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[Nino]

Only 1 merchant found in 40 hours of play? They definitely missed some stuff.

What makes you say that?

 

[Logash]

Looking forward to this game in a couple of weeks.

 

[Red Liquorice]

He must love all the PVP trolls, then, haha.

Ha! I picked up on that too, it seemed like he must've been talking about Parish twinks etc.

 

[aravuus]

My god....

Goddamn

I can only get so hyped

 

[BlackBuzzard]

So what is the official review embargo date?

 

[ced]

Merchant sells a clip-on lantern (hello Demon's Souls augite).

More importantly they mention that in some areas you have to have it, which is awesome.

 

[thewhitehawk]

At this point, with Souls type games, Miyazaki has a carte-blanche to get money from me. One of the very few directors that does.

 

[Bunta]

"There'll certainly be no repeat of the widespread disappointment at the way FromSoftware failed to fulfill its prerelease promises about Dark Souls II, whose world was much brighter than early footage suggested."

 

[Newtype-001]

There's certainly a few things I'm hesitant about in the verdict but I'm glad I've read it. It's reeled in my expectations for seeing more parallels between the Souls games than there actually is. It's going to be important to view this as an entirely separate IP as the verdict has told me that a lot of my favourite things about the Souls games are gone.

ALOT of people need to realise this.

 

[badb0y]

PS4 purchase motherfucking justified.

Thank you Based Miyazaki.

 

[hey_it's_that_dog]

Spoiler

weapon customization seems to be a bigger deal than past games? with bloodgems you can increase physical attack, add poison, increases damage against a certain type of enemies etc

Spoiler

seems like the hidden feature (probably beast mode) is connected to the multiplayer part of the game?

It would be helpful if you included a brief note about the subject/content of your spoilers.

 

[Servbot24]

I love Edge, I love the way they write, I love the artistry of their covers...But they gave Dark Souls 2 a 9/10.

I need to hear it from someone else other than the publication that deemed Dark Souls the game of the generation.

Still though, hearing that "Bloodborne's world is a masterpiece" certainly brings a smile to my face.

DSII absolutely deserves a 9/10.

Actually it's a 8.9. Its biggest flaw is that it has to compete against a 9.7 game.

 

[JudgmentJay]

So what is the official review embargo date?

Monday the 16th supposedly.

 

[Qvoth]

miyazaki quote "What is deep inside of a beast? or What it is like to become one?"
nudgenudgewinkwink :^)

 

[DrROBschiz]

miyazaki quote "What is deep inside of a beast? or What it is like to become one?"
nudgenudgewinkwink :^)

Worst Kept secret lol

 

[140.85]

I love Edge, I love the way they write, I love the artistry of their covers...But they gave Dark Souls 2 a 9/10.

And? Since when is DS2 a shit game?

 

[WITHE1982]

Long, long list of awesomeness

I think I did a little sex wee.

 

[bananafactory]

Monday the 16th supposedly.

8 days before release? Wow.

 

[Neoweee]

Monday the 16th supposedly.

But Chalice Dungeons are coming in the launch day patch, so I suspect many sites will be holding off, which is seemingly becoming more common given the many failures of 2013 and 2014.

And? Since when is DS2 a shit game?

Since the ridiculous hyperbole train gained more and more steam over the last 12 months. It's a corridor game that is super easy with nothing but armored humanoid bosses...

... but were issues that basically none of the reviews (and especially not Edge) complained about at launch.

 

[Jac_Solar]

That's what the previews made me think -- that there aren't many weapons, or armor. Infact, have they shown any type of armor in the previews? I think there's only been the outfit you start out with -- are there any different types of armors? If not, will upgrading even be a big focus in this game? Upgrading, and finding better armor and combinations of items was one of the most enjoyable aspects of Dark Souls and Demon Souls.

 

[DoubleTake]

What makes you say that?

In all of the souls games there have been more than 1 merchant tucked away throughout levels. I suppose there is a chance From is really streamlining this aspect to lessen backtracking and such but I dont see how theres only 1 through the majority of the game.

Either way, if true, not anywhere near a deal breaker for me. I cant wait to experience the secret online component.

 

[jaaz]

"Gone is the dark fantasy, the faded crumbled majesty of the Souls series. Bloodborne is filthy, grisly, and very, very scary. It's a horror game."

SHIT

This is no surprise to me. I've always considered Demons Souls to be a horror game at heart. Sounds like Bloodborne will be a whole lot of Tower of Latria levels put together. I'm sure they'll thrown in some moments of respite to catch your breath that will make you cry. I simply cannot wait for this game.

 

[Elandyll]

I have decided to keep my CE order in.

The game might destroy me and frustrate me, but I think I'll still enjoy the ride

 

[SargerusBR]

I love Edge, I love the way they write, I love the artistry of their covers...But they gave Dark Souls 2 a 9/10.

DS2 is a 9/10 game though.

 

[Kwansu Dudes]

The info in the OP is confusing, but I look forward to the not-review-but-it-is-a-review review tomorrow.

 

[jmaine_ph]

• Playthrough did not involve Chalice Dungeon or multiplayer.
• This is not an official review/no score, despite the cover of the game saying "THE VERDICT"
• "Bloodborne is Hidetaka Miyazaki's brutal riposte to the section of his playerbase that thinks it has seen it all before."
• Merchant sells a clip-on lantern (hello Demon's Souls augite).
• "Yharnam spends the game in the grip of a perpetual night...that can only be brought to an end by the player finding and finishing off the source of the scourge of beasts." (this could be referring short term like...defeat a major boss, get some daytime, or overall, I guess)
• Description on the first shield they found: Shields are nice, but not if they engender passivity.
• Some enemies in the game can use spells
• Confirmed Bloodtinge stat governs bullet damage
• Transforming strikes and their follow-up attacks give you a way of reaching enemies that in other Souls games might be out of reach because they were pushed back by your earlier attacks - they say stamina management is a more diverse process in Bloodborne than in the earlier games
• Clothes found in the world or from a merchant whose catalog expands when you defeat bosses
• Bloodstone shards = titanite, coldblood = portable souls, most common items are blood vials (healing) and quicksilver bullets, but stocks can grow low later in the game
• Surplus items are automatically sent to a storage box, and if you die your items are replenished from the box automatically
• They say your starting stats are dictated by the trick weapon you choose, which runs counter to the origins shown in the character creator...
• Only found 6 or so weapons and 6 or so guns in 40 hours
• Very few chests, almost all have something good inside
• Enemies only drop upgrade mats and items
• Bloodgems are an upgrade item that allows you to change the attributes of a weapon, ex. increasing physical attack power, adding poison damage, or increasing scaling - all the weapons in the game are customizable with bloodgems
• Did not beat the game but they feel like it is less replayable than its predecessors (this does not count the Chalice Dungeon or multiplayer components)
• You can keep up to 5 dungeon configurations in your Chalice Dungeon stock
• Lantern checkpoints are not "overabundant" like the bonfires of Dark Souls II, you open shortcuts rather than getting new bonfires (ala Demon's Souls), interconnectivity approaches Firelink Shrine type numbers of access and departure points in a few places
• "Discrete areas flow together to create a believable world" - separating the hub from the main gameworld allows the world itself to be more coherent
• They say in Souls you are frequently scared of dying, but in Bloodborne you are also scared of what is coming to kill you - "There is a moment in Dark Souls that we will never forget: down in the Depths, picking up an item from a corpse and a slime dropping onto our head. We spent the rest of the level panning the camera endlessly for unseen threats, no longer scared of dying, but of moving. Imagine a whole game of that." - For this reason they think taking the replayability factor to CD makes more sense.
• Torch may be very important for newcomers/first playthroughs
• There is a new mechanic they are not allowed to discuss
• "If you thought From Software was going soft, Hidetaka Miyazaki is about to put you brutally back in your place. And if you've been watching this generation from the sidelines, unmoved by the remasters and rush jobs while you wait for the first true essential to arrive, now's the time. As if there was ever any doubt, Miyazaki and his team have done it all over again."

There's a Q&A about Miyazaki's ideas and philosophy regarding the game at the end.

Sweet Baby Jesus!

 

[JudgmentJay]

That's what the previews made me think -- that there aren't many weapons, or armor. Infact, have they shown any type of armor in the previews? I think there's only been the outfit you start out with -- are there any different types of armors? If not, will upgrading even be a big focus in this game? Upgrading, and finding better armor and combinations of items was one of the most enjoyable aspects of Dark Souls and Demon Souls.

We've seen 5 or 6 armor sets though various media. Unless you're talking about armor armor, in which case no, we've seen nothing like plate or mail.

 

[ultratruman]

As if there was ever any doubt, Miyazaki and his team have done it all over again

They've made a videogame!

 

[Newtype-001]

• They say in Souls you are frequently scared of dying, but in Bloodborne you are also scared of what is coming to kill you.

• 
  
  i love this so much

 

[takriel]

"We're sorry to announce that it will take us just a bit more time to truly create the masterpiece fans expect Bloodborne to be. Please look forward to this game in late 2015!"

 

[Vire]

And? Since when is DS2 a shit game?

Where did I say it was shit? But
in no universe is Dark Souls 2 a 9.

At least not even close in my book.

 

[djplaeskool]

"There is a moment in Dark Souls that we will never forget: down in the Depths, picking up an item from a corpse and a slime dropping onto our head. We spent the rest of the level panning the camera endlessly for unseen threats, no longer scared of dying, but of moving. Imagine a whole game of that."

Oh man...
Clench time.

 

[FATALITY]

And? Since when is DS2 a shit game?

its vire master of hyperbole

 

[viveks86]

OMG! Someone just posted scans on my timeline! Sounds incredible!

 

[Schryver]

This game will take me 100 hours to beat lol. I took over 40 in Dark Souls and that was after finding the Gravelord sword and wrecking fools the last 10-15 hours

 

[Mupod]

If I was playing any game but Monster Hunter right now this wait would be unbearable.

 

[Dwight Schrute]

Only found 6 or so weapons and 6 or so guns in 40 hours

I nown weapons are supposed to be mor einterresting this time, but

 

[Navy Bean]

I love Demon's and Dark Souls but don't like horror games so I hope they don't go to far with the "horror" aspect. Trudging through endless dark sections is not fun to me which is why I loved the level variety of the past Souls games. That said, game sounds amazing, even if I don't usually put much stock in these exclusive reviews.

 

[NAPK1NS]

Hm, curious to hear why they found it less replayable. I mean, it's not like there are cutscenes or or QTEs to mar the gameplay.

 

[Kenzodielocke]

I just want that Great Sword. Nothing more.

 

[Fhtagn]

Couple of questions from the Miyazaki interview:

I don't get frustrated by any approach, except when someone is clearly trying to annoy others.

I love this man.

 

[140.85]

Where did I say it was shit?

Sorry, didn't mean to put words in your mouth. Just think that 9 isn't that unreasonable.

 

[Wereroku]

Hm, curious to hear why they found it less replayable. I mean, it's not like there are cutscenes or or QTEs to mar the gameplay.

They think repeated playthroughs hurt the atmosphere it sounds like. However since they haven't actually beaten the game they don't know what ng+ is going to be like if they still have it.

They said why... lack of weapons compared to the Souls games.

Ohhh I thought it was the loss of the tense moments they loved. Yeah the low weapon count might make it less fun to replay but maybe more open up as you beat it plus there could be some unique ones in the chalice dungeon. It really sounds like they are encouraging people to choose a weapon they like and customize it to a unique state.

 

[JudgmentJay]

Hm, curious to hear why they found it less replayable. I mean, it's not like there are cutscenes or or QTEs to mar the gameplay.

They said why... lack of weapons compared to the Souls games.

 

[robotzombie]

They've made a videogame!

if that's the case i wish other people would finally start making video games

 

[140.85]

Hm, curious to hear why they found it less replayable. I mean, it's not like there are cutscenes or or QTEs to mar the gameplay.

I'm unclear on how they can definitively comment on replayability if they haven't finished yet. And I highly doubt that they found all the secrets in a single playthrough.

 

[Fhtagn]

Hm, curious to hear why they found it less replayable. I mean, it's not like there are cutscenes or or QTEs to mar the gameplay.

Since they haven't even finished the first playthrough, it feels like the necessary "we have to have something negative to say, somehow, in an article that otherwise gushes about its brilliance."

I'm not saying they aren't actually worried about it, it's just something unknowable yet, especially since they don't know what NG+ is like, and they haven't had a chance to figure out if a guns only run is viable.

 

[NAPK1NS]

They said why... lack of weapons compared to the Souls games.

Aw, dang. Maybe they will goad a NG+ with new items but we'll see.

 

[robotzombie]

I just want that Great Sword. Nothing more.

wow, do we have any information on that sword?

 

[DoubleTake]

Since they haven't even finished the first playthrough, it feels like the necessary "we have to have something negative to say, somehow, in an article that otherwise gushes about its brilliance."

I'm not saying they aren't actually worried about it, it's just something unknowable yet, especially since they don't know what NG+ is like, and they haven't had a chance to figure out if a guns only run is viable.

Since guns scale off of the Bloodtinge stat it could be very viable. Also consumables/gadgets only runs since those scale off of the arcane stat.