Widely considered to be one of the very best PlayStation 4 exclusives, today is the day that Bloodborne turns six. It was one of the titles that truly helped to kickstart the previous generation into gear, arriving in somewhat close proximity to The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt and Batman: Arkham Knight. Everything about the FromSoftware classic was a masterclass in design and direction, with a haunting setting, outstanding combat, and memorable boss fights all working together to create one of the very best titles of 2015. And indeed one of the greatest experiences of the PS4 generation. Today we celebrate a game that many still hold dear to their hearts — happy birthday, Bloodborne.
At the time, we awarded the game a 9/10 rating. "From start to finish, Bloodborne revels in its unique – if somewhat masochistic – approach to entertainment. There are very few games that cause you to curse their developer one minute and sing their praises the next – but this is one of them. It is, quite simply, a sensationally designed and superbly refined offering." Just over one and a half years later, we were treated to Bloodborne: The Old Hunters. A DLC so high in quality that it too received the very same ranking in the Push Square review. Those ratings are set in stone, but the game has taken on a life of its own in the years since.
Fans return to Bloodborne time and time again to perfect their skills and test new trick weapons while others work to restore cut content inside Chalice Dungeons. The hardcore community even arranges its own in-game events long after FromSoftware withdrew support and modders work to implement unofficial 60 frames-per-second updates. You do not see that too often for games now six years old.
And then there's the cry for a PS5 remaster, which would make that frame rate boost official and enhance the visuals tenfold. It's tough to judge whether that'll ever actually happen at this point in time, but at least we'll always have that special, baseline PS4 experience. It's not perfect in this day and age, but it's still a classic. So, as Bloodborne celebrates its sixth anniversary, raise a toast to one of the last generation's very best titles.
Comments 52
I didn't like it. Looked and played like it was about 10 years old
@munstre Eh it's not that stuttering. It's pretty stable really but personally I don't care if it's at 30 or 60, if it's stable I will give it a try.
On behalf of my 1st platinum this toast goes to you, Bloodborne! An unforgettable experience for generations to come.
Easily my favorite souls game by far and the reason why I bought a PS4. This game deserves a sequel or at least a boost on PS5 with 60FPS
The reason I got a PS4 in the first place
I was tempted to hold onto my PS3 for Persona 5 but Bloodborne looked too good to pass up and it ended up being my favorite Souls game in general.
Not my favourite Souls game but it at least introduced people to the series.
Still one of my all-time favorite games. I'll never forget the moment it clicked with me when I played it at launch: beating Father Gascoigne for the first time after hours of trying and laughing with joy and excitement.
I really hope Sony and From team up for a sequel someday.
The most overrated game of all time lol
It's the 'Back to Yharnum' week this week.
Be a great timing moment to unlock the frame rate on PS5 Sony!
Fantastic game.
NG+4 when I eventually deleted my save game.
Why?
I do not know 🤦🏼♂️
Would happily pay for a PS5 version.
Or even if they patched it, I would restart it again.
Had the guide book, so much that could be missed.
Got rid of that too 🤦🏼♂️🤦🏼♂️
@munstre Sorry man it ain't a deal breaker for me. Even when I'm playing most of my games at 60fps.
@Jecht_Ultima Oh lord no, that game’s a mess. Probably Artorias of the Abyss > The Old Hunters > 1 > 3+DLC > Bloodborne > 2’s DLC > 2.
This game has a lot to answer for.... it was my first Soulsborne game.
I’ve since gone on to complete DS1/DS2/DS3/Demon souls and am currently playing Nioh - This is all in the last 8-9 months!
Only one I didn’t stick with was Sekiro but I’ll probably return to it at some point.
So much pain and frustration!
I hope they give it a PS5 upgrade so I have an excuse to go back to it
Still the day one digital purchase I most regret. I'll never understand the hype for this game.
bloodborne was the first souls game I managed to beat, since then I have given up on dark souls 2, dark souls 3 and sekiro, but I did manage to finish demons’s remake’s souls’s.
My first and favourite of the souls games. The rally mechanic and how it promotes more aggressive encounters is absolutely genius.
Another truly amazing offering from god Miyazaki. 10/10 from me. I love the atmosphere and the gameplay, and although it’s the easiest in the series in my opinion, as it’s the only one I’ve completed on max new game, I still come back to it frequently. I understand the gripes from all you FPS snobs, but that honestly never bothered me one bit. Here’s to hoping that Sony orders a sequel someday, maybe they’ll get it to sell their PS6.
Bloodborne is the reason why I bought myself an PS4.
And Demon's Souls is why I did not hesitate a single minute to choose PS5.
This is also my favorite Souls game on top of being my second favorite PS4 game behind only Persona 5. The dark gothic feel of everything was incredible, I hope a PS5 version is on the works as I don't want to go back to a 30fps life 😌
@stefan771 "I didn't like it. Looked and played like it was about 10 years old"
So basically to you every Souls game including the Demon's soul remake play like dog poo and everything not including the remake look like PS2 games?
Bloodborne was the reason I got a PS4 and was my first Platinum ever. Even after putting hundreds of hours on it, I still keep coming back to Yharnam for another hunting night from time to time.
A game that's equally rewarding as punishing, with an unique lore and setting, only deserves so much praise as one of the best games of past gen, if not the best to some.
I can still remember the feeling of real progression and improvement after beating each boss, especially father Gascoigne, and how unsettling some levels were.
