
There’s something to be said about Dark Souls’ variety, but few games feel as fluid and satisfyingly aggressive as Bloodborne. Something about taking down Bloodborne’s most horrifying creatures quickly is immensely satisfying (especially if they decimated you at the start of the game). Eventually, once you’ve mastered the art of combat, you can easily shred through even the toughest foes and do so with a blisteringly fast stride. This ultimately results in a much faster pace that feels akin to a Devil May Cry game. The game also completely removes shields (with the exception of a joke shield that doesn’t do much), which truly forces players to learn the ins and outs of attacking. This is such an incredibly smart system that rewards players for staying on the offense - instead of hanging back and taking things slowly.


So long as you strike your foes immediately after they hit you, you’ll get to regenerate some of your lost health. The most obvious addition is a mechanic that actually allows you to regain health for a short period of time after taking damage. In Bloodborne, however, you are forced to play aggressively due to a few clever mechanics that make the combat really stand out. While this offers plenty of variety and gives players numerous ways to overcome challenges, it does sometimes feel a bit unfocused.

Many of FromSoftware’s games allow for a multitude of playstyles, including aggressive, tank, ranged, and magic - with several variations in between. Fluidity and aggression are key components that make Bloodborne so great.
