Bloodborne is the darling of FromSoftware’s already stunning stable. The 2015 gothic horror masterpiece placed players in the shoes of a foreigner looking for a cure in a cursed city. March 24 in Japan, or March 25 in North America, marks its ninth anniversary, and I can scarcely think of a better reason to return to the bloodied and ashen streets of Yharnam.
As intoxicating as the very blood for which it’s named
Developed by FromSoftware for Japan Studio, a former subsidiary of Sony Interactive Entertainment, Bloodborne made its debut exclusively on the PlayStation 4. It stepped away from the medieval inspiration and into the Victorian era. Players were encouraged to move quickly as a dash replaced rolling and aggressive gameplay was a must to recover health. Shields gave way to guns and a great sense of dread from the unknown lurked behind a malleable perception of Yharnam and the world around it.
There have been a few games that have been definitive and formative for me. Bloodborne is the second game that has compelled me to acquire a console specifically for a game, with the first being Final Fantasy VIII for the original PlayStation. Despite not being a fan of either Demon’s Souls or Dark Souls, everything about Bloodborne called to me. The oppressive gothic atmosphere, the bombastic score filled with powerful horns and haunting strings, the lore that required extensive teasing out, and the way it forced me to confront my fears to fully appreciate it.
I was terrified of Bloodborne. Death came very easily, and every new area filled me with a renewed sense of paralyzing paranoia. However, I needed to know more about this disturbed world and the creatures that shaped it. From my regular visits to Gilbert to discovering the Amygdala, I was completely under the sway of the Old Blood. For every step of bravery I put forth, I was rewarded with another morsel of exquisite lore.
I could go on and on in espousing my love for this title, but I must refrain. Instead, I entreat you to experience it for yourself. Despite not being rereleased, remastered, or ported, you can still celebrate Bloodborne‘s ninth anniversary by playing it on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, or PlayStation Plus. Go, and find out why a Hoonter must hunt — that’s pronounced as “hoont,” by the way.
