Microsoft has had an issue courting third-party developers recently, with most of the good stuff landing exclusively on PlayStation 4 instead of appearing on Xbox, but during its E3 presentation Microsoft revealed a new trailer from a studio that’s synonymous with “good stuff.” We’re referring to FromSoftware, the …
FromSoftware—the company behind Demon’s Souls, Bloodborne, and the massively successful Dark Souls trilogy—has made a name for itself by mixing bloody violence with enigmatic mystery. So it’s at least somewhat fitting that the company announced its latest game at The Game Awards tonight, not with a real trailer or any…
Bandai Namco has finally taken the wraps off the first of two downloadable expansions for Dark Souls III, and like much of this dark fantasy trilogy’s presumed finale, it’s looking kind of familiar. Called Ashes Of Ariandel, this new chapter sees players entering a snowy world to, as the game’s publisher writes,…
At the heart of Dark Souls’ murky mythology is an infatuation with cycles. Its is a world that is cursed to repeat itself, where flame holds back an encroaching darkness until that spark of life wanes and is renewed by yet another heroic force. The people are cursed to live and die and live again, suffering through…
This installment’s question comes from Gameological contributor Patrick Lee: What game do you love despite knowing it’s terrible?
If Bloodborne deserves to be remembered for anything, it’s the meticulously crafted geography of its first half. Those opening hours take players on a journey through some of FromSoftware’s best designed levels, beginning in the intricate Victorian hellscape of Central Yharnam before winding up toward the Grand…
Bloodborne is not of a piece with the horror video game canon, but it uses so many of its tools: scarcity of resources, scenes of horrific gore, jump scares triggered by a seemingly bottomless well of body-horrific freaks. The hunter’s trip through Yharnam’s gothic misery feels like what would happen if John…
Sony’s ancient, infernal prophecy has come to pass: There’s more Bloodborne on the way. Announced during Sony’s Tokyo Game Show keynote, The Old Hunters is the first expansion for FromSoftware’s Gothic nightmare, and it’s scheduled for release on November 24. Details are about as plentiful as one could hope with a…
Keyboard Geniuses is our weekly glance at a few intriguing, witty, or otherwise notable posts from the Gameological discussion threads. Comments have been excerpted and edited here for grammar, length, and/or clarity. You can follow the links to see the full threads.
Of all the game’s enigmas and zealots, the most fascinating character in Bloodborne might be the Doll. She lives in The Hunter’s Dream, your ethereal base of operations, and she is its solitary constant, your companion throughout this terrible night. Whenever you return, there she is, gazing meditatively into the…
Since 2013, VaatiVidya has been breaking down the extensive, nebulous mythology that hides underneath the surface of From Software’s Souls games at his YouTube channel. He’s done an excellent job of plumbing those murky depths and retelling their stories through artfully written and produced videos, often with an eye…
Keyboard Geniuses is our weekly glance at a few intriguing, witty, or otherwise notable posts from the Gameological discussion threads. Comments have been excerpted and edited here for grammar, length, and/or clarity. You can follow the links to see the full threads.
“Why exactly did you volunteer to review this?” my girlfriend asked. I had just finished recounting the havoc Bloodborne was wreaking on my body and mind. My head was cloudy. My frayed nerves continued to tingle hours after each session. I was sweating through my wardrobe at an alarming rate. Still, I knew this kind…
There is an unwritten code of multiplayer etiquette in Dark Souls II. Alongside an elaborate selection of weapons and keys, the game offers a few simple gestures your character can use as a greeting: a traditional bow, a hand wave, etc. (My personal favorite is the “Nooooooooooooo!” one.) If a player invades your…
Straight from the Tokyo Game Show, Sony has released another trailer for Bloodborne, the PlayStation 4 exclusive from the makers of Demon’s Souls and Dark Souls. The new video ends with a North American release date for the game: February 6, 2015. Along with that exciting news, the trailer is filled with lots of new …
Marcus “EpicNameBro” Sanders made a name for himself by making YouTube videos about Dark Souls, connecting the very loose ends that make up its story and putting them together for players who are looking for something more. His prominence in that community even led to a gig working on the official Dark Souls II …
Now, some readers will have already heard of this infamous game, but those who haven’t are in for a treat. Embedded below is a speedrun (with cutscenes) of a game called Metal Wolf Chaos taken from the Summer Games Done Quick charity marathon. In this game, you play as the American president Michael Wilson—a…
