FromSoftware's games like Bloodborne have some incredible replay value, however, there are still some harsh realities when replaying the game. While this gothic horror action game is a fantastic successor to Dark Souls, there are a fair share of realizations that come when replaying it. Whether it's trying to barrel through the game more quickly and noticing how poor fast travel is or realizing simply how easy the game is.
There's quite a bit of content in a single game of Bloodborne but playing a second time is going to make certain issues more recognizable. The gameplay is addicting and satisfying, but there is a lack of variety among weapons and armor. While the base game itself is incredibly iconic, it does pale in comparison to the DLC content which helped Bloodborne become one of the top-ranked Soulsborne games.
10 Defeating The Final Boss A Second Time Isn't Worth It
There are a couple of different options as to who the final boss can be in Bloodborne, but there isn't much point to defeat the final boss unless players are striving for 100% trophy completion. Even then, it's best to hold off on fighting them until the player does all the side content.
The biggest issue with this is that the game automatically throws players into NG+ when they complete the game. This is incredibly frustrating because it doesn't allow the player to finish any side content they wanted and there is no in-game warning about it. Chalice Dungeons will reset entirely too and players will spend hours in these trying to complete them. Because of this, defeating the final boss, which can end up being one of FromSoftware's scariest bosses, and completing the game a second time just isn't worth it.
9 Farming For Blood Vials And Silver Bullets Is Tedious
Blood Vials and Silver Bullets do not replenish when a player rests at a Lamp. They have to either pick these items up from fallen enemies or purchase some back at the Hunter's Dream.
While this isn't a massive issue when traveling through the game normally and fighting enemies, it can be an issue when struggling with a boss. Players are bound to use up the vials and bullets they need in a single boss fight and if there aren't enough in their inventory when they come back to life, then they'll have to go out and look for some more. Players might as well use the time to gather Blood Echoes to level up too so that they don't lose all the ones they gained when they go attempt the boss again in this game, set in a Victorian era-like setting.
8 Lamps Aren't Close To Bosses
Bloodborne is infamous for the long runs from Lamp to boss in the game. For easy bosses, this isn't too big a problem, but there are some tough bosses. Especially for players who aren't as good at the game.
While Father Gascoigne is a tough boss on the first playthrough, players shouldn't struggle as much with him on their second time and the trek in Central Yharnam shouldn't be as bad. However, the Forbidden Woods easily as the worst distance to a boss in any game. The enemies sprawled throughout the woods also aren't easy to avoid at all and make the boss group, Shadow of Yharnam--who look like the Nazgûl from The Lord of the Rings, at the end more challenging since the player's vials and bullets will be mostly used up.
7 The Graphics Don't Hold Up
At the time, Bloodborne was aesthetically magnificent, and the graphics were great. However, over time, the game hasn't looked so great. This has led to many gamers begging for a remake or remaster.
Switching from one of the newer Souls games like Elden Ring or the Demon's SoulsRemake back to Bloodborne can be rough. The graphics haven't held up well over time, and it can make seeing an enemy far more difficult because of how they blend into the setting. Even the DLC which has some visual improvements to the game can be disappointing to experience a second time. Though many of the cutscenes in the game have thankfully held up like Ludwig the Holy Blade's debut, one of the scariest bosses in Bloodborne.
6 Armor Can't Be Upgraded
Armor has always been an essential feature in Souls games and Bloodborne isn't different. However, Bloodborne introduced the new idea into the games that armor could not be upgraded and this continued to be the case in the games that followed.
Bloodborne has some fascinating and unique armor sets like the Hunter's Garb or the Cainhurst Armor. Generally, the best armor to go with is with the stats that fit a player's given build. However, cosmetics are also important, and Bloodborne doesn't make that too possible for some players. Better armor can make a certain fight much easier and not having the option to upgrade it means that most players will end up with gear they aren't particularly fond of aesthetically.
5 Lack Of Weapons In The Game
Weapons are a vital part of Souls games and Bloodborne doesn't have too many varieties. Bloodborne only has trick weapons and firearms. Every trick weapon is different though there are some similarities among many of them. The same can be said for firearms though there isn't too much of a purpose for most of these.
Players will find themselves usually using only one set of weapons throughout the whole game due to their strategy already working and there being so few to choose from. The DLC does thankfully add some great new ones even if most of them are variations on weapons that already existed. Another feature that makes players more comfortable with what they already use is that they can upgrade their weapons with rare materials.
4 Fast Travel Is Tedious And Time Consuming
The load times are slow in Bloodborne, though not as bad as when the game first launched. However, this mixed with how fast travel works in the game is just painfully bad and needs to be fixed if Bloodborne receives a PS5 remake. Players have to return to the Hunter's Dream every time they want to go to a new location.
Having to teleport back to the hub to get to whatever location players want is incredibly tedious. They can't even teleport to other Lamps in the same region, they have to go back to the Hunter's Dream whenever they want to switch locations more swiftly. This isn't an issue when players have good progress going forward, but eventually, players will have the need to go back to an older location or switch between a few.
3 Most Of The Bosses Aren't Interesting
FromSoftware has some of the best bosses in gaming but most of the ones in Bloodborne really aren't that compelling. Even some of the lore is a bit lacking, unlike Dark Souls bosses with their sad lore, which just adds to the pile of disappointment regarding some.
Bosses like Blood-Starved Beast or Darkbeast Paarl just feel bland and underwhelming. The fights aren't difficult or fun, the boss designs aren't great, and the lore is just okay. This is repeated far too many times throughout the game, and it becomes far clearer when replaying Bloodborne just how disappointing the bosses really are.
2 The Old Hunters DLC Carries
The Old Hunters DLC by far has the best content in Bloodborne with incredible story, lore, bosses, and soundtrack. Bosses like Ludwig, the Holy Blade and Lady Maria of the Astral Clocktower have been some of the most popular bosses in gaming as well as some of the hardest Soulsborne bosses for some players.
The content is vast for The Old Hunters and while it initially begins in an alternate Cathedral Ward, this sense of familiarity adds to the interest of the gamer as they see and travel the twisted world. While there is little that players will find bad about The Old Hunters on a replay it does become more obvious just how much the DLC carries Bloodborne as a whole with how much better the content is in every single way.
1 The Game Is Just Too Easy Compared To Other Souls Games
Bloodborne is no doubt a challenging game for many players. However, compared to the other games in the franchise, it simply can't compete. Bloodborne stands as the easiest game aside from Demon's Souls, whose difficult fights aren't too hard.
The game does start off incredibly difficult but once players master the combat and get past Father Gascoigne, the rest of the game is a breeze and on a replay, it's painfully obvious how easy the game is. Boss patterns are incredibly easy to catch wind of, and they can be stunned easily. Even many of the DLC bosses which are supposed to be more challenging aren't very difficult. Orphan of Kos, the most difficult Bloodborne boss doesn't even compare to many other FromSoftware bosses.
Source:gamerant.com