Bloodborne Preview, Gameplay Footage

Now that the Alpha Network Test for Bloodborne has started on PlayStation 4, a few lucky players have managed to try a work-in-progress build of the title. Given there is no NDA on it, this means we got loads of footage of From Software’s Victorian action-RPG.

First, though, some written impressions from VG247:

I lieu of ditching shields, Bloodborne offers players the ability to switch between two distinct weapon modes. My favourite sample build was the Warped Blades dual-wielder, whose rapid attack speed made regaining lost health much simpler. His damage output is considerably lower, but with a simple tap of L1 players can combine both blades to make one slower, stronger weapon.

The Kirkhammer class is also brilliant, offering slow, wide slams with a hulking engraved cudgel. Hit the weapon change prompt and your hunter detaches the hammer’s handle to reveal it was actually a sword, leaving you free to dish out faster swipes when faced with swift enemies. Knowing the subtleties between each weapon mode and type is crucial, given the importance of reach and attack speed.

There is also a standard sword class that offers a savage charge attack that releases when players hit full capacity, so timing is important to avoid slicing thin air. Each alpha character came with a firearm, which by no means made winning battles easy. Ammo is scare a maximum of 20 silver bullets in the alpha, and damage per discharge is low whether using a blunderbuss or pistol.

Ranged weapons are useless as a killing tool, but are effective at crowd control due to their violent knock-back capacity, and their ability to break enemy attack patterns. If you sense you’re unable to successfully dodge the incoming ground pound of an ogre, just unload a swarm of buckshot into his face to send him reeling. It’s a clever addition to your arsenal.

Then, a look at nearly 2 hours of footage from YouTube user “OroboroTheNinja”, without commentary: