Bloodborne PS4!
Discussion
Invaded someone at the start of Nightmare Frontier.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDc12-9c9Mk
I ran back to a nice dueling area and was all prepared to wave and let him kill the beast that sits there then we can 1v1. He threw a firebomb at my face while I was trying to wave! How rude!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FDc12-9c9Mk
I ran back to a nice dueling area and was all prepared to wave and let him kill the beast that sits there then we can 1v1. He threw a firebomb at my face while I was trying to wave! How rude!
smithyithy said:
I'm playing a wench with the threaded cane. I don't think it's the easiest weapon as a newbie but I just chose what seems coolest
I think it's the best of the starter weapons. At first, I went with it because it sounded cool and of course, the game doesn't give you the chance to test them out first. The axe I thought seems the least useful of all the starting weapons, but then in Souls games, I've never really been a giant weapon player. The scythe is amazing when it's folded up, but the extended version is pretty naff, I much prefer the crowd control/long range ability of the cane. I'm just down in Hemwick Charnel Lane now, luckily I made the run to the other side of the big gate on my first go, so I was able to open that up and can now skip the fight in the loft of the barn with that scythe-wielding wraith that spawns out of the floor on the upper level. They're a pain wherever you find them, but in the close confines of the barn with the camera going mad, it was a real pain! I'm surprised elsewhere in Hemwick Charnel Lane to find a little bit of slowdown in the framerate and some audio effect distortion, particularly when dropping down ledges. Funny, as it doesn't seem like a part of the game that would particularly tax the CPU, so I can only guess it's a bit of lazy testing and design. I'm also glad to have discovered the big cleaver wielding tank enemies that wait behind the gate can be killed with two charged strikes of the cane, as they are very strong and often surrounded by those devil dogs.
A few people have mentioned suspend mode, but just to let you know that there is a known memory leak in the game. If you play for 12 hours or more (including suspend) it stops some of the bosses using their full moveset, I.e. theyll only do 1 or 2 types of attack.
Its being patched, I think from software have officially acknowledged it...
Its being patched, I think from software have officially acknowledged it...
I tend to favour a combination of the torch and Flamesprayer for my left hand weapons, though I really should get the pistol into the Flamesprayer slot - it's fantastic in some situations and useless in others and of course, has no real stagger ability.
I've found a run down Hemwick Charnel Lane can be excellent for echo farming. Start at the bonfire, killing everything that gets in your way, and turn back after killing the second cleaver knight. Nets around 12,000 echoes in a run and takes maybe five minutes including a trip to the dream world. If you've beaten the Witch, you could always run a little further and go to her bonfire. I was a bit surprised to find Hemwick Charnel Lane is a dead end, but a useful little farming spot and not too difficult either.
Overall, I'm finding Bloodborne to be a very refreshing take on classic Souls gameplay. I still favour high stamina, but it's slightly less vital in this game as the combat has a different rhythm. Yes, it's still fantastic having deep stamina reserves and being able to rush and stagger an enemy with a long combo that sees them off, but it's not quite as vital as it was. Without proper shields (and certainly none of the 100% damage shields of DS2) you're forced to be much more proactive in combat. Of course, blocking is now replaced with dodging but it gives the combat more of a fluid feel, rather than the game of chess you can get into with heavy armour and strong shields. I was a bit concerned when I started playing, as my main thought was 'No shields? What will I do?'. Luckily the balance is fine and you never feel like you're wanting for a shield. I was worried the touted change to faster, more frantic combat would end up with us getting some Bayonetta style s
te, but it's actually very good. I don't think the combat is really that much more frenetic; the pacing has changed to more proactive attacking but it's still very much a game of rhythm, timing and opportunity.
I would have perhaps liked a little more variation in the armour sets, as I've still not found anything as good as the early game Yharnam Hunter set, so my character has looked the same for a long, long time. I do like being able to use runes and blood gems to fiddle my stats though.
The level design and enemy placement are also significantly better than DS2, which is refreshing. I'm glad that the game has gone back to a layered build, rather than having a hub area with flat levels extruding from the centre. Aside from a couple of notable areas, I found DS2 a little flat and samey, lacking the revelatory moments that Souls should provide, when you open a door or go up a lift and go "oh, I'm back here again!". The enemy placement in Bloodborne is fantastic though; I felt that in DS2 a lot of the enemies just felt plonked down and you were expected simply to kite them and thin the herd, then move on. A symptom of the simple level design I suppose. In Bloodborne, you get enemies positioned to create tension and excitement, which is good. It doesn't always work (one fight in Hemwick where a hag throws molotovs on your head whilst a devil dog and another hag attack you comes to mind as being too much for the targeting system and camera to handle) but most of the time it's superb.
Now, don't think I'm slagging off DS2 unduly, I loved it (the story was amazing) but compared to Bloodborne it looks a little weak.
I've found a run down Hemwick Charnel Lane can be excellent for echo farming. Start at the bonfire, killing everything that gets in your way, and turn back after killing the second cleaver knight. Nets around 12,000 echoes in a run and takes maybe five minutes including a trip to the dream world. If you've beaten the Witch, you could always run a little further and go to her bonfire. I was a bit surprised to find Hemwick Charnel Lane is a dead end, but a useful little farming spot and not too difficult either.
Overall, I'm finding Bloodborne to be a very refreshing take on classic Souls gameplay. I still favour high stamina, but it's slightly less vital in this game as the combat has a different rhythm. Yes, it's still fantastic having deep stamina reserves and being able to rush and stagger an enemy with a long combo that sees them off, but it's not quite as vital as it was. Without proper shields (and certainly none of the 100% damage shields of DS2) you're forced to be much more proactive in combat. Of course, blocking is now replaced with dodging but it gives the combat more of a fluid feel, rather than the game of chess you can get into with heavy armour and strong shields. I was a bit concerned when I started playing, as my main thought was 'No shields? What will I do?'. Luckily the balance is fine and you never feel like you're wanting for a shield. I was worried the touted change to faster, more frantic combat would end up with us getting some Bayonetta style s
te, but it's actually very good. I don't think the combat is really that much more frenetic; the pacing has changed to more proactive attacking but it's still very much a game of rhythm, timing and opportunity. I would have perhaps liked a little more variation in the armour sets, as I've still not found anything as good as the early game Yharnam Hunter set, so my character has looked the same for a long, long time. I do like being able to use runes and blood gems to fiddle my stats though.
The level design and enemy placement are also significantly better than DS2, which is refreshing. I'm glad that the game has gone back to a layered build, rather than having a hub area with flat levels extruding from the centre. Aside from a couple of notable areas, I found DS2 a little flat and samey, lacking the revelatory moments that Souls should provide, when you open a door or go up a lift and go "oh, I'm back here again!". The enemy placement in Bloodborne is fantastic though; I felt that in DS2 a lot of the enemies just felt plonked down and you were expected simply to kite them and thin the herd, then move on. A symptom of the simple level design I suppose. In Bloodborne, you get enemies positioned to create tension and excitement, which is good. It doesn't always work (one fight in Hemwick where a hag throws molotovs on your head whilst a devil dog and another hag attack you comes to mind as being too much for the targeting system and camera to handle) but most of the time it's superb.
Now, don't think I'm slagging off DS2 unduly, I loved it (the story was amazing) but compared to Bloodborne it looks a little weak.
I enjoy challenging games like Alien Isolation on Hard setting. Yes you die hundreds of times but it means you actually appreciate when your latest plan makes a difference and you get a bit further.
BloodBorne is something similar. I died several times the first few guys I met as I learned the timing of how to attack one guy and roll out of the way. I still restarted and tried again and looked forward to each go.
I was killed a dozen times if not 5 dozen times by the mob in the street as I learned to use the ranged attack with my walking cane and the shorter sharper softer attacks and then he heavy attack and so on. An excellent challenging game. I made it upstairs eventually to the two werewolves and died miserably, taking me back to the save point at the top of the ladder right at the start.
Sometimes I make it far through the level in a nice logical fashion and other times I rush in and get killed really early by the first group of 4 townsfolk at the bottom of the stairs on the street.
Oh yeah, as for the big scary guy with the huge cleaver axe at the bottom end of the street. He is proper nails with just the basic weapons and no oil bombs etc.
One thing I hadn't worked out was that my bloodsouls were cash and that I could beam back to the dreamland to spend them and that I could level up (still not sure how to do that).
Great game and other than the fact it takes a while to reload the level each time (nothing compared to Skyrim though, which I still love(d).) it really is good fun. Hack slash run away!
One last thing, it says press X with left stick to run. It seems to make no difference to my character if I press x whilst wandering around or not.
Cheers
Steven_RW (reading with interest).
BloodBorne is something similar. I died several times the first few guys I met as I learned the timing of how to attack one guy and roll out of the way. I still restarted and tried again and looked forward to each go.
I was killed a dozen times if not 5 dozen times by the mob in the street as I learned to use the ranged attack with my walking cane and the shorter sharper softer attacks and then he heavy attack and so on. An excellent challenging game. I made it upstairs eventually to the two werewolves and died miserably, taking me back to the save point at the top of the ladder right at the start.
Sometimes I make it far through the level in a nice logical fashion and other times I rush in and get killed really early by the first group of 4 townsfolk at the bottom of the stairs on the street.
Oh yeah, as for the big scary guy with the huge cleaver axe at the bottom end of the street. He is proper nails with just the basic weapons and no oil bombs etc.
