Bloodborne Review: A Brutal but Beautiful Nightmare Worth Facing
Bloodborne is an action-horror video game made by FromSoftware, the same studio behind Dark Souls and Elden Ring. It’s known for its dark, gothic atmosphere, fast-paced combat, and challenging gameplay.
What’s The Story?
For me, the way Bloodborne tells its story kind of sucks, but the lore is incredible, if that makes sense. You play as a hunter who arrives in Yharnam, a city once celebrated for its miraculous blood that could cure any illness. People from all over the world came for this “blood ministration,” but now, Yharnam has fallen into ruin. Its citizens have turned into beasts, and the streets run red with the blood of both human and monster.
As the hunter, your goal is to survive the night of the hunt, slaying beasts and uncovering what caused the plague. Eventually, you learn that you’re trapped in the Hunter’s Dream, a place overseen by a man named Gehrman and his doll-like companion. Every night, hunters fight, die, and are reborn; an endless cycle of cleansing and rebirth.
The deeper you go, the more reality unravels. You start to realize that some beasts aren’t mindless monsters but were once humans who chased forbidden knowledge and eternal life. The lore behind it all is amazing, but the storytelling? Not so much.
Why I Picked It Up
At first, I just wanted to play Bloodborne so I could say I’ve played every Soulsborne game. I’ve finished Dark Souls 1, 2, and 3, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, so Bloodborne was the last piece of the puzzle.
But on a more personal level, I played it to prove something to myself: that I can still game. I’m 37, I have high blood pressure, and lately, my hands have been getting weaker because of how my blood vessels and nerves are intertwined. So when I booted up Bloodborne, it wasn’t just another game to finish. It was a challenge to see if I still could. And I did. It wasn’t easy, but I did it.
Getting Into the Game
As someone who’s played other Soulsborne games, Bloodborne wasn’t too hard to get into. I already knew what kind of punishment to expect. It’s an unforgiving game that rewards patience, mastery, and, at times, pure beastly aggression.
But if you’re new to the Soulsborne series, this isn’t going to be easy. Your healing items are limited, explanations are minimal, and you’ll die — a lot. It’s a game that teaches through failure. If you’re up for a challenge, it’s perfect. If you’re looking for something chill, you might want to play something else. Bloodborne is not for the faint of heart.
What Stood Out Most
The bosses, hands down. In every FromSoftware game, the bosses are what stand out, not just for how challenging they are, but for the stories that surround them once you’ve finally taken them down.
Each one represents a facet of human nature that you have to confront. The Blood-starved Beast, for example, symbolizes addiction, the more you consume, the more you lose yourself. Lady Maria, on the other hand, embodies guilt and denial, trying to bury the tragedy of the Fishing Hamlet while her own blood carries the corruption she tried to escape.
And I have to mention the music. While most Souls games lean heavily on orchestral scores, Bloodborne uses a choir. It makes every boss fight feel haunting, almost sacred, like you’re stepping into a nightmare that still believes it’s holy.
Any Downsides?
Please read the above paragraph. Just kidding.
I knew what I was signing up for with Bloodborne — difficulty is part of the deal. But if there’s one thing that really frustrated me (at least at first), it’s the fact that your healing items — Blood Vials — need to be farmed. You can carry a lot (up to around 600 in total storage), but once you run out mid-fight, you’re out. And if you’re on a roll during a boss battle and suddenly run dry, it kills your momentum fast.
It’s not game-breaking, but it does break your rhythm. Thankfully, once I got used to it, I just accepted it as part of the game’s brutal charm.
Is It Sulit?
Right now, Bloodborne is priced at $19.99 on the PlayStation Network, with The Old Hunters DLC also going for $19.99. For a 2015 game locked at 30 FPS, that might feel a bit steep, especially if you’re not already a fan of the Soulsborne series. You can always wait for a sale, since it occasionally drops to around half price.
But if you’re a fan of FromSoftware games and you own a PS4 or PS5, it’s absolutely a must-have. It’s one of those titles that defines an era of gaming: frustrating, beautiful, and unforgettable all at once.
When I think About It
In the end, Bloodborne is one of those games that doesn’t just test your skill. It tests your patience, your curiosity, and maybe even your sense of pride. It’s punishing, yes, but it’s also deeply rewarding once you start to understand its rhythm, that strange dance between aggression and restraint that FromSoftware is known for.
Even after all these years, Bloodborne still stands out because of its world. The haunting Gothic city, the nightmarish bosses, the choir-backed battles, they all combine into something that feels more like a fever dream than a traditional story. And maybe that’s the point. You’re not here to be told what’s happening. You’re here to survive it, piece it together, and make sense of it your own way.
For me, Bloodborne wasn’t just another box to tick off my Soulsborne list. It was proof that I could still play, still push through, still enjoy the kind of games that make your heart race. And maybe that’s the best thing about it. It doesn’t care how old you are or how steady your hands are. It just asks: “Can you keep going?”
If you’re curious how I did, feel free to watch my YouTube Playthrough!
