Sure is. Fantastic weapon, probably my favourite from the DLC. Ended up using it as my alternative to LHB. Ludwig's for large enemies/bosses, beast cutter for smaller/quicker enemies. Made the chalice dungeons pretty easy generally speaking.
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The start of Bloodborne and how it's freaking awful
- Thread starter Wamb0wneD
- Start date
Sure is. Fantastic weapon, probably my favourite from the DLC. Ended up using it as my alternative to LHB. Ludwig's for large enemies/bosses, beast cutter for smaller/quicker enemies. Made the chalice dungeons pretty easy generally speaking.
One of the biggest complaints I see about the series is that once you know how to fight a boss, it becomes more or less a war of patience.
Which is fair. As in, if the AI could just read your button prompts and react immediately or just behave in ways that go against what the player and most enemies are capable of (I recall people saying how in DS2, invader NPC's could actually dodge mid-air... which you can't), it would be questionable whether the game is being fair. Generally, the bosses in Souls (except maybe DS2) aren't 2D arcade fighter bosses.
Souls is about learning and executing. That's really it. If later games in the series do somehow pull off more complex AI (like they're able to compensate for different player attack types- sword and board, two-hand, caster, defensive vs. offensive, etc.) that admittedly would be cool.
Toni
Member
This sounds scary but also pretty cool. Just a 'simple' adjustment that reads your equipped weapon/s and adjusts its moves accordingly, I'd be down with that.
Fume Knight having a random-ish slight delay in his attacks really fucked me over during that fight, something so small made things so complicated for me. Though I also think playing a 2H build with zero extra points in ADP didn't help.
That would bring me back in for sure.
GHG
Gold Member
As mentioned, there is the Beast Cutter. I like it a lot. It is not a starter weapon though.
It feels nice and weighty.
I should go back to playing this game. The weapons are next level.
Triggerhappytel
Member
Bloodporne
Member
DLC is fucking stellar, you definitely should. Tough as nails though but rounds out the base game like I've rarely seen for DLC content.
Soul of the Beast
Member
The DLC is a fucking masterpiece, even better than the main game in my opinion. Incredible story, characters, atmosphere, level design, boss design and art style.
Watch this trailer if you haven't already, the music and editing is top tier.
Holy shit the DLC is good, I bought it twice on my two copies of the game (one Taiwanese one Japanese version.) HOLY SHIT It is good.
texhnolyze
Banned
How do I access the DLC area? And when's the right time to tackle it?
The last time I played Bloodborne, I've just reached the point where
the moon turned red.
I didn't like the final boss of the DLC. Didn't find it fun. The rest were pretty damn good though.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Pretty much every action oriented game is about learning and executing. Zelda bosses are, Platinum bosses are, Housemarque bosses are; it seems a bit weird to single out the Soulsborne games. The whole idea is that it's tough at first but by learning and perseverance you can overcome.
How many action games have AI bosses that adapt to players? I can't think of a single one.
Bloodporne
Member
Without looking it up again, I'm pretty sure you receive an item in the Hunter's Dream whose description alludes to what you need to do.
I think you're in a good spot to dive in, but prepare to get your ass kicked. DLC can be brutal and the first boss might be the biggest asshole in all of Souls-dom.
Was wondering the same thing, it seems like a really bizarre complaint when that's how video games in general work.
While it's not bosses, Demon's Souls has the Old Monk boss, which is a summoned player. That boss definitely adapts to the player.
Kinda cheating though...considering it's just PVP.
Soul of the Beast
Member
I recommend NOT enter the DLC before you reach level 75 (plus-minus 10 depends on your skill level). It is also better that your main weapon is at least +6 or beyond.
As for how to access it, first you will pick up an item called ''Eye of a Blood-drunk Hunter'' at the stairs in Hunter's Dream, this item will only appear after you beat Amelia and touched the skull on the altar in the Grand Cathedral. Once you got the item then select ''Cathedral Ward'' lamp and travel there from Hunter's Dream, once you get there turn left and head outside.
Go to the corpse near a tree (you most likely picked up a set of attire from that corpse at one point), a lesser Amygdala (big spider monster on the wall) will pick you up and boom, cutscene.
My English isn't very good, this is the best I can do, hope you understand what I am saying. Sorry.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Yeah, that's the thing. If you want that kind of experience, the game has PvP as an option.
Jimnymebob
Member
You access it from
After beating Amelia, you go through the door on the left of Oedon Chapel. When you're outside,
there's a tree and some tombstones on your right. Stand by those, and wait. To get back to the DLC when your return to Hunter's Dream, the tombstone to return to the DLC areas is up on the hill near the insight shop.
there's a tree and some tombstones on your right. Stand by those, and wait. To get back to the DLC when your return to Hunter's Dream, the tombstone to return to the DLC areas is up on the hill near the insight shop.
