago, Sweetheart...including us."

"You always have the best excuses, Darling."

"Why thank you, Honey. Now prepare to be dipped." 

PHYSICS AND GAMEPLAY:

Creating a game with a remarkable story and tremendous designs is one thing, but actually making it work for the player is something completely different.  Sure a concept artist can knock out beautiful renderings of a society that has been turned on its head, but now you have to allow the player to interact with this environment.  And Bioshock, again, excels at this task and even blows a ton of the competition from today's market right out of the water.  In game your character not only wields several different guns, but he also has abilities to manipulate fire, ice, and electric, not to mention telekinesis and the many other plasmids (think magic) that are available.  Each and every one of these different abilities has to be written in a code to work smoothly in game.  And each and every one is a wonder to behold.  You'll have a blast setting enemies on fire, while also electrocuting them, and then running up and smacking them with a wrench.  Or how about releasing bees to attack a baddie, and then freezing them in place, only to shoot and shatter them with a bullet.  You'll even be astounded at some of the Splicer's reactions to their dilemmas.  Injure a Splicer and watch them run to the nearest health station or even better…set one on fire and watch as they rapidly search for the nearest body of water to put out the flames.  Code like this isn't even present in the majority of games today, but it's all here in Bioshock.  So between the physics engine and the gameplay, the player can have a field day while running around in Rapture. 

"Are you lost little girl?"

"Nah, Mister, I'm just jamming this giant needle in this corpse's ass. You wanna help?"

CONCLUSION:

When Bioshock arrived in gamer's hands eight years ago, it certainly made an impression on the gaming community and developers alike.  It took the boundaries that were present back then in video games and exceeded every one, creating new possibilities for future games and inspiring new developers to do more with their ideas.  Bioshock captivated the video game industry with story, design, inventiveness, graphics, physics and sound.  It's the kind of game that every inspiring developer should try to emulate and gamer's everywhere should expect when picking up a new pixelated adventure.  If you've never played Bioshock, stop what you're doing right now and jump in…and if you have, but haven't thought about it in a while, now's the time to experience Rapture all over again.

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AC Unity vs. Rogue

In 2014 Ubisoft pulled off the unthinkable.  Instead of releasing one Assassin's Creed game as they normally do, they released two: Assassin's Creed: Unity for PC and current generation consoles, and Assassin's Creed: Rogue for last generation consoles.  Why?  Well, they didn't want to upset part of the gaming world by only releasing Unity.  Ubisoft wanted to appease the last generation owners by creating a totally separate game/story.  And having the choice of two games is awesome, but what if you only have money or time for one?  Which game do you buy?  Which pixelated adventure do you ignore your family to play?  Well, it all comes down to your taste in story, graphics, and gameplay. 

GLITCHES AND FRAME RATES:

From the beginning Unity had frame rate issues, missing faces, people folding on the ground like laundry, and the occasional skywalk, but if you held out this long, you'll be pleasantly surprised to know most of that has been taken care of—at least on consoles.  It's sorry to say, but you'll get a better gaming experience on Xbox or Playstation as the PC version still has some issues.  Rogue also has a patch as soon as you boot it up, but the game is running on the old AC engine and most of the kinks and problems have already been worked out in the past.  So if you're looking for the more stable of the two games, then Rogue is your answer. 

"Man, I've gotta stop these long nights.  Elise will be pissed if she finds out I picked up 

another venereal disease...AND lost my assassin robe."

GAMEPLAY:

Gamers everywhere love it when you're about three feet from stabbing your target in the eye and instead, your assassin decides to take a header off the current building and shatter every bone in his body as he de-syncs.  Those are always the funniest, most aggravating experiences when playing through an AC game.  And you'll be happy to know they still exist in both 2014 games.  You'll have better luck as Shay (from Rogue) though, as he can take extreme falls with a roll.  Arno (from Unity) on the other hand will die from about two stories up if you choose not to upgrade his rolling technique. 

Now, when you sit down to play an AC game are you excited about being a pirate or an assassin?  Would you rather drink and be merry, while firing cannon balls at the enemy in Rogue?  Or would you rather sneak behind furniture and stab people in the kidney in Unity?  On top of that, Unity has you trapped on one huge land mass (Paris), creeping behind bushes and methodically planning your next assassination, while Rogue has you traveling between smaller land masses, taking over gang headquarters, and fighting killer whales.  If you want slower, stealthier gameplay with the ability to crouch anywhere, then you want Unity.  If you're looking to fire grenades, have numerous chase missions and put endless sea battles under your belt, then Rogue is your cup of tea.  And sorry gamer, you can't have both (unless you buy both).

"No need to worry madame, a person's right leg almost always sticks straight up after they've 

been stabbed."

ASSASSIN OPTIONS:

Of course both assassin games give you the ability to climb towers (Shay a little faster than Arno), kill with hidden blades, make your enemies go berserk, smoke bomb for the win, and air assassinate with ease.  But it seems Shay (Rogue) has an edge on toys just by going through the main storyline.  He gets grenades that put his enemies to sleep, make them go berserk, or completely blow them up.  He can also use rope darts to hang enemies from a tree, has the ability to kill from haystacks or carts (missing from Unity), and can also move dead bodies (also missing from Unity).  Arno on the other hand, comes complete with just your basic assassin gear, plus poison gas and stun grenades, but almost all of his skills must be earned through assassin points.  So if you don't complete a ton of side quests, along with the main quest to gain assassin points, your Arno will be lacking in quite a few departments.  But it's okay, because Arno sure does look good going all parkour up and down a building.  Speaking of looking good…

"Holy crap, what is wrong with some of these people's faces?  And where the hell are all 

the children?  Is no one making whoopee anymore?"

GRAPHICS:

If you’re looking for an almost complete layout of 1700's Paris with building exteriors and interiors that are rendered gorgeously, then Unity is your game.  It seems the developers left out cats this time around, and there are no children anywhere, but crowds have grown immense.  Sure, you'll get the occasional NPC floating in the air or driving an imaginary go-cart, but that's what happens when you add so many moving NPC's to a game.  There are also some of the blandest and ugly faces roaming the crowd, but the quest-giving NPC's are fairly normal looking and almost have their lips synced with the audio.  As for Rogue...time has not been kind to poor Shay.  Sadly, the game doesn't have graphics like last-generation GTA 5 or The Last of Us.  The shadows don't work.  The light bouncing off of faces (including Shay's) makes skin color look blown-out and Shay's animations are stiffer than Robocop.  But he can steer a ship like nobody's business, while Arno can barely swim.

MULTIPLAYER:

This one is easy.  If you want the ability to run round with three friends in an attempt at stealth, then Unity has you covered.  Rogue has…well…no multiplayer whatsoever.  It's a solo adventure for a lonely pirate.  But don't feel like you’re missing out on too much when playing Rogue, because the ability to run around with friends only works when online is working.  And Ubisoft isn't the most reliable developer when it comes to online anything.

"Is there...something on my face?"

CONCLUSION:

So the choice is yours, fellow gamer.  Is it a last-generation-graphics pirate's life for you, complete with many, many (too frigging many) chase missions, and tons of sea battles and ship upgrading that's required to move the story forward?  Or would you rather be content with taking it slow and sneaking in and out of buildings to stalk your prey inside a pretty Paris with a giant glitchy NPC crowd?  Maybe you'll choose both?  If you do, there's a story link between the games, which is an added Easter Egg for the faithful Assassin's Creed fans.  Either way, any and all AC lovers will be pleased with either of the two games.  Just don't forget to download all those patches or you're probably going to have a bad time.