Bloodborne

[Alex79]

Yes, thanks they did. Password? We talking about the guy who was on about the old church people? Ah man I can't remember where someone asked me for a password now but someone has! I'll do those other two bosses first though. I did glance at a guide and it said both those areas are optional!?

[KSubzero1000]

Yes, that is correct. Actually, about two thirds of the areas in Bloodborne are completely optional! But they're so well designed that I wouldn't recommend skipping any of them. Just don't be surprised if you ever meet a dead end after beating a boss, it just means that you're done with that particular corner of the world and that you should go back to the main branch.

Yes, we're talking about the same guy! Somewhere in Cathedral Ward, I'm sure you'll find him again if you look hard enough...

[Alex79]

Awesome thanks think I'm gonna take the Henwick Lane route then go back to Old Yharnam before hooking up with our old pal with the password. This game is so good. It's like playing Dark Souls for the first time again.

[DomsBeard]

So quick question.

Not a Dark Souls fan, tried it several times and couldn't get into it. Would I enjoy Bloodborne?

[Alex79]

Not really sure, possibly. It's a very different game, although not in sense of atmosphere etc. But the combat feels a lot different. I would advise trying to borrow a copy before you paid out for it. I love it, but then I adore the Souls games, too. I have heard people say they've enjoyed Bloodborne without being in to Souls, so it's possible.

[Alex79]

In other news, just beat another boss. Easiest so far!

Spoiler: show

[KSubzero1000]

So quick question.

Not a Dark Souls fan, tried it several times and couldn't get into it. Would I enjoy Bloodborne?

It depends, but probably not. The thing to keep in mind is that Bloodborne and the Souls series both share the same fundamental DNA. The level structure, encounter design, progression system, UI, multiplayer implementation, etc... are all basically the exact same. The only real differences are the combat pacing and the story / aesthetics. So if the reason you couldn't get into Dark Souls was due to the slow-paced nature of the combat or the medieval fantasy setting, then you might want to look into Bloodborne. But if your issues were more related to the fundamental design philosophy of these games, then I don't see how Bloodborne could get you on board. Hope this helps.

[Alex79]

Making steady progress in this. I've beaten the Witch of Hemwick and the Blood Starved Beast, and just spent the evening exploring deep in to the Forbidden Woods. They're awesome! I've unlocked the short cut from the lamp, and ended up coming across these big head alien looking things. This place is creepy as hell, and some great enemies down here. I can't be far from the boss now, I think must be the biggest area in the game I've seen so far. There are even some of those massive pigs down here!

[KSubzero1000]

Yes, that area is pretty big. It also has a few well-hidden items and several shortcuts. Maybe even a... secret path? Glad to hear you're making progress, keep at it!

[Alex79]

Oh yeah I did find a secret path which led to a very familiar place!

[KSubzero1000]

Ooh, that's interesting! Did you find anything there that piqued your interest?

[Alex79]

Ooh, that's interesting! Did you find anything there that piqued your interest?

Yes...

Spoiler: show

...an invitation to the castle!

But, oh no....!!

Spoiler: show

I ended up killing Iosefka. I didn't want to. She attacked me, so I ended up defending myself and now she's dead. I didn't really care until I peeped at a guide earlier to make sure I'd not missed any areas so far, and it said if I killed her now I can't get an important item I need later. A umbilical cord or something? Damn it

Oh well. It's done now. Currently bashing my head against the Shadow Of Yharnam. I'm so close, so close......!!

[KSubzero1000]

That's okay, don't worry!

Spoiler: show

You only need three of these items in order to access a particular ending, and there are actually four in the entire game! So you could still access it if you find the other three. Not that I would necessarily recommend doing it on purpose on your first playthrough. All of the endings are interesting in their own right, and it is a bit of a hidden content for a reason. So no need to panic!

And be sure to follow up on that invitation!

[Todinho]

But, oh no....!!

Spoiler: show

I ended up killing Iosefka. I didn't want to. She attacked me, so I ended up defending myself and now she's dead. I didn't really care until I peeped at a guide earlier to make sure I'd not missed any areas so far, and it said if I killed her now I can't get an important item I need later. A umbilical cord or something? Damn it

Meh dont worry about it there are other ways to get those

[Alex79]

The Shadow Of Yharnam boss was annoying me, so I decided to grind a couple of hundred thousand bloods to level up a bit. I made myself a little game of seeing how quick I could totally clear out areas of enemies. Anyway, I was cruising around in Old Yharnam, kicking ass, when my girlfriend came downstairs and sat on the sofa. After about five minutes she said, "Is this all you do in all your games? Just run around derelict buildings killing people?" I said, "No! Not all my games are like this" and she said that's all she ever sees me do. I said that's because I'm only playing this game at the moment. She said "for three years!?" Then I realised she was talking about Dark Souls as well, and I explained they're completely different games but made by the same people. She finished with "Well they're all stupid then. All you do is kill monsters".

I gave up on her after that.

[KSubzero1000]

Well, that's certainly not helping with the stereotypes!

On a more serious note, video games are easily one of the more insular media out there. And by that I mean that you are either in or out. You either "get" it or you don't, with very little room in-between. So it's really not surprising to see so many people from outside of the bubble being puzzled by their popularity and the enthusiasm they can create. On the other hand, it'd be nice if it wasn't so often accompanied by dismissal and condescension, but what can you do.

Good luck with the boss, btw. You can do it!

[Chopper]

The Shadow Of Yharnam boss was annoying me, so I decided to grind a couple of hundred thousand bloods to level up a bit. I made myself a little game of seeing how quick I could totally clear out areas of enemies. Anyway, I was cruising around in Old Yharnam, kicking ass, when my girlfriend came downstairs and sat on the sofa. After about five minutes she said, "Is this all you do in all your games? Just run around derelict buildings killing people?" I said, "No! Not all my games are like this" and she said that's all she ever sees me do. I said that's because I'm only playing this game at the moment. She said "for three years!?" Then I realised she was talking about Dark Souls as well, and I explained they're completely different games but made by the same people. She finished with "Well they're all stupid then. All you do is kill monsters".

This is a great post.

She's not wrong, in fairness

[Alex79]

I was out grinding bloods in the Cathedral Ward this evening, when all of a sudden...

Spoiler: show

...an unseen force picked me up and dropped me in some hidden area. There were lecture theatres and weird enemies. After that I came out in an awful Nightmarish world, where I explored a bit but it wasn't a very fun place to be. I kept getting messages about a sinister bell and could hear an eerie ringing throughout the level. I managed to kill two enemy hunters though, but had over 150k blood by then, so warped back to the Hunters Dream, where I levelled up a bit and then went and did this...

Onwards! (Or should I take up that invite first?)

[Todinho]

Up to you really,for hard progression though you should probably keep going after the Shadows of Yharnam

[Alex79]

Hmm well I visited the castle and..... well, I think I'll leave that for a while! Currently getting my ass kicked by Rom elsewhere. Cowardly little shit, why can't he just stand and fight!