BrunoZibordi

PROS: -fun gameplay -great characters(although many are Awakening's characters refurbished). -great interactions(as expected in a Fire Emblem game). -great but few cinematics. -visual improvements from Awakening battle system. -amazing level design. Every map is unique and offers a new challenge. -strategic to the extreme. In hard mode, 1 bad move usually represents the death of a character, or a reward missed. CONS: -strategic to the extreme. In hard mode, 1 bad move usually represents the death of a character, or a reward missed. -overly simplistic storyline, full of deus ex machina and childish resolutions. -characters are in many ways copies of Awakening's children. Many are direct copies, like Odin x Owain. -characters are too archetypical, one-dimensional. The main villain is kinda ridiculous, sometimes being bad for the sake of being bad. -Unbalanced difficulty. You're aways outnumbered by large, under leveled, poor, can't afford weapons, can't afford basic health itens, can't find money enough, die in battle with 1 single mistake, and sometimes around round 20! Damn, they could at least let you grind without having to pay for a dlc... -"My Castle" mechanics are repetitive in a Farmiville way, after some time you basically ignore the castle and just play the chapters/paralogues.

This was my first souls game, and also the first game I got a platinum trophy. It really hold my attention for months, with it's brilliant level design, magnificent orchestrated soundtrack, fast-paced gameplay and beautiful art direction. I never wanted to play a souls game because I'm not a defensive shield and sword type of player, and Boodborne brings the opposite of that, as it rewards you when you play fast and aggressive, and gets you killed when you get too defensive. Most players will need some time to adapt as it has a very specific concept of gameplay, with no mini-map, few checkpoints, and the way you are most of the time totally clueless about what is going on, combined with it's hardcore battle system in which a simple mistake can and will get you killed. But the difficulty works in a way that every progression feels like a real achievement. It's challenging, but not over-challenging in a boring "can't progress in the story" way. Another great point for me was the aesthetics chosen, pretty much different from the medieval design of Dark Souls. Bloodborne's visual concept draws influence from Victorian Age gothic horror, and HP Lovecraft's cosmic horror. The game feels a lot like a nightmare, with its city of dark alleys and impossible architecture. Most of the time you don't know where the enemies are hiding and it compels you to pay attention to the environment which is great because the art direction is really beautiful and the level design is made in a way you easily memorize your path through the areas. Definitely a must have if you're into this specific kind of game, which will not please everyone. The DLC "The Old Hunters" is amazing, and brings a lot to the game in therms of possibilities, lore and challenge.