Bloodborne (PS4)

"Bloodborne" for PlayStation 4 is the true descendant of developer From Software's "Dark Souls" titles. It shakes up the formula to create an energetic action role-playing game. This exclusive PS4 title ranks amongst the best games currently available for the next-gen platform. It rightfully earns its "Best Original Game" win at the 2015 Golden Joystick Awards.

The story follows the exploits of The Hunter who wakes up in and travels through the city of Yharnam, a downtown comprised of moral corruption and Victorian architecture. True to the role-playing genre, each individual player decides how to approach the heart-stopping gameplay mechanics. Bloodborne offers a unique third-person gaming experience full of world-building, secrets and monsters. Success in the game comes from exploration and acquiring new combat skills through the experience of getting killed.

Bloodborne is not an easy game, but patience is a virtue. Players can level up by continuing to customise, whether by upgrading the few weapons available or by obtaining and selling items like Blood Vials and Quicksilver Bullets to increase The Hunter's arsenal and powers. Defeating bosses slowly propels the narrative, which unfolds into a full-blown adventure presented with stunning graphics in 1080p high definition.

Even more fun exists in the online world of the game. Online features, such as Cooperative (invite up to 2 guests and team up to tackle the boss of the current level) and Competitive (dubbed Invasions) gameplay modes, require the latest update to be installed on the machine. Bloodborne's co-op matchmaking system is random yet can be altered to recognise password-matching players – kind of like forming a clan. At the same time, players only get matched with others whose level falls within a certain range.

Remote Play via the PlayStation Vita handheld device is possible, but a fast Internet connection is required to enjoy the game fully. Getting used to the buttons, especially in fast response scenarios, elevates the thrill aspect – remapping button controls is worth looking into in this case.

Developer From Software periodically releases patches for the game that add new items and aim to fix bugs, such as the long, post-release loading times that players had to endure after they died or warped. Since the 1.03 patch, this waiting time has decreased by "approx. 5-15 seconds" depending on the circumstances. In addition, the loading screen is no longer just a black image but instead showcases item descriptions.

"Bloodborne" rewards players for their patience and crafts a challenging yet immensely satisfying role-playing action game for the PS4.