If there’s one game from the last few years that deserves a sequel, it’sBloodborne.Itwasn’t too great a departure from FromSoftware’s experiences, offering a fantastical and very challenging action RPG in the style ofFromSoftware' s genre-birthingDark Souls.Even compared to other Soulslikes, from FromSoftware or otherwise,Bloodbornemanages to stand out.
However, even though it can be comfortably interpreted as aDark Soulsspin-off,Bloodbornestands tall in its own rights and is worthy of a sequel. FromSoftware doesn’t seem strongly inclined toward non-Dark Soulssequels at the moment, having mentioned it didn’t want to make any more sequels a few years ago. For its own sake and for the sake ofBloodborne’s potential, that pattern is worth reconsidering.
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FromSoftware’s Family Tree
In recent history, FromSoftware has been more inclined to make new games in new settings than carrying on with its established properties.Dark Soulsmay have had a few entries between 2014 and 2016, but aside from that, it’s opted to focus on some new games rather than making sequels.Bloodbornewas such a hitthat a sequel seemed like the only logical path. Instead, FromSoftware releasedSekiro: Shadows Die Twice.Now it’s working onElden Ring,yet another new product.Sekirowas also a hit, and there’s a lot of optimism aroundElden Ring,but there’s something lost when FromSoftware hops around like this.
FromSoftware seems to be starting to grow many new branches on its family tree of games. However, it isn’t letting the branches grow very long so far. It loses out on a lot of potential when every time it makes a new setting it leaves it behind after one game. It puts a lot of work into its stories and settings, which shows in places likeBloodborne’s eldritch Gothic themes, and Using these richly built sets of lore only once seems wasteful.Bloodborne 2wouldn’t just be aboutmaking another Soulslike game; it would be about achieving the setting’s full potential.
Bloodborne 2: Fertile Ground
Bloodborneoffers an RPG experience that there really isn’t any comparing to,besides FromSoftware’s other work. It’s a unique blend of literary horror and Central European sources of inspiration, filled with twisted and iconic monsters that culminate in the studio’s signature high difficulty. Aside from the value of the setting, the core gameplay is worth revisiting too. When it came out,Bloodbornewas praised as a faster-paced alternative for the more methodicalDark Souls.Exploration also matters. Yharnam doesn’t just benefit from being well-designed, but exploring the interconnected city makes lore-loving players hungry to revisit it or see someplace similar.
Ultimately, the issue isn’t at all that fans need to be convinced to revisitBloodborne.The game was well loved, and many players are likely looking forward to replaying it on the PS5. It’s FromSoftware that needs to decide whether it wants to return to this five year old game. Everything seems to point towardBloodborne 2being a good decision—the fans are eager, the setting is skillfully crafted, and the gameplay itself remains a display of the studio’s mastery. It’s alright if FromSoftware wants to experiment with new narratives and set up more great games likeSekiro, but it just needs to remember that it’s already sitting on a really valuable property.
Bloodborneis available now on PS4.
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