Bloodborne - The Nightly Hunt begins... (The Old Hunters DLC out Tuesday!)

Had another bash on this tonight, mainly exploring the Cathedral Ward. I'm loving the area design in this, so many branching paths to take, never sure what lies down each and where you will end up! Had so many great moments where you've travelled a long way since the last lamp and the twists and turns just keep coming - you feel genuinely fearful about losing your echoes but know you have to press on!

Eventually got taken down by one of the big bastards carrying a sack on his back - if that was Santa he clearly has me on the naughty list! Woke up in some church / jail and had a wander around clearing the place out, took down some giant pigs and found what looks like some kind of lightning based weapon which I'm looking forward to having a play with! Eventually made my way to what seemed to be the only way out of this area and had to take down Darkbeast Paarl:


Basically zero finesse in that fight worked out that keeping close was the key and I could stun him with the right timing so just went in hard and it payed off!

Still loads to explore in the Cathedral Ward - bring it on I say!

Still ticking along nicely with some more progress tonight.

Made my way through Hemwick Charnel Lane and managed to beat the witches on my first go:


These guys were like stupidly easy, we're talking sub Pinwheel from DS1 levels of challenge!

All this killing does tend to leave one looking rather untidy unfortunately:

twitter.com/RussellMcIver/status/1158518458797219841

The Watching Artist wrote:.

He's doing it wrong Matt. He's supposed to be struggling and frustrated

Jenuall wrote:Had another bash on this tonight, mainly exploring the Cathedral Ward. I'm loving the area design in this, so many branching paths to take, never sure what lies down each and where you will end up! Had so many great moments where you've travelled a long way since the last lamp and the twists and turns just keep coming - you feel genuinely fearful about losing your echoes but know you have to press on!

Eventually got taken down by one of the big bastards carrying a sack on his back - if that was Santa he clearly has me on the naughty list! Woke up in some church / jail and had a wander around clearing the place out, took down some giant pigs and found what looks like some kind of lightning based weapon which I'm looking forward to having a play with! Eventually made my way to what seemed to be the only way out of this area and had to take down Darkbeast Paarl:

twitter.com/RussellMcIver/status/1158156032646029312

Basically zero finesse in that fight worked out that keeping close was the key and I could stun him with the right timing so just went in hard and it payed off!

Still loads to explore in the Cathedral Ward - bring it on I say!

Paul

Hexx wrote:

The Watching Artist wrote:.

He's doing it wrong Matt. He's supposed to be struggling and frustrated

Sorry to disappoint you Hexxy! To be fair it hasn't exactly been plain sailing, but I am finding it a smoother ride than expected so far.

Manwell Pablo wrote:

Witches are a joke boss mostly considered easiest in the game, Paul gives no end of people a lot of trouble but I think I actually managed to deck him first attempt. Plenty more still to come!

Yeah I assumed they were going to be easy for everyone, there just doesn't seem to be much they (or their helpers) do to actually stop you!


I fully expect to be "found out" soon, as I've become a bit one-note in my tactics in the last couple of areas. Most things seem to struggle with well timed heavy attacks so I've been tanking stuff quite a lot. The nimbler enemies, such as a couple of hunters who I came across last night, provide more of a challenge as you need to be more on your toes and agile to combat them. I suspect that the next boss I come to which has some of those qualities may cause me some more trouble and get me back to a more varied play style!

Genuinely think that Father Gascoigne has been the hardest challenge thus far!

The whole this is just hugely enjoyable though, I'd put it on par with DS1 so far but I can see it taking the top spot if it carries on like this. There is a bit more "obvious" lore going on in this - messages and notes that give details on the world, a greater number of NPCs you can talk to and learn cryptic hints about what is going on etc. I love it.

Still massively suspicious of the dude in the Odeon Chapel - "send people here, nothing bad will happen to them honest... hehehehe!" Hmm, not so sure mate! I've had the option to send a lady of the night to join him there but have declined to tell her about him as I don't think his intentions are honourable!

Jenuall wrote: There is a bit more "obvious" lore going on in this

Oh you sweet summer child

Bloodborne's story is pretty simple...on the surface...for a while You're right it plainly tells you a lot though. Hunt Beasts - that's an easy story right?

The story, or potential story, of Bloodborne gets greatly examined online (there's like a 100 page break down/analysis in a document called "The Paleblood Hunt").

Bloodborne will tell you several events occured, and in what order, but it's very much up to interpretation and choice how you piece them all together by the end. There is no "answer" to (some) of Bloodbornes story. Loved everything about it. Dark Souls feels boring now by comparison

Have you met Iosefka yet?

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote: There is a bit more "obvious" lore going on in this

Oh you sweet summer child

Bloodborne's story is pretty simple...on the surface...for a while You're right it plainly tells you a lot though. Hunt Beasts - that's an easy story right?

The story, or potential story, of Bloodborne gets greatly examined online (there's like a 100 page break down/analysis in a document called "The Paleblood Hunt").

Bloodborne will tell you several events occured, and in what order, but it's very much up to interpretation and choice how you piece them all together by the end. There is no "answer" to (some) of Bloodbornes story. Loved everything about it. Dark Souls feels boring now by comparison

Oh yeah, I'm fully expecting to be given an incomplete and potentially misleading picture from the various sources in the game. Piecing it together and coming up with a way it might fit is half the fun right!?

Hexx wrote:Have you met Iosefka yet?

Don't believe so, but there are a good few avenues I have open to explore that I've been down yet...

There doesn't seem to be as much "interconnectedness" to the areas as there was in DS1 but I do still love how much branching and looping back on itself there is within the individual spaces - always feels like there is somewhere else to go and the potential for hidden stuff is always there.

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote: There is a bit more "obvious" lore going on in this

Oh you sweet summer child

Bloodborne's story is pretty simple...on the surface...for a while You're right it plainly tells you a lot though. Hunt Beasts - that's an easy story right?

The story, or potential story, of Bloodborne gets greatly examined online (there's like a 100 page break down/analysis in a document called "The Paleblood Hunt").

Bloodborne will tell you several events occured, and in what order, but it's very much up to interpretation and choice how you piece them all together by the end. There is no "answer" to (some) of Bloodbornes story. Loved everything about it. Dark Souls feels boring now by comparison

Doesn't it just, I've read one theory that claims the whole thing is just a metaphor for a women's menstrual cycle.

As for being caught out eventually, perhaps. Its a very strange game for boss difficulty, BSB was an absolute pain for me, but I did Gazza and Paul first time (Although Gazza was on a very early version of the game and he actually seemed to vanish rather than me beating him, presumably down the pub) there are a number of bosses you have left that some people seem to think weren't too tough at all but others think are top 3 in the game. I guess it must be load out and play style making a big difference, the game certainly favors the aggressive style more.

Hexx wrote:

The Watching Artist wrote:.

He's doing it wrong Matt. He's supposed to be struggling and frustrated

I know right. What a wanker.

To be fair his hardest challenge so far was probably BSB and he aced it. Gazza is tough but not as irritating to struggle against (apart from getting stuck on scenery and him hitting through things etc.)

Jenuall wrote:Don't believe so, but there are a good few avenues I have open to explore that I've been down yet...

This is really easy to miss, probably too easy. Go back to the very start of the game and go backwards.

Its a good job my PS4 isnt here at the mo.

Oh and the Witches are harder then Pinwheel. At least trying to hit them was interesting.

Manwell Pablo wrote: I guess it must be load out and play style making a big difference, the game certainly favors the aggressive style more.

I did wonder if Jennys weapon meant he stayed slightly further away from BSB when attacking but I cant really remember what the weapons are like in this regard. Specially as I'm now exclusively Kirkhammer.

The Watching Artist wrote:

Hexx wrote:

The Watching Artist wrote:.

He's doing it wrong Matt. He's supposed to be struggling and frustrated

I know right. What a wanker.

Its a good job my PS4 isnt here at the mo.

He's not even using the Cane.

I might have downloaded it.

The Watching Artist wrote:

Hexx wrote:

The Watching Artist wrote:.

He's doing it wrong Matt. He's supposed to be struggling and frustrated

I know right. What a wanker.

Sorry guys, I'll try to strawberry float more stuff up going forward.

The Watching Artist wrote:

Jenuall wrote:Don't believe so, but there are a good few avenues I have open to explore that I've been down yet...

This is really easy to miss, probably too easy. Go back to the very start of the game and go backwards.

Ah see I thought I had done this a while back I went back to the sickroom and tried to go backwards but all I could find was a shut door and a lady basically telling me to go away whilst the hunt is on! Admittedly I didn't really poke about much further, and it's been a while since I was there, so I may go and take another look!

Hexx wrote:He's not even using the Cane.

I've bought the cane now but not really given it much of a run out, likewise with Tonitrus which looks interesting. Might play about with these on my next go to see if I can get another style down in case I need to mix things up.

Have you climbed the ladder and unlocked the gate yet?

IAmTheSaladMan wrote:Have you climbed the ladder and unlocked the gate yet?

He's not been to the area where he'do that I think

Jenuall wrote:I've bought the cane now but not really given it much of a run out, likewise with Tonitrus which looks interesting. Might play about with these on my next go to see if I can get another style down in case I need to mix things up.

I never changed from the came - and basically was always playing with it and it's trick transform.



I liked dress up in this too.

But it's a Skill weapon. I think you like slower, hard hitting weapons.

Have you learnt to parry at all?

Hexx wrote:

Jenuall wrote:I've bought the cane now but not really given it much of a run out, likewise with Tonitrus which looks interesting. Might play about with these on my next go to see if I can get another style down in case I need to mix things up.

I never changed from the came - and basically was always playing with it and it's trick transform.



I liked dress up in this too.

But it's a Skill weapon. I think you like slower, hard hitting weapons.

Have you learnt to parry at all?

It's interesting because in DS1 I was very much going for a more nimble and defensive build as the game progressed, but in this I've gone down the power route so far. The transformed axe can really send enemies flying which has been a fun change of pace!

I'm assuming the parry in this is where you shoot enemies just as they are attacking you and it stuns them? I've used it quite a bit on certain enemies, and it was very helpful against Gazza!

IAmTheSaladMan wrote:Have you climbed the ladder and unlocked the gate yet?

I have climbed lots of ladders and unlocked many gates, but I don't think I've done whatever bit you are referring to.

There are many long ladders in this, it's like playing Snake Eater at some points!

Jenuall wrote:Sorry guys, I'll try to strawberry float more stuff up going forward.

Its ok. You should have read my posts. No one knew what the strawberry float I was taking about.

Ahhhh. Just been reminded of all those doors and gates that can only be opened from one direction. Its so silly at points. git gud at door opening

Hexx wrote:

IAmTheSaladMan wrote:Have you climbed the ladder and unlocked the gate yet?

He's not been to the area where he'do that I think

That's what I thought it's just somebody asked about meeting Iosefka.