One thing I hadn't worked out was that my bloodsouls were cash and that I could beam back to the dreamland to spend them and that I could level up (still not sure how to do that).
Great game and other than the fact it takes a while to reload the level each time (nothing compared to Skyrim though, which I still love(d).) it really is good fun. Hack slash run away!
One last thing, it says press X with left stick to run. It seems to make no difference to my character if I press x whilst wandering around or not.
Cheers
Steven_RW (reading with interest).
Steven_RW said:
One last thing, it says press X with left stick to run. It seems to make no difference to my character if I press x whilst wandering around or not.
Cheers
Steven_RW (reading with interest).
As previously mentioned in an earlier post, press and hold circle to run and whilst running if you tap circle you jump. Cheers
Steven_RW (reading with interest).
Steven_RW said:
One thing I hadn't worked out was that my bloodsouls were cash and that I could beam back to the dreamland to spend them and that I could level up (still not sure how to do that).
You need to gain insight to do this. Insight is a variable 'level' that changes subtly how the game world appears. The doll in dream world will allow you to level up, but only once you've got sufficient insight to see her. You can get insight either from a Madman's Knowledge item in the sewers, accessible by crossing straight over the bridge where the werewolves are, or by getting to the first boss. You don't have to beat it, just get to the boss fight.He's at the far end of the bridge where the werewolves are. To get there, you need to run past the werewolves and dodge into the gatehouse on the left, down the stairs. The werewolves can't follow you there, but they will come to the door so you can kill them with impunity. Further down the bridge, dodge past the brickbeast and crows and the bossfight will start. You'll probably die, but upon awaking in the dreamworld, you should be able to talk to the doll. A handy tip is to go through the gatehouse where you can kill the werewolves, and leave through the door that is on the left as you walk down the stairs. This will take you to a gate that, when opened, creates a shortcut between the boss and the lantern which you respawn at. You can now run a little circuit to the werewolves and back (or to the post boss fight lantern and back) killing the werewolves for easy echoes to pile on a few levels and strengthen yourself for the first part.
Don't worry too much, that first section of the game where you can't level up is very carefully measured, it may feel tricky at first but it's just teaching you about attacking (and importantly, range). Once you've got the basics down, and memorised the enemy locations, you should be able to make a clean run to the boss easily and get your first insight!
It's a very humbling game, but at the same time you feel a real sense of achievement when you and your character grow in capabilities. I've struggled to get that sensation from a game for a long time.
Went back to Central Yharnam in my last session (I'm currently on Unseen Village in the story, just after Rom) and now the guys in the street don't intimidate me at all. I cut through them like a hot knife through butter, yet when I first started I was very skittish around them, trying to work out their range, etc. Seeing familiar sights and remembering where I died repeatedly early in the game really adds to the feeling of fulfillment.
I love the fact that new areas in the game increase difficulty over the old ones so you never quite feel comfortable, and it feels organic rather than forced. The only mild complaint I would have is that you sometimes encounter the same class of NPCs as you progress that are simply buffed up a bit more in health or damage arbitrarily. Having beasts with red eyes that denote a slightly tougher variant works for me, but encountering the same irritating guys with rifles that you first met in Central Yharnam that now take 4 hits to kill instead of 1, and take off 1/3rd of your health if their shot hits you, or buffed up crows, it ruins the immersion very slightly for me seeing that. A very, very minor nitpick though it has to be said.
Went back to Central Yharnam in my last session (I'm currently on Unseen Village in the story, just after Rom) and now the guys in the street don't intimidate me at all. I cut through them like a hot knife through butter, yet when I first started I was very skittish around them, trying to work out their range, etc. Seeing familiar sights and remembering where I died repeatedly early in the game really adds to the feeling of fulfillment.
I love the fact that new areas in the game increase difficulty over the old ones so you never quite feel comfortable, and it feels organic rather than forced. The only mild complaint I would have is that you sometimes encounter the same class of NPCs as you progress that are simply buffed up a bit more in health or damage arbitrarily. Having beasts with red eyes that denote a slightly tougher variant works for me, but encountering the same irritating guys with rifles that you first met in Central Yharnam that now take 4 hits to kill instead of 1, and take off 1/3rd of your health if their shot hits you, or buffed up crows, it ruins the immersion very slightly for me seeing that. A very, very minor nitpick though it has to be said.
Durzel said:
It's a very humbling game, but at the same time you feel a real sense of achievement when you and your character grow in capabilities. I've struggled to get that sensation from a game for a long time.
Went back to Central Yharnam in my last session (I'm currently on Unseen Village in the story, just after Rom) and now the guys in the street don't intimidate me at all. I cut through them like a hot knife through butter, yet when I first started I was very skittish around them, trying to work out their range, etc. Seeing familiar sights and remembering where I died repeatedly early in the game really adds to the feeling of fulfillment.
Agreed. However I like the fact that even the most lowly of foes can still cut you down if you become complacent or cocky.Went back to Central Yharnam in my last session (I'm currently on Unseen Village in the story, just after Rom) and now the guys in the street don't intimidate me at all. I cut through them like a hot knife through butter, yet when I first started I was very skittish around them, trying to work out their range, etc. Seeing familiar sights and remembering where I died repeatedly early in the game really adds to the feeling of fulfillment.
Such a great game.
Steven_RW said:
welshjon81 said:
As previously mentioned in an earlier post, press and hold circle to run and whilst running if you tap circle you jump.
Excuse me. Trying not to read every post as I am enjoying the game and didn't want too many surprises spoiled! :-)Thanks,
Steven_RW
welshjon81 said:
Ah, I didn't mean to sound arsey at all. Just trying to be helpful.
No worries. I'm normally someone who quite thoroughly reads a thread before getting involved to make sure the answer isn't already there but not in this case.I had my first issue of "weapon broken" as I am still playing through the opening area after the first save point. I had to beam back to dreamland and then speak to the old chap in the house and learn how to repair stuff.
I've made it up to the two werewolves twice now (got wasted quite quickly each time) but the general journey to get to them is getting much more reliable and controllable as I learn how to distance myself from enemies and attack with good timing. Really enjoying a game that initially seems impossible but with practice and some good thinking, becomes much more possible.
I opened up the area to the left of the door with the two females that laugh at you at the house with the red lantern (just behind the big enemy that is bashing on the door after the fire) and opened up a much bigger area of the town. I had a great time getting about and decided to try and come back up to the area near the red lantern but was killed by the second of the bigger tough guys after a much longer roam around the sewer areas (big rats, big crows, weird half dead people crawling through the sewer muck). Great game and really enjoying it.
Where is the second save point? IE how far do I need to go to get to a point that means I don't need to keep re-doing the initial streets? Is it after the two were wolves?
Cheers and loving the game.
SRW
Steven_RW said:
No worries. I'm normally someone who quite thoroughly reads a thread before getting involved to make sure the answer isn't already there but not in this case.
I had my first issue of "weapon broken" as I am still playing through the opening area after the first save point. I had to beam back to dreamland and then speak to the old chap in the house and learn how to repair stuff.
I've made it up to the two werewolves twice now (got wasted quite quickly each time) but the general journey to get to them is getting much more reliable and controllable as I learn how to distance myself from enemies and attack with good timing. Really enjoying a game that initially seems impossible but with practice and some good thinking, becomes much more possible.
I opened up the area to the left of the door with the two females that laugh at you at the house with the red lantern (just behind the big enemy that is bashing on the door after the fire) and opened up a much bigger area of the town. I had a great time getting about and decided to try and come back up to the area near the red lantern but was killed by the second of the bigger tough guys after a much longer roam around the sewer areas (big rats, big crows, weird half dead people crawling through the sewer muck). Great game and really enjoying it.
Where is the second save point? IE how far do I need to go to get to a point that means I don't need to keep re-doing the initial streets? Is it after the two were wolves?
Cheers and loving the game.
SRW
Where the werewolves are, dont go right and fight them. Go straight on and fall off the edge of the bridge down a slight slope. follow that. The drop off is directly opposite the house you opened the door to (assuming you have opened that shortcut). if you are finding the two wolves too hard, you can pretty much ignore them. They can be tough if you're low level.I had my first issue of "weapon broken" as I am still playing through the opening area after the first save point. I had to beam back to dreamland and then speak to the old chap in the house and learn how to repair stuff.
I've made it up to the two werewolves twice now (got wasted quite quickly each time) but the general journey to get to them is getting much more reliable and controllable as I learn how to distance myself from enemies and attack with good timing. Really enjoying a game that initially seems impossible but with practice and some good thinking, becomes much more possible.
I opened up the area to the left of the door with the two females that laugh at you at the house with the red lantern (just behind the big enemy that is bashing on the door after the fire) and opened up a much bigger area of the town. I had a great time getting about and decided to try and come back up to the area near the red lantern but was killed by the second of the bigger tough guys after a much longer roam around the sewer areas (big rats, big crows, weird half dead people crawling through the sewer muck). Great game and really enjoying it.
Where is the second save point? IE how far do I need to go to get to a point that means I don't need to keep re-doing the initial streets? Is it after the two were wolves?
Cheers and loving the game.
SRW
Have you opened up the shortcut by the house with the little girl who is looking for her mother & father ?
IIRC that path I said to take will let you open up that.
Edited by LandR on Wednesday 15th April 10:17
Gassing Station | Video Games | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff