When Bloodborne released on PlayStation 4 back in 2015, it immediately made FromSoftware fans sit up and take notice. It ditched the usual medieval fantasy setting of the previous Dark Souls games for a gothic, Victorian dystopia, with occasional Lovecraftian bosses.
The achingly gorgeous setting wasn’t the only draw, as the revolutionary action-RPG also made big changes to the FromSoftware gameplay formula, introducing new weapon types like the Saw Cleaver, Threaded Cane, and the Gatling Gun. Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has shed light on how Bloodborne‘s setting intertwines with its gameplay.
Hidetaka Miyazaki Designed Bloodborne Around Its Gameplay
Speaking with 4Gamer, Hidetaka Miyazaki talked about how his design approach for Bloodborne wasn’t just about aesthetics:
I have a few reasons, but first and foremost, the setting really matched the new gameplay I had in mind.
When asked about what he meant by “new gameplay”, the renowned director elaborated:
That ties in to the second theme I mentioned—“the feeling of fighting for one’s life.” In Demon’s Souls, the battle system was really defined by swords and shields, particularly shields, and it ended up feeling a bit passive.
Miyazaki’s critique of Demon’s Souls‘ combat shows that he wanted to shake things up with future games. The Souls titles are known for their slow, shield-heavy combat, which often encouraged players to be careful and deliberate. Bloodborne flips the table on that formula, with a playstyle that really makes you feel like a Hunter.
The Game Demands A Vicious, Offensive Combat Strategy
Bloodborne is a grounds-up reversal of the Souls gameplay formula. Shields are swapped for guns, and the bosses have far more aggressive attack patterns, which means you can’t stay on the defensive and chip health bars away slowly. The trick weapons, which can be upgraded from fancy tools to brutal blades, are the perfect example of this idea.
Players can’t just hide behind their defenses anymore; they have to be all-out attackers, getting some health back by being as aggressive as the messed-up bosses. This system makes the fighting feel frantic and super urgent, making players’ hearts pound in every boss battle.
The setting goes hand-in-hand with this change in gameplay. The streets of Yharnam are plunged into ruin, and overrun with gruesome monstrosities. It’s not prudent to take your time with battles here. It’s either hunt or be hunted.
Miyazaki’s comments, though short, are a riveting glimpse into his vision for Bloodborne. By ditching the defensive tactics that were key to the Souls series and going for a more offensive playstyle, it beckoned Souls veterans to rethink how they approached battles.
More than that, it gracefully innovated upon a formula that was on the verge of being outdated, making it not only incredibly engaging, but also tying it in with a spellbinding world that everyone begs to visit again with a remaster.