The best time to tackle it is just before you fight the last boss, as the DLC is noticeably harder than the rest of the game, and I'd recommend being around level 100+ to beat it.
It should be easy to tell when you're at the last boss, but if it's not, once you reach and beat the boss with the initials
M W N
texhnolyze
Banned
Right, thanks for the insights guys.
Maybe I'll go back to Bloodborne after I'm done with DSIII. It seems that I'm close to the ending.
Maybe I'll go back to Bloodborne after I'm done with DSIII. It seems that I'm close to the ending.
Jimnymebob
Member
If you left it as soon as
the non turned red
Rolling and manual camera control is generally better for most of the huge bosses as locking on can make it hard to see what is happening. Depends on the enemy whether rolling or quickstep dodges are better.
Bloodporne
Member
The right time is as soon as possible, but only for suicide runs to get DLC weapons, some Blood Stone Chunks etc. The DLC wepoans are all really fun to use in the main game. At low level nearly all of the DLC enemies are all hard as nails and the route to the first boss is pretty rough too.
I would recommend playing the DLC proper when you have almost completed the main game, probably somewhere around the time you hit Nightmare of Mensis.
Jimnymebob
Member
Oh, congrats!
Slowly starting to get the hang of it, killed the first four bosses(I think the witch was optional though) and visited the forbidden city after dying to that scumbag close to the cathedral, by the way, how OP are they? They almost kill me with one hit and when they enrage they really do kill me with one hit lol...
On the bright side: I've lost 35k EXP by not reaching the point I died, because a stupid witch with her spear ran into me and threw me off a cliff, I have to say that was a not so great bloodborne moment...
On the bright side: I've lost 35k EXP by not reaching the point I died, because a stupid witch with her spear ran into me and threw me off a cliff, I have to say that was a not so great bloodborne moment...
Bloodporne
Member
And yeah, listen to the other posters over my suggestion actually, they're right. I did jump in around the red moon spot, but ended up nope-ing the fuck out to up myself another 10 levels or so up to 90 I believe after realizing how brutal it is.
By the way, if you didn't invest that much in your health bar, now's the time. It was the difference for me between getting almost OHKO'd by the first boss' every damn attack and well, not.
texhnolyze
Banned
Wait, are you saying that I should just restart from the beginning?
Well, maybe it's a good option as I messed up a couple of NPC quests and I didn't really like my dex build that much.
Jimnymebob
Member
The witch boss is good because running from the lantern there and back to the lantern near the bonfires back at the start of that area is probably the best spot for grinding until fairly later on in the game, as you get around 18,000 echoes per run, and a load of blood vials too.
No no no, don't start over. I'm just saying, you probably picked the worst place to stop playing lol.
Not counting the DLC, I'd say you're around 3/4s of the way through now. You're definitely in the last half of the game, and aside from the DLC, I got everything from that point done in a weekend.
Soul of the Beast
Member
Good job man! That's great to hear!
Summoning people (not sure about NPCs) actually give bosses a roughly 25-30% HP increase, just like in Dark Souls, so the Cleric Beast you killed probably had more health than usual. There's a reason why people said ''summoning is harder'', cause the NPC can die very early and left you fighting a boss with more health.
Also, you will see about ''overly agressive'' once you meet Gascoine. Have fun.
Bloodporne
Member
Nope, I meant listen to the other posters saying to wait until you're like level 90/100 and a bit further than where you're at instead of diving in and getting slammed against the wall repeatedly...especially if you're currently rusty you'll get hammered.
Good deal, it's all about practicing and getting used to the changes after being so conditioned by Souls combat. Honestly, Cleric Beast has one of the shittiest cameras boss fight wise, so if you can deal with that and juggle locking on and off depending on what the situation calls for, I think you're good to go.
After you beat Father G, go back to the first lantern and plow your way through the opening again with your new-found skills to see how much the game actually constantly challenges your skills.
I know we're a bit past the premise of the thread but I agree with the OP. Bloodborne's opening is rough as hell. The level design and encounter design is fine and all there to teach you valuable skills like running, parrying (that lone executioner in the back), and pulling enemies. That's great, but keeping you from leveling for as long as it does (on a blind first playthrough) is where I'll throw my lot in with the OP. In Dark Souls you level right after the comparatively easy Asylum, DS3 forces you to confront a boss but keeps a bonfire close enough that you can bang your head against it as much as you want with little downtime between attempts. Bloodborne requires you to escape the clinic, open the path to the first lantern, dodge the mob from hell, then either sneak around and get the Madman's Insight or navigate around the two giant werewolves, a pack of crows, and one of those giants that bash you with a rock to get to the first boss. Then, finally...you can level up.
