Summary
- Trick weapons in Bloodborne add depth and excitement to combat, making each weapon a two-in-one unique tool for players.
- Future FromSoftware games could benefit from elements of trick weaponry, offering deeper gameplay utility and versatility in weapon options.
- Bloodborne's trick weapons may not see a sequel, but their legacy should inspire future games to create memorable, versatile armaments.
Bloodborne, despite its PS4 exclusivity, is one of FromSoftware's most revered titles. Its bleak