Bloodborne

[cave hermit]

Well Amazon is sold out

[CMoon]

I've only put in a couple hours so far and am taking my time, however I wouldn't start worrying yet about difficulty. I don't know where claims like that are coming from, but seems pretty unjustified right now. Very very easy to go from feeling safe to 'oh shit 20 things are trying to kill me right now!' Also, if you remember in Demon Souls how you had to beat 1-1 to level? Well that sort of logic is back, minus the shield.

I continue to be worried about build diversity; but that question is gonna have to wait.

[jepjepjep]

I've only played a little bit so far, but it feels similar in difficulty to the souls games. I'm dying more often if anything, but that could be because I'm still getting adjusted to the combat mechanics. It's very fun so far. I think it was a good decision to change up the feel and atmosphere of the game rather than making a DS3 or DeS2. It makes it feel fresh. I'm surprised they didn't put any lore on the loading screens like in the souls games, maybe they were too rushed.

[CloudyMusic]

Yeah, aside from the loading times being bad, having literally nothing to read or look at during those long loads just makes it even more annoying, haha.

Once you get the feel for riposting, things start to fall into place. Even so, it's still very easy to die if you get swarmed.

[cave hermit]

Well I picked up Bloodborne on the way home from campus today: saving it for tomorrow since I usually don't study on Fridays after lectures, and I like to have a big chunk of time whenever I play a game for the first time.

[KindGrind]

Caved in and bought the machine+game.

Fiddled with it a bit tonight, and apart from the aforementioned loading times, it's phenomenal. Tip that might help you for load times... Die less,

That feeling you get when you kick a ladder or open a door... Moist hands... It reminds me a lot of the original Dark Souls, which is saying loads about the quality of this game.

Anybody on the fence should pick it up.

[evil_ash_xero]

It's really good, yeah.

I only have one problem with it. And that is scenery variety. And it's not the locations themselves, as they are really detailed. From has outdone itself with that. It's the colors. Everything is kind of brownish, so everything kind of blends together. I know they wanted more consistency this time, and they probably did it somewhat to work with the day and night thing they have going on...but it just makes the game look blander than it should.

I mean, when you look at all the detail they put into the statues and architecture, it's nuts. Same with the bosses. They all have a similar vibe, since they're all white-ish.

Oh well, the game is still high quality. I'm about 4 bosses in, and finally made it into the forest. So, I'm pretty early on, from what I understand.

[Cagar]

Finished it.
I was wondering at many spots of the game if it's even debatable if the game is harder than the other souls games- because for me it totally was
So yeah, this is easily the hardest souls game IMO, and I have no damn clue what

Not-Really-A-Spoiler: it's not very good. The pacing and visuals are excellent, but everything else is worse than even Dark Souls 2, including being easier than any of the Souls games.

is talking about.
The difficulty in the first area is outright absurd, especially in terms of bosses. I wonder how damn long it would take for a complete souls-beginner to get further than the very first checkpoint.
(And yes, I've played the shit out of every game in release date order)

The game was great. The only thing it lacks is build variety, though it's not a problem for me as I've always liked melee combat more.
The dull, samey scenery was boring at first, but slowly I started liking it and wishing that it wouldn't stop. It makes the world feel really honest, when there's no 'forced' different looking areas, I guess. Overall, the atmosphere was really great.
Good music too.
Bad framerate & load-times.

10/10 GOTY

[evil_ash_xero]

I don't think the scenery is "dull". Just colorless.

[Immryr]

It's out here today! Off out to get my copy very soon. First time I've got a game on release since..... PS1 days.

Actually that's a lie. I got dark souls two right when it came out too.

[CMoon]

So yeah, this is easily the hardest souls game IMO

Yeah, as a 'souls veteran' thought I'd confess that cleric beast was pretty challenging for me and I was scratching my head wondering how the hell I was going to beat it. The molotov cocktails seem like an easy answer, only for me the miss quite often. No idea why.

The game was great. The only thing it lacks is build variety, though it's not a problem for me as I've always liked melee combat more.

I am hoping we will at least see justification to go back and play optimized builds around the 4 damage dealing stats and quality. I'm also assuming we'll see a hyper-mode build, but I haven't really dug deeply into the runes/bloodgems. With luck there will be some depth between stats, runes and bloodgems, but yeah, no one is screaming out about this yet.

[Immryr]

yep game is definitely not easy. I've been struggling to get the timing down for the parry+ riposte. spent a very long time just running back to the big guy with the axe in the first area and dying trying to parry him consistently.

[Zaarock]

How difficult do the randomly generated (optional) Chalice dungeons get? I hear there's a bunch of unique enemies and bosses not in the main game the deeper you get into them.

Invasions etc. in partially randomized dungeons sound like a really good idea to keep the multiplayer interesting.

[cave hermit]

So I started playing today for about 2 or so hours before taking a short break. When I came back the game wouldn't let me continue or access the data load screen claiming that "game install is incomplete".

So I looked it up and saw that I should start a new game, then immediately exit it to fix this. Didn't work.

I deleted the data and reinstalled, sitting there waiting while the 3 GB patch redownloaded.
Didn't work.

Great job modern video game industry, great job.

Edit: After making a 3rd new file I was given access to the data load screen again.

[evil_ash_xero]

I had that problem. Starting a new game fixed it. But I played for a little while.

Stupid error though.

[cave hermit]

Actually I think I saw you on Gamefaqs while trying to figure out my problem :p

I think I'm lost: my first boss fight ended up being father gascoigne, who immediately wiped the floor with me.
At least I'm making progress though.

[evil_ash_xero]

You probably did.

Thing about that, is I wasn't sure when Amazon was going to ship my CE, and they had no idea. So, I caved in and got the digital, while I waited for the CE. Well, then Amazon sent the CE INSTANTLY. So, I had less than 24 hours with my digital copy. ugh

Anyway, when I deleted it, and started to run from the disc, is when I had that problem. I just started a new game, got to the Cleric Beast, then died. Then I went to start my old game again, and it worked.

Different situation from yours, I'm sure.

Oh, and you should fight Cleric Beast first. Make sure to bring some Molotovs and Oil Urns. The Father definitely kicks ass for the Lord.

[guigui]

For now, impressions seem pretty good. All you're doing is make me want to buy a PS4.
But it does not fit under my TV set ! Is a light version of the system programmed for soon ?

[Immryr]

One thing I wish they didn't change.... The roll mechanic.

[guigui]

One thing I wish they didn't change.... The roll mechanic.

The roll has changed ? How ?

[CMoon]

Superficial answer: When locked on you dash/side-step, when you aren't locked on you roll. Sometimes useful not to lock on. Also, the roll is a permanent mid-roll; no fast rolling.

[guigui]

Ouch, it seems like Souls' rollfest days are over. Any invincibility frames when rolling ?

[Cagar]

So I started playing today for about 2 or so hours before taking a short break. When I came back the game wouldn't let me continue or access the data load screen claiming that "game install is incomplete".

So I looked it up and saw that I should start a new game, then immediately exit it to fix this. Didn't work.

I deleted the data and reinstalled, sitting there waiting while the 3 GB patch redownloaded.
Didn't work.

Great job modern video game industry, great job.

Edit: After making a 3rd new file I was given access to the data load screen again.

You probably did.

Thing about that, is I wasn't sure when Amazon was going to ship my CE, and they had no idea. So, I caved in and got the digital, while I waited for the CE. Well, then Amazon sent the CE INSTANTLY. So, I had less than 24 hours with my digital copy. ugh

Anyway, when I deleted it, and started to run from the disc, is when I had that problem. I just started a new game, got to the Cleric Beast, then died. Then I went to start my old game again, and it worked.

Different situation from yours, I'm sure.

Oh, and you should fight Cleric Beast first. Make sure to bring some Molotovs and Oil Urns. The Father definitely kicks ass for the Lord.

If it's the digital version that you guys are playing (and just as info to everyone else), you can play the game after downloading 5.4gb (i think?). You only get access to first area of the game while it downloads the rest of it in the background. You can see the current download if you press options -> information, on bloodborne in the PS menu. The full game is around 27gb, but the error you're getting (if it was after Father G?) happens if you haven't downloaded the full game yet.

[cave hermit]

I was using a retail disc, so it was definitely a glitch.

Also I'm somehow unable to actually figure out which way to go to find the cleric beast, yet I was able to wander into the boss fight with father gascoigne :/

Apparently I was supposed to meet him for the first time on my way to fight the cleric beast, and he would have initially helped me fend off some werewolves.
I'm guessing since I triggered the boss fight first I won't get any help when I find my way towards the cleric beast then...

[CMoon]

Ouch, it seems like Souls' rollfest days are over. Any invincibility frames when rolling ?

Yes, and you still move quite fast. The dash when locked on is faster but doesn't travel as far.

[evil_ash_xero]

I don't find this game to be as hard as the first two Souls games. But some parts are just brutal. It's a hard game.

[cave hermit]

I found the cleric beast: He seems beatable enough, but he doesn't take too much damage from my attacks, and I can't figure out how to stun him or riposte him.
In the meantime I got to level 15, mostly focusing on vitality, endurance, and skill since I'm using the thread whip (I chose milquetoast as my origin).

Also I found out that I can apparently summon father gascoigne to help me fight the cleric beast. Thing is I encountered his boss fight before finding the cleric beast, so I don't know if it'll still work...

[Immryr]

I'm personally finding the areas not too tough, but fantastic to explore - the level design is great. but the boss fights have been pretty brutal for me. about 80% of the difficulty I find with it would be different if I could still roll forwards while locked on though. and also, I don't understand anyone who thinks demon's souls or dark souls is harder than dksii....

[BrianC]

I know it's a silly question, but I can't resist:

Is this game as hard as the F-Zero GX racer with a similar name in story mode?

[cave hermit]

I managed to beat the cleric beast after a tough fight: the first major breakthrough I had was realizing that the beast's head was a separate lock-on target, letting me blast it for an opening riposte (it only seemed to work once in the fight though).

There I was, with 0 blood vials and a nearly empty health bar. The eldritch aberration was nearly dead, but I still needed to hit it a few more times, and if it managed to stun combo me again, I was finished. Then I suddenly realized I was carrying 10 molotov cocktails.

Throwing a single cocktail at it was enough to finish it off.