The game is my favorite in the series (and man would I love a PC port running at 60 FPS) and it's almost entirely on the back of its combat but the opening is a giant fuck you to anyone without an exhaustive level of patience.
I've been meaning to get back to this since my blind playthrough missed a ton of stuff (including
) and starting from scratch knowing what weapon I want makes the process a bit more manageable. I want either
I managed to beat the game with the Threaded Cane so it'll be nice to try something bladed. Plus it'll give me an excuse to play the DLC.
The game is my favorite in the series (and man would I love a PC port running at 60 FPS) and it's almost entirely on the back of its combat but the opening is a giant fuck you to anyone without an exhaustive level of patience.
I've been meaning to get back to this since my blind playthrough missed a ton of stuff (including
Cainhurst castle
Eileen's weapons or the Chikage
Randy Monk
Member
I envy anyone going through bloodborne for the first time. I'll give my left testicle to be able to experience it again with new eyes.
The beginning is pretty hard and there's no tutorial or hand holding but it makes the journey so much more amazing when you overcome it and make it through the rest of the game.
It's my favourite game of all time, a true magnum opus from Miyazaki and FromSoftware
The beginning is pretty hard and there's no tutorial or hand holding but it makes the journey so much more amazing when you overcome it and make it through the rest of the game.
It's my favourite game of all time, a true magnum opus from Miyazaki and FromSoftware
Thebonehead
Banned
Oh ffs i played it all wrong.
All that frustration! The Ds4 almost ended embedded in my tv several times. I did get quite far in the end.
And to cap it all there was hidden armour on level 1!
I may go back and give it another shot.
Papo Swing
Member
How can you be good at Dark Souls, even boasting a NG+++ run but can't het through the initial section of Bloodborne? How can that be?
Bloodporne
Member
I had beaten Demon's Souls, Dark Souls and done Dark Souls NG+ prior to Bloodborne and I spent the first two/three hours getting crushed.
I had never once played without a shield so I was shaky, nervous as fuck and playing the same as Souls with a shield until I realized that's just absolutely not the way to go about it. Once I got pissed off enough to get really aggressive, it clicked.
Randy Monk
Member
I believe it. Bloodborne at the beginning is a different beast compared to Dark Souls where by the end you are OP and set in a certain play style.
The first few hours was frustrating as hell for me since I went in blind and it took me around 5 hours before I even got to Father G
Thanks haha.
Yeah i wasn't sure if they get health increased in BB as well. And yeah, not sure if I'm lookiing forward to fighting that guy or want to shit my pants already. xD
Will do, that's a good idea. Might take a while to beat him but eh, that's part of the fun. And the DS combat conditioning is a thing for sure.
Yeah the game teaches you most of it's mechanics well enough through the starting area but not knowing where or what a madmans knowledge even is (Even if i found and used it, nothing tells me I can level up now) and then having to run past all that stuff to face a boss is just obtuse.
Especially because you also don't know you'll get a lantern and the ability to level up after you beat it. Anyone going in there blind and getting owned a few times might as well go somewhere else and still won't be able to level up. It's obtuse and needlessly punishing design.
By not having my precious Dark Hand, Iaito, Sunlight Spears and Pursuers with me. Kinda threw me off.
And again, like written right above my answer towards you, BB's start just has a level to frustration to it design wise, particulary for first time players, that DS didn't have. Also maybe the fact I was smoking weed all the time while playing helped me through stuff like first time buffed Ornstein frustration wise.
That's me, except I need even longer than you.
Dirk Benedict
Gold Member
Getting baked and playing BB is a treat within a treat. I like you, OP. Keep us posted.
Freshmaker
I am Korean.
Bloodborne took me awhile to get started too.
But then Demon's Souls was pretty similar in that regard. I spent hours just dying on that first bridge. I eventually shelved it, and it only clicked when I came back to it several months later.
I guess I see what your saying but there are 3 other games that could give you that. I don't see why BB has to be like Demons, DS1, and DS2.
You would use them because you like them. And your not going to be pigeonholed because it just isn't as good as whatever other weapon your comparing it to. As long as you get the gems, it will do great damage for you.
Well I mean, yeah. And I don't see why having more possible build types would make it any more like the Souls games. It'd literally only mean more choices and better replayability. And that's really all I want from BB's hopefully upcoming sequel - better replayability.
It's a perfectly valid complaint, one you hopefully understand now. It's also something that bothers me, but doesn't bother you, which is perfectly fine.
Decided to take a detour to kill the BSB. Heading to the woods now.
suicide run to the beast cutter was something else. i beat the dlc with a 100+ character. running through the first area at <40 is lol. the hounds shrug my attacks off lol.
also grats on beating the cleric beast OP. if you need help with a boss, i'm sure some of us replaying the game can be summoned
suicide run to the beast cutter was something else. i beat the dlc with a 100+ character. running through the first area at <40 is lol. the hounds shrug my attacks off lol.
also grats on beating the cleric beast OP. if you need help with a boss, i'm sure some of us replaying the game can be summoned
I sincerely do not mean this in any kind of bragging way but I found the beginning bonfire segment fairly easy. Picking enemies off one or two at a time wasn't bad at all and I made it through on my first attempt. Even the part afterwards I managed to find the shortcut through the crates simply by poking around.
Maybe I was lucky?
Maybe I was lucky?
Melchiah
Member
That puts the original post in a new light. =D
Eventhough BB was my first proper Souls experience, I still knew a lantern would appear after the first boss fight. I don't remember how I knew it, perhaps I had seen or read about it somewhere? I imagine it should be even more obvious to someone who has previous experience from the games.
I reached the first boss before I found Madman's Knowledge on my first playthrough, but the item's effect should become obvious sooner than later. When you use it, get Insight, and eventually end up in the Hunter's Dream with the Doll awakened. That change should be a clear signal to check the Doll, whether you faced the boss or used the item.
My first experience was pretty much the same. I did die several times before clearing the bonfire area and finding the shortcut, but eventually I found it. Along the way the game teached me to proceed cautiously, avoiding combat with multiple enemies. I actually never went to the werewolf bridge from the other direction, and even learned on my own to cheese them by luring them to the doorway.
Shotgun Kiss
Member
I fucking adore Bloodborne, but I agree that the start is bad for new players. Requiring players to get an Insight point before they can level up was a bad design choice. It means people's first experience with the game is accumulating and losing a lot of blood echoes. This is especially bad for people who have not played a From Software game before. Playing your first From Software game is always rough, but when you die too often in the same section and don't even have any blood echoes to show for it, there's not really much sense of progression. I can see that turning off a lot of people, which in turn is going to turn them off to any future From Software games.
Bloodborne's beginning is extreme trial by fire, and I feel like a few concessions could have been made to make it a little more accessible without undermining it.
Bloodborne's beginning is extreme trial by fire, and I feel like a few concessions could have been made to make it a little more accessible without undermining it.
Melchiah
Member
I was a newcomer, and used all the Blood Echoes I had collected on stocking up supplies and buying the Yharnam Hunter set. So, they weren't wasted for me.
Morrigan Stark
Arrogant Smirk
Uh, yeah, I said as much. You initially said there were no tiers, no weapons better than others, but that's just not true. There are clearly weapons that are of superior tiers, it doesn't mean the other weapons aren't viable but there are still tiers.
ScaryShark
Banned
I tabled Bloodborne for almost 2 years because the initial section of that game was very hostile to me (who had never played much of a Souls game before). I think the first non-optional boss is at a minimum one of the three hardest in the game. There's a huge hurdle to clear initially before the game opens up but once you brute force your way through that beginning the game really opens up and is one of the most rewarding experiences I've ever had with games.
I'd really implore anyone that is struggling with the opening to stick with it. Dying isn't the punishment I originally thought it was as a newcomer to the series. Once you get that in your head, the game becomes a lot more palatable.
I'd really implore anyone that is struggling with the opening to stick with it. Dying isn't the punishment I originally thought it was as a newcomer to the series. Once you get that in your head, the game becomes a lot more palatable.
Just_myles
Member
OP you should be running a lot more and grabbing loot that can help you. Especially in the beginning. Remember this is not DS so emphasis is on offensive maneuvering.
I've finished the game after roughly 40 hours, it's too bad it didn't warn me before
as this ended my run and I wanted to check out some of the chalice dungeons I haven't finished yet. Now I am in my NG+ without getting asked if I want to and not really motivated to play the whole stuff again, it's almost as bad as losing my whole save...
On the bright side: The Ending I've gotten was one only 13% of all Bloodborne owners have gotten, I guess because they go for this ending the second run around. But honestly I felt like it was the right choice, I had earned my rest.
talking to Gehrman
On the bright side: The Ending I've gotten was one only 13% of all Bloodborne owners have gotten, I guess because they go for this ending the second run around. But honestly I felt like it was the right choice, I had earned my rest.