It takes a certain kind of individual to really get into the Dark Souls series. One needs determination, fortitude, and lots of free time (I’m pretty sure a fetish for bondage also helps too because it hurts so goooood…). When From Software debuted their grim series with Demon Souls back in 2009, it paved the way for a whole new style of games I like to call “torture games.” There were plenty of times where I was ready to throw the controller at the wall and smash my Playstation 3 with a sledgehammer, but persistence paid off in the end! (I wonder what that says about my personality after my intro…)
So let’s fast forward to 2015 with From Software’s latest installment in their torture game series with their spin off game Bloodborne. While only really taking the “Souls” of the series and replacing it with blood, From Software delivered an amazing title that really lived up to the series (especially considering how lackluster Dark Souls 2 felt). The game is smooth, the graphics are stunning and the bosses are hard as #$%@! While the game didn’t particularly feel all that long (especially because I burned through it in about 6 days or so), the amount of content packed into the game was very satisfying. So naturally, being addicted to pain and punishment (along with the Dark Souls series), I had to try out the DLC for Bloodborne titled Bloodborne: The Old Hunters.
One of the things I really enjoyed and hated about Bloodborne was the weapons. While it was awesome that every weapon essentially had two forms with the trick weapon system, the amount of weapons in the game itself were far less than the Dark Souls series. So seeing that From Soft added a lot more weapons into the game with the DLC made me feel like a kid in a candy store with $100 to spend in the 1950’s. The developers added nearly as many weapons as the initial game had for players, so naturally it was greatly appreciated. One of the things I really love about Bloodborne is that the weapons all feel incredibly different and each DLC weapon is amazing! (Especially the Whirligig Saw!)
Like all Dark Souls titles, the difficulty increases based on how many times you’ve cleared the game’s final boss, and the DLC content is nothing to laugh at the first time around. While some people may have started over from scratch to reach the DLC, I’m pretty sure most people don’t want to toss away their blood, sweat, and tears and just rolled through the game on New Game Plus or beyond (because that’s exactly what I did!). The bosses in the DLC beyond a first playthrough are ridiculously hard to the point that rage is almost certain (I’m not going to lie, there were many times where breaking my TV sounded like a good idea). While there are only 4 mega bosses in the DLC story, getting to them on your first playthrough is no easy feat, making the game take quite some time to get through (unless you’ve taken a few days off to solely dedicate to it like I did).
One of the things I greatly enjoy about the Souls series is that From Soft really strives to provide players with a game that’s not only got an amazing plot, but is so rich with lore that you have to hunt down yourself. With nothing more than cryptic messages in items, players must look inside every nook and cranny in order to appease their knowledge. With the main story taking place within a dream, the DLC itself actually takes you into another dream that’s just as twisted and demented as the main world’s game, with a heavy focus on the Hunters instead of just monsters. The developers added more items to hunt down that compliment the original story, answering more questions that the original story left out.
So with smooth gameplay, fun dungeons, difficult boss fights, and a lot pain ahead of you with this DLC, I guess we come down to the big question of price and whether or not it’s worth it. With $20 on the line, it would be natural to question the value of this purchase. Being that I’m a rather big Dark Souls/Bloodborne fan, I’d say yes, I think the DLC is definitely worth it. Getting any extra bit of content in games feels like a massive bonus and feels pretty essential for any fan of the series.
Any questions on the DLC? Are you loving it as much as I am? Not a fan of the Souls series? Haven’t tried it yet? Love torture? Give Bloodborne a try and see for yourself if you’ve got an inner masochist! Thanks for reading!
Gameplay: 10 Story: 9 Graphics: 9 Overall Score: 9.5
