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Swifter, Not Safer: Bloodborne trades Dark Souls' creep for speed
Bloodborne bummed me right out when it was announced back in June. Gothic action RPG from From Software, Japan's premiere purveyors of supremely weird, deeply punishing action games? Should be awesome. Unlike many of the converted, though, I've never cottoned to the Dark Souls games that Bloodborne is a spiritual successor to. Dark Souls' ethos is one I deeply respect. A game that thrusts you into a mysterious place that reveals its history through strange visuals, vicious combat, and patient explorations, the spirit of the series is deeply appealing. Feeling how that game plays, though, was an enormous turn off. The awkward, chunky pace of blocking, slowly attacking, meticulously dodging, then dying repeatedly only to try again just rubbed me wrong. Bloodborne's promise of improved access to the series seemed like a pyrrhic victory. The emphasis on fast action rather than patient blocking and enemy study seemed great, but wouldn't that dilute the series' stern soul? Apparently not. Bloodborne is a much swifter game than Dark Souls, but it's no less dangerous. Death is still waiting behind the corners of From Software's latest dank world, but how you move around that doom is potentially more inviting to the unconverted that never quite got Dark Souls.
Bloodborne's European limited editions target bookish goths
Sony has unveiled the European limited edition contents of From Software's PlayStation 4-exclusive action-RPG Bloodborne, revealing that early adopters will receive a collection of gothic knickknacks in addition to bonus in-game goodies. The Bloodborne Collector's Edition (retailing for €79.99) includes an art book, a downloadable soundtrack, and a copy of the game in a steelbook case. Shell out some extra cash for the €119.99 Nightmare Edition and you'll also get a cracked bell trinket, a tin that resembles a stocked bookshelf, a themed notebook, and a quill pen complete with a vial of blood-red ink. The Nightmare Edition also includes an exclusive skin that equips the game's Messenger character with a dapper top hat. A pair of retailer-exclusive pre-order skins optionally equip the Messenger with a fedora or a bandaged scalp. Limited edition contents for Bloodborne's North American release have not been announced. Bloodborne hits retail stateside on March 24. [Image: Sony]
Bloodborne is less scary with friends
What's better than slaughtering juicy, demonic beasts? Slaughtering juicy, demonic beasts with friends. The Bloodborne trailer shown at The Game Awards on Friday features some co-op dicing and slicing action. Relive the gory glory. [Image: From Software]
Bloodborne due date pushed back to March 2015
Bloodborne isn't delivering on February 6, 2015 as scheduled, after Sony announced a month-and-a-half delay for the PS4 game. The new action-RPG from Souls studio From Software is now due to launch on March 24 in North America and March 25 in mainland Europe. Japan follows suit on March 26, then UK and Ireland are last up on March 27. "While development continues unabated, we would like our team to deliver the best possible final experience," Sony's Masaaki Yamagiwa said on the PS Blog. "We were gratified by the feedback and data we received from those who participated in our limited alpha test. The extra production time will also allow us to better integrate these learnings."
Bloodborne alpha returns this weekend for one postponed hurrah
Players of Bloodborne's alpha have one more chance to check out the build this Sunday, October 19, after developer From Software postponed the final day's session during the initial test run. The Souls studio canceled the October 5 session "due to some issues," but an email sent to Joystiq by Sony Computer Entertainment Europe detailed the encore with co-op play for up to two extra players included. According to a PlayStation Japan support page, the delayed alpha session is due to run between 5PM and 8PM PT in North America (8PM-11PM ET), while in Europe it's scheduled for 6PM-9PM BST (7-10PM CET). Meanwhile, Sony Europe notes voucher codes for the alpha have been extended beyond the stated expiry date, and advises users who've deleted the Alpha Test client they can re-download it.
Bloodborne alpha glitch reveals unannounced content
Players slicing their way through the alpha version of From Software's PlayStation 4-exclusive Dark Souls follow-up Bloodborne can escape the alpha's boundaries and access not-yet-announced content, the fan-made video above demonstrates. YouTube user "Sanadsk" shows off weapons, armor and locations normally inaccessible in Bloodborne's alpha. Throw a couple of pebbles at the pit shown in the first minute of the video above and the floor will become solid, allowing players to flip a switch and access a gated gameplay area featuring giant pigs, mutated rat creatures, and other hidden content. Players who access Bloodborne's secret area can also battle Priest Gascoigne, a boss enemy who is not normally encountered in the alpha. At one point during the battle, the boss utters the word "Umbasa," which supposedly ties the game to From Software's 2009 PS3 release Demon's Souls. Bloodborne hits retail in North America on February 6, 2015. [Video: Sanadsk / From Software]
Bloodborne demo defeats players at PAX Prime, TGS
Recent public playtests indicate that From Software's Dark Souls series successor Bloodborne is shaping up to be just as difficult as its predecessors, DualShockers reports. During Tokyo Game Show last week, producer Masaaki Yamagiwa and marketer Yasuhiro Kitao revealed that less than one percent of players at PAX Prime were able to complete the Bloodborne demo. Only 20 out of approximately 3,500 players were able to kill the Cleric Beast boss and complete the quest at PAX Prime. Around 40 out of 1,250 attempts at TGS were successful. Dark Souls fans who thrive on challenge may take these results as a positive sign, as the series has traditionally focused on gameplay that require patience, preparation, and a willingness to learn through failure. Bloodborne launches exclusively for the PlayStation 4 on February 6, 2015. [Image: From Software]
Bloodborne in the USA February 2015 (Europe too!)
From Software's Bloodborne is bringing its Victorian violence to North America and Europe on February 6, 2015, just a day after it lands Japan. The news hits as Sony Europe began issuing out alpha invites for the Souls dev's latest action-RPG, but there's no word yet if we can expect similar tests stateside. Also, there's a new trailer (which you'll find below the break) offering a glimpse at the game's yet-to-be disclosed online systems, which Sony Japan's Masaaki Yamagiwa noted includes "co-operative and asynchronous play." Yamagiwa also teased that some of the asynchronous play is tied to companion nightmarish creatures called Messengers.
First Bloodborne alpha invites roll out to Europe
Alpha testing invites for Bloodborne are now appearing in select email inboxes. Joystiq's own Sinan Kubba received an invite to the "small-scale test," which features early access to the game and "a sample of its online features," according to the email. Those that would like to take part in the testing phase for From Software's next sort-of-like-Dark Souls game can apply on the PSN Beta page. The trial is for European players only, as invites are granted at SCEE's discretion. The enrollment period ends on Tuesday, September 23 at 11:59am BST (6:59am EST). Bloodborne will launch on February 5 in Japan and early 2015 in Europe. [Image: From Software]
Bloodborne to tear up Japan in February 2015 [update: trailer]
From Software's Bloodborne will launch in Japan on February 5, 2015, Sony announced at this morning's pre-Tokyo Game Show conference. There's no further news as yet on when it will launch internationally. Sony Worldwide Studios President Shuhei Yoshida revealed the game's limited edition will include an artbook and soundtrack over in Japan. For more on the new terror from the Demon's Souls and Dark Souls studio, check out our hands-on from Gamescom.
Amazon: Wii U game pre-orders up following Gamescom
With all the news that surfaced last week during Gamescom, it makes sense that video game pre-orders would increase at retailers like Amazon. As it turns out, the biggest winner coming away from the show is Nintendo, as Wii U games saw the biggest boost in pre-orders on Amazon (8.67 percent). By comparison, pre-orders for PS4 games rose 5.16 percent and Xbox One games increased 2.81 percent. The largest increase for a single game was 42.3 percent for Slightly Mad Studios' Project Cars. Bandai Namco announced a limited edition version of the game last week, which likely spurred new pre-orders. Rounding out the top five are Rise of the Tomb Raider (30.25 percent), Bloodborne (16.08 percent), Hyrule Warriors (11.77 percent) and Quantum Break (10.77 percent). You'll find the full list of the top ten games whose pre-orders increased on Amazon after the break, courtesy of MCV.
Bloodborne has Dark Souls in its veins
When Sony showed us Bloodborne at E3, it was like that disconcertingly racy feeling of seeing someone you really like and then realizing it's their younger, even more attractive sibling. It looked like a Souls game, albeit one even deeper into a goth phase, but bits and pieces felt weirdly unfamiliar. After putting hundreds of hours into three such similar games, it was surreal to sense the shifts in something that clearly has its roots in the Souls series, even if it doesn't share a surname. I think what I needed was hands-on time, and that's what I got at Gamescom, even if it was for just 15 minutes. Once I picked up the DualShock and navigated the shadowy hero along the game's cobblestone alleys, things began to click. It was like stepping into a pair of your favorite shoes, but using them to ride a brand new bike. While wielding a shotgun.
Sony's Gamescom trailers showcase Bloodborne, Rime, Until Dawn, and more
Sony's Gamescom press conference unleashed a flurry of new trailers for upcoming PlayStation releases, and new information flooded in via a series of back-to-back announcements. If you blinked at any point during the show, you probably missed a key revelation or two. Here, we've collected a handful of new trailers for games like Bloodborne, Rime, Shadow of Mordor, and more. Give them some love, won't you?
PS4 pre-loading starts soon with prominent pre-orders
The PlayStation 4 will soon support pre-loading via the PlayStation Store, starting with Transformers: Rise of the Dark Spark, due on June 24. As will be the case with all pre-orders going live after May 20, Sony says, you'll be able to download the game's files a few days in advance of its release date (even from standby mode), after which it will become unlocked on your console. While this is a convenient feature for those who prefer not to buy discs at retail, it also acts as an incentive for pre-orders made through PlayStation. Each pre-order page on the American PlayStation store comes with a clear all-caps warning: "CANCELLATIONS AND REFUNDS ARE NOT AVAILABLE EXCEPT WHERE REQUIRED BY LAW." The PlayStation Store is opening up pre-orders for most major games, including new PS3 games and PS4 exclusives like Bloodborne and Uncharted 4: A Thief's End – both fresh out of E3 and still without release dates. [Image: SCEA]
Bloodborne is the PS4's darkest, bloodiest new game
Seeing Bloodborne behind closed doors, it was evidently clear this once beastly project has its roots in the developer's lauded Souls series. From Software may be approaching the PS4-exclusive action-RPG as an original property, but in that hands-off demo, differences and similarities were both patent. In short, Bloodborne felt both familiar and unfamiliar. For example, killing enemies produced a familiar sucking noise indicating something gained, but it wasn't shown if this was experience, souls, or whatever. There were glowing lights floating in their corpses, but it wasn't clear if these were items to be picked up. Entrances were engulfed in white light, enemies burst into view through barrels, the camera sat familiarly behind the hero - who's customizable, by the way - and the combat looked methodical and strategic. As director Hidetaka Miyazaki explained, the three major layers From wants in Bloodborne are exploration of the unknown, truly perilous combat, and a unique online concept. You could easily attribute those qualities to any Souls game.
Dark Souls studio cuts open a new, dark IP, 'Bloodborne' [Update: trailer]
Dark Souls studio From Software and director Hidetaka Miyazaki are working on Bloodborne, a dark fantasy game due out in 2015 and "only on PlayStation" according to the end of a trailer shown at Sony's E3 conference. The PS4 action-RPG appears to be Project Beast, a grisly long-rumored game that surfaced in video form late last month.
