Ben-DutkaWe're currently celebrating the one-year anniversary of this stellar PlayStation 4 exclusive and I'm wondering:
How should developer From Software approach a sequel, if there is indeed going to be one? Should it be more accessible to a larger group of gamers?
Yeah, I can hear the dedicated fans now: "NO!" The answer is expected and understandable. After all, we've got plenty of easier, more approachable video games for the casual and not-so-hardcore crowd, so why should we water down yet another new IP? Okay, that's one way to look at it. But Bloodborne has a different vibe than Dark Souls , I think, and it's a vibe that can be coaxed into something both mainstream and hardcore gamers would appreciate.
It'd be tricky, I grant you, but not impossible. When I was playing that game, I remember thinking that if certain elements were tweaked in just such a fashion, it wouldn't be so demanding. In fact, if there was a difficulty option that allowed for a somewhat faster pace, a slightly less cautious approach, a way of experiencing the beauty of From Software's highly immersive environment at a faster and more readily digested clip, it could be a win-win situation. The die-hards would still get all the challenge in the world and those who simply don't want such a tough adventure would get to see what From Software can do.
I only ask this because it always seems as if this team doesn't get enough credit. I mean, it gets plenty of credit from the fans, of course, but it's not widespread credit, you know? And what they produce frankly scares many gamers; I know some regular ol' casual players who won't touch anything made by From Software. From Demon's Souls to Dark Souls to Bloodborne , we're not talking about Assassin's Creed or GTA, here. Thing is, Bloodborne just has so much to offer; there's so much to appreciate from a development and technical standpoint – the artistry, design, story, etc. – that it seems unfortunate that only the hardcore are willing to experience it.
What do you think?
Related Game(s): Bloodborne
Nah, the last did great. They need to continue to cater to the fans or risk losing the older fans.
I don't know about trying to cater to both in such ways. I think it deviates from what they really wanted to do.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 3/21/2016 10:00:49 PM
I think it's kind of cool that there's a game series out there that's aimed at the more hardcore players, the people who love a challenge. Me, personally, I don't have a desire to play a game that makes me want to smash my controller so I just avoid it. Like the article said, there's plenty of other games out there for people like me to play.
If I was the developer, though, I'd open it up to everyone through difficulty settings. But that's just me, thinking about potential for profit.
Its interesting because when they first made Demon Souls they didn't even make it with an intentionally high difficulty in mind.
It was the feedback they got from playable demos where people were like OMG this is hard, mostly people who played it like any old action button masher.
I think they need to keep doing what they are doing, or they risk doing what square did with Final Fantasy.
Personally I still don't think the games are overly hard, providing you take the time to learn the systems and what the game wants you to do. Which I guess for a lot of people in the younger generation is borderline impossible.
No one wants to take time to master a game they just want to veg out and let the game let them win with minimal effort. Which is totally fine, plenty of games let you do that.
I think the problem with difficulty levels in a souls game is it would be very hard to balance, what with how the online works and all.
Maybe they could make an Easy mode but only have it so that you could only play Easy mode offline or something?
Yes keep it the way it is. New monsters, new bosses, new patterns, new tricks and same level of difficulty or higher not the other way around. There are too few games on the market like these. These games are all about learning the enemies and adapting yourself to them with your build and learning to survive in a new harsh and unknown environment. This must not change. The feeling is quite nice once you've seen it all and rock your way through all the challenges! It's so satisfying to destroy those bosses that used to be a pain and show off with *SHARE* and twitch hahaha We need more like this!
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 3/21/2016 10:46:57 PM
I'm not a fan of these games and I don't think they should try and make me one. Not everyone likes the same things. Don't destroy what sets you apart chasing after people like me.
LOL no why they would do what SE did?
Exactly. Don't alienate your core base.
From Software shouldn't change a thing. Keep these games unique in every sense of the word.
We all know this is how companies lose more fans than gain fans and hopefully Soft understands that.
Wait isn't Bloodborne was the wider audience version of Dark Souls?
seeing as how it already did better than expected just being itself, no. just let it be what it is.
Nah, the last did great. They need to continue to cater to the fans or risk losing the older fans.
I don't know about trying to cater to both in such ways. I think it deviates from what they really wanted to do.
Last edited by bigrailer19 on 3/21/2016 10:00:49 PM
I think it's kind of cool that there's a game series out there that's aimed at the more hardcore players, the people who love a challenge. Me, personally, I don't have a desire to play a game that makes me want to smash my controller so I just avoid it. Like the article said, there's plenty of other games out there for people like me to play.
If I was the developer, though, I'd open it up to everyone through difficulty settings. But that's just me, thinking about potential for profit.
Its interesting because when they first made Demon Souls they didn't even make it with an intentionally high difficulty in mind.
It was the feedback they got from playable demos where people were like OMG this is hard, mostly people who played it like any old action button masher.
I think they need to keep doing what they are doing, or they risk doing what square did with Final Fantasy.
Personally I still don't think the games are overly hard, providing you take the time to learn the systems and what the game wants you to do. Which I guess for a lot of people in the younger generation is borderline impossible.
No one wants to take time to master a game they just want to veg out and let the game let them win with minimal effort. Which is totally fine, plenty of games let you do that.
I think the problem with difficulty levels in a souls game is it would be very hard to balance, what with how the online works and all.
Maybe they could make an Easy mode but only have it so that you could only play Easy mode offline or something?
I'm not a fan of these games and I don't think they should try and make me one. Not everyone likes the same things. Don't destroy what sets you apart chasing after people like me.
LOL no why they would do what SE did?
seeing as how it already did better than expected just being itself, no. just let it be what it is.
From Software shouldn't change a thing. Keep these games unique in every sense of the word.
We all know this is how companies lose more fans than gain fans and hopefully Soft understands that.
Wait isn't Bloodborne was the wider audience version of Dark Souls?
Exactly. Don't alienate your core base.
Yes keep it the way it is. New monsters, new bosses, new patterns, new tricks and same level of difficulty or higher not the other way around. There are too few games on the market like these. These games are all about learning the enemies and adapting yourself to them with your build and learning to survive in a new harsh and unknown environment. This must not change. The feeling is quite nice once you've seen it all and rock your way through all the challenges! It's so satisfying to destroy those bosses that used to be a pain and show off with *SHARE* and twitch hahaha We need more like this!
Last edited by Neo_Aeon666 on 3/21/2016 10:46:57 PM