Preface Bloodborne, with few exceptions, focuses more on its web of factions than its characters. But given the writing style of Director Hidetaka Miyazaki, these factions in many respects are this game’s characters. There is perhaps no fictional institution better embodying the corruption, elitism, and dehumanization in modern medicine than the Healing Church. Presenting themselves […]
Preface A common sentiment is that the DLC is the best part of Dark Souls II, and I am inclined to agree. That might be a low bar compared to Dark Souls (DS1) and Dark Souls III, (DS3) but it shows what the developers at FromSoftware could do with the added time to polish the […]
Preface Perhaps the one thing about H.P. Lovecraft known more than his horror is his xenophobia. The man’s fear of the unknown in fiction reflected his same feeling with people in his personal life, particularly foreigners. But despite the discomfort that fact might inspire, Bloodborne‘s director Hidetaka Miyazaki doesn’t shirk away from this element of […]
Preface If I had to pick the roughest area of Bloodborne‘s worldbuilding, it would have to be the Executioners. Now, there are many parts of the game which lack narrative polish, at least on the environmental side, and this covenant is hardly far below the standard. On the whole, they are fairly well-integrated into the […]
Preface I hold an unabashed love for Dark Souls III. (DS3) Whereas Dark Souls II (DS2) threw out its old setting in a vain attempt at a soft reboot, DS3 wholeheartedly embraces it, building upon the world and plot threads from the original Dark Souls (DS1) to weave something new. From a storytelling angle, a […]
Preface Although Castle Cainhurst isn’t as expansive as I would have liked, the story behind it is still probably my favorite in Bloodborne. Gothic, medieval, evil, aristocracy, vampires; what is there not to love? It is one of the few areas which stays true to the horror inspiration the game initially presents while also seamlessly […]
Preface My general impression has been that encountering Willem ranges from confusion to disappointment. Here we get to meet a character so integral to the game’s events, yet the moment of truth proves anticlimactic. It doesn’t help that our time in Byrgenwerth is equally short and uneventful. In that respect, I consider myself in harmony […]
Preface I have previously mentioned my reservations about Dark Souls II‘s main plot, and the Dragon Shrine is very much an extension of that. The area itself is somewhat iconic, essentially an island in the sky with a swarm of fearsome lizard that could swoop down and nab you at any given moment. It certainly […]
Preface When it comes to factions in Bloodborne, the Choir might be considered the most underutilized. Compared to the School of Mensis, they certainly don’t play as up front a role in the game’s plot. That said, I would argue that their presence is felt even in their absence. Indeed, anonymity is part of the […]
Preface When I first shared this analysis, I was taken aback by its popularity, especially as my first public foray into Bloodborne. However, in retrospect, I can understand the interest. The Forbidden Woods is an area with little exposition but plenty of detail, exemplifying the game’s ability to interweave multiple stories from different areas at […]
Lokey Lore 