It's heartwarming to see how much love this game still gets, even after all this time.
Thank you for posting this, commemorating this outstanding piece of art.
An absolute masterpiece! Part of me hopes it never gets a sequel, I don't think they could best it if they tried.
@TwomanybuttonS Nobody likes a quitter, you can do it! Sekiro is particularly exhilarating once you master it, although I wouldn’t blame you for leaving DS2 alone. That game is just boring.
Still have my copy brand new and sealed, since release if I remember correctly. I promise I will get to it eventually. This year hopefully.
Loved the DLC Heavy Chains as a weapon.
Bloodborne was my introduction to FromSoftware and the Soulsborne formula. I have played and finished almost every single one - currently working through Demon's Souls on PS5.
Sekiro was actually my second FromSoftware game and I played it on Xbox.
I played Dark Souls Remastered on Switch (and eventually picked it up again on Xbox One X because I got used to 60fps playing Dark Souls 2 SotFS Edition that I played on PS4 Pro and 30fps felt like hot garbage by comparison when I went back to play the Switch version).
I played Dark Souls 2 SotFS on PS4 (and later picked it up again on Xbox One X)
I played Dark Souls 3 on Xbox One X when it went on a sale - though, looking back, I should have picked it up on PS4 because it got a Pro patch (Xbox One X did not receive a patch) that unlocked the framerate and is probably a silky smooth 60fps on PS5. Maybe I will pick up the PlayStation version one day.
For your bloods! 🍷
@Ralizah How though?
And 6 years of port begging from PC players. For god’s sake Jim Ryan, let them eat! Hasn’t it been long enough?
Seriously though, this is still the best game on PS4 for me.
@ILikeStake Hey, I love the game to death, but I do agree it is highly overrated. But, what it does, it nails perfectly so it's hard to dismiss it. Demon's Souls is more my jam, personally. Have you tried Bloodborne?
NINJA APPROVED
@BloodNinja Sure have, own it digital actually. Not sure if it was a giveaway or bought on a whim
@lolwhatno This is BLOODBORNE.
No waiting. Go. A hoontah must hoont.
UMBASA
@lolwhatno The end of the studying year? We call that “hell.”
But yeah, if money is the roadblock, then I guess a hoontah must wait
NINJA APPROVED
@lolwhatno Hey, flames guide thee is perfect! I love Dark Souls more than Bloodborne!
DARK SOUL NINJA APPROVED
One of my favourite games of all time - despite how much I struggled, suffered and swore.
Remember the age old quote on how to master combat in Bloodborne.
"We are born of the Roly Poly, made men by the Roly Poly, undone by the Roly Poly"
Quote stolen from Viva La Dirt League.
About time number 2 was released 🙏
Would be nice to have Bluepoint do something with it. Just saying.
@lolwhatno I couldn't possibly say... but imagine how great Ebrietas would be in a kart racer.
Bluepoint - call me.
I spent most of those 6 years going "nah, not for me. Not into fantasy stuff, not massively into action RPGs, not into a game being hard for the sake of it" etc etc.
Even after trying it a few times I quickly bounced out after an hour or so of what felt like zero progress.
And then, about 2 years ago, it clicked. What an absolute masterpiece. One of my favourite games of all time.
Happy Birthday Bloodborne!
What are the chances that Bluepoint Games is working on a Bloodborne remaster?
I've tried a few time. I just don't get it. A bit to easy for me. And graphically quite poor.
If the 30fps isn't enough just wait for the pc port that's rumoured to be coming ,as Jim Ryan's use of " EXCLUSIVES "means he's more than happy to port all PlayStation exclusive IPs to pc to make more money.
Believe it of not but because of my backlog and I only came to the ps4 party about 3 years ago. I've only got round to playing bloodborne this last month or more. I'm playing on the pro and I have no frame rate issues. I've just beaten Mergo's Wet Nurse. I read I need to play the dlc now before I finish the game so I have activated the Hunter's nightmare.
I never played a souls game before this. I have now bought the dark souls trilogy on the strength of absolutely loving bloodborne. I don't want it to end. The game is a masterpiece. I don't say that very often.
@SNARF
Dream on. It will never happen.
@ILikeStake @ILikeStake No, that my friend would be Halo. Halo sux a$$, Bloodborne is bad a$$. Only people who don't like Bloodborne are the 93% who never made it past Father Gascoigne. Hard-core game for Hard-core gamers.
@Navspec I don't consider memory games "hardcore" but you do you buddy, keep thinking elitist
@Saucymonk awww the edgy millennial saying the games too easy. Easy tough guy, your intimidating the rest of the fellas
@ILikeStake Why come here to crap all over a great game? You're like a child looking for attention. Sad really.
@tinCAT-zero
Says the guy that takes offense that someone thinks a video game is overrated.
And calling a game overrated is crapping all over it? Maybe you're being a tad dramatic?
@ILikeStake If I don't like a game I don't go to articles to proclaim my hate. Some people like to be objective, because they think it give themselves an air of authority on the subject. You don't like it, just move on and let people who love it enjoy it. No need for the negativity.
@tinCAT-zero haha you need to chill and not be so offended by a video game commenter. Do you not see the irony in your comments? Actually I don't care what the answer is, I'm done. Sorry my one line comment of the game being overrated ruined your day
@ILikeStake
It didn't bother me. You bothered me.
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