Once More, With Feeling
In April 2013, I played Demon’s Souls for the first and last time. It was a game I had heard great things about, one I’d been eager to try, but due to it’s clunky controls, dull visuals, and punishing difficulty, I soon gave up on it. I was frustrated and disappointed, I just didn’t get it, how had this game been met with such critical acclaim and praise, yet I found it to be an ugly, awkward and overly difficult mess? I put it to the back of my mind, and moved on.
Its successors, Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2, both received equally high praise, and although I was tempted to give them a go, I was still soured by my experience with Demon’s Souls. I wondered if I’d ever overcome this barrier and become enthralled in a Souls game, maybe these games just weren’t for me, but rather an elite class of gamer, should I accept my fate, or persevere?
Previously, I’d had this issue with Fallout 3, and in hindsight, I don’t really understand why, as Bethesda’s games are vastly more accessible. I bought the game when it first came out, and eagerly rushed home to play it, having chosen my S.P.E.C.I.A.L.s, got acquainted with Papa Liam Neeson, and emerged from the vault, I was excited to explore the wasteland. I visited Megaton, got my first batch of quests, and set off into the Capitol Waste, but I quickly met my death. Trying again, I died, again, and again, and again.
I can only conclude that my 14 year old self was shit at the game, as I soon sold it on. I rented/borrowed it again twice more in the following months, and both times got only so far before giving up. Thankfully, on my fourth attempt, last year, I finally managed to get into it, the wasteland fully consumed me. Despite the range of great PS4 games available at the time, all I wanted to play was Fallout 3. After pouring a few hundred hours into both Fallout 3 and New Vegas, I now rank the series highly in my top 10, and I’m hugely anticipating the imminent Fallout 4.
I, like many of you, enjoy unwinding for an hour (or several) after a busy day, and as enjoyable it can be to watch a film or browse TV, it’s video games that provide unrivaled catharsis and escapism. I foolishly, however, didn’t choose to play something serene and stress free, like Journey (which I recently played, and loved), no, I chose to embark on my first proper foray into one of From Software’s dark, unforgiving worlds.
It’s because of my hugely rewarding experience with Fallout that I decided to pick up Bloodborne, the games setting, aesthetics, and creature design appealed to me immensely, I just had to give the Souls games another go. I returned home after another day of work, excited, and comforted by the knowledge that I had a new game to sink into. Inserting the disc, I settled down for some virtual reprieve.
Broken Spirit (and Controller)
Awaking on a surgical table in a scarcely lit study, I made my way down stairs where I was greeted by a writhing heap of blood and fur, cautiously approaching the feasting lycanthrope, I found my self in unarmed combat with the beast, and hastily died. “Dead already?” I thought, “I didn’t stand a chance, that’s not fair,” but I soon realized this was meant to happen, and I again awoke, this time in the Hunter’s Dream.
After that unconventional start, I armed myself and headed back, exacting revenge on the werewolf, in the first of many small victories. Swinging open the monstrous gates, I headed out into Yarnham, and was instantly struck by the game’s extraordinary style, and atmosphere. The Victorian Gothic world that Bloodborne crafts is one entirely it’s own, though it clearly draws from both history, and fantasy.
I encountered my first foes, towering axe wielding huntsmen with far reaching limbs, and after taking them out with satisfying swings of my saw cleaver, I climbed a nearby ladder. Atop this ladder, I found my first lantern, one of a limited set of safe havens that provide checkpoints throughout the expansive levels. “I’m doing well, I’m not dead yet” I though to myself, and confidently I proceeded.
Faced with a procession of torch bearing huntsmen, staggering down the winding, cobbled street before me, I headed cockily forward to take them on. Soon overwhelmed by a combination of enemy types, I found myself dead, but I knew this was to be expected in From Software’s games, so I tried again, getting a little further, but again dying.
I continued to press on, and with repetition, I progressed further, learning the position and attack patterns of every enemy as I traveled down the stretch of road that led to the lycanthrope’s pyre. As I encountered new enemy types, I uttered odd squeaks and gasps, then composing myself, studied them, re-approaching with newly discovered tactics. Every encounter in Bloodborne, even with the standard enemies, is a thrilling match of timing and precision, that yields precious lessons and blood echoes.
I was enjoying the game and felt I was getting somewhere, I finally reached the bridge, where I, by surprise, came upon my first boss. The colossal Cleric Beast struck me with a combination of awe and terror, my heart sunk and I knew I was surely going to die, regardless, there was no going back, so I headed into battle. I managed to whittle the lumbering monstrosity’s health down to almost half, but then just when I thought there may be hope, he destroyed me in a blur of fur and claw.
There went my momentum, my confidence and my 6000+ blood echoes. I resurrected back at the ladder lantern, disheartened and pissed off, I felt I had practically wasted the past few hours, and that I’d definitely chosen the wrong game to “unwind” with. Rage quitting, I was unsure whether I wanted to keep playing, was the whole game going to be like this? One step forward and two steps back. I sought guidance online, consulted forums and watched Kinda Funny’s Colin and Alfredo discuss their experience with the game. I soon realized I wasn’t alone in my struggle, and that once past the Cleric Beast, the game would open up more.
Baptism in Blood
From my insight gained online, I discovered that as much as learning enemy positions and attack patterns is essential to success, upgrading your attributes and weapons, a feature I had overlooked until now, was equally vital. Off I set, once more, harvesting blood echoes from every foe I struck down. After awhile I’d memorized the entire area, accumulated a substantial amount of blood echoes and blood stone shards, and gained the hunter armor from the sewers.
I donned my new highwayman-esque outfit, and teleported back to the Hunter’s Dream, having upgraded my saw cleaver and attributes, I headed back into Yarnham. This time I blazed my way through the now very familiar path, slicing through enemies, always one step ahead of them, and was soon back at the bridge. I was ready for the Cleric Beast, he wouldn’t get me this time, I wouldn’t have to repeat this frustrating cycle. I was prepared. I had a plan.
I let forth my opening gambit, a barrage of molotovs that scorched his health down by a quarter. Following up, I lunged in, unleashing a succession of well timed attacks, and quickly dodging his counter strikes. He became enraged, and lurched ferociously forward with a flurry of violent slashes, I dove out the way and hit him with my repost. His health was soon down to a slither, but as was mine, and with few blood vials remaining, I charged in for my final assault. My heart beating rapidly, I landed the final blow. PREY SLAUGHTERED! Swept gloriously onto the screen, and I let out a joyous squall of indecipherable, and probably inhuman noises.
Up popped a lantern and a trophy, and I was filed with a immense sense of relief and achievement. To both Souls veterans and those who are just overall better players than me, this may sound a trivial feat, but for me it was a big moment. I knew that from then on, no matter how tough a situation or boss may seem, with the right preparation, knowledge and tactics, anything could be overcome, and that’s what From Software’s games are all about. Exploration, discovery, learning from your mistakes, making the right preparations and being rewarded for your hard work, are what make their games so compelling.
The Great, Dark Yonder
After felling the Cleric Beast, I explored the land beyond the bridge, I delved into the sewers, where I encountered, among other monstrosities, a giant pig beast. Emerging on the other side, I came upon another fearsome boss, Father Gascoigne, who, on first attempt, got the better of me, but no worry, I’ll go off and explore, gain greater power and items, and take him on again, this time with a more learned perspective, and a more deadly bite.
I am only a little way into Bloodborne, and have a huge amount ahead of me, but already I find it to be one of the most compelling and engrossing video games experiences I’ve had. I will no doubt go on to play Dark Souls 2 and explore the wonders that holds, as well as eagerly await the upcoming Dark Souls 3.
I’ve finally overcome one of my biggest gaming omissions, and I feel fantastic for doing so. The Souls games may not be for everyone, and I didn’t think they were for me. But, I would urge anyone with the temptation to give them, or any game they find intimidating or inaccessible a go, or even a second try, as it might just turn out to be one of your most satisfying gaming triumphs yet.