Since its release back in 2015, *Bloodborne *has become something of a cultural phenomenon. Published as a standalone title from FromSoftware, who had previously been best known for the Dark Souls trilogy, *Bloodborne *took the player to a Gothic, Victorian-era-inspired city called Yharnam where a deadly blood curse turns its inhabitants into crazed creatures. By taking on the role of the Hunter, you would be tasked with getting to the source of the plague whilst fighting beasts and the occasional cosmic entity.
Over the past decade, *Bloodborne *has cemented itself as one of the best video games of all time, with fans regularly returning to the familiar streets of Yharnam to this day. As such, its community hosts an annual ‘Return to Yharnam’ event which sees fans team-up in- game, discuss its intricate lore, and most importantly, celebrate the masterpiece that it is. Although this year’s Return to Yharnam event has come and gone, it just goes to show the cultural impact that *Bloodborne *has had that players still return to the game over a decade on.
For me, *Bloodborne *remains one of my favorite games of all time. Not only does it offer the punishing combat that FromSoftware is best known for, but it is a deep dive into feminity and monstrous womanhood. It covers the agony of unwanted pregnancy, bodily autonomy, menstruation symbolism, and the connection that women have always had to the cosmic entities of folklore. As a loud and proud feminist, *Bloodborne *offers so much more than your typical action RPG, instead focusing its very core on symbolism and metaphor. Of course, it is also known for its punishing combat and features some of the most iconic boss fights in FromSoftware history. From Vicar Amelia to Ludwig, The Holy Blade, each fight is mixed with a deafening soundtrack, visceral graphics, and dark undertones. Each character you meet has a haunting background, from Lady Maria’s regrets to The Doll’s cursed creation. The world itself is soaked in blood and cosmic entities that stalk your every move, even when you cannot see them, and locations such as the Fishing Hamlet weigh your feet down with its heavy history. It all culminates with the meeting of the Pthumerian Queen, dressed in white but stained with red as a baby’s cries echo around the arena. Put simply, *Bloodborne *is a masterpiece, and its story is far from over.
Despite fans pleading for a remake, remaster, or simply a PC port in recent years and FromSoftware reportedly being on board, it seems as though it is Sony that is dragging its feet, preferring to keep *Bloodborne *as a PlayStation exclusive. However, with the news that an animated *Bloodborne *movie is now in production, a revival could be on the horizon, with many hoping that this will finally give us the re-release that we have all been waiting for. For now, however, we must wait, but remember that the streets of Yharnam are forever waiting for our return.
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M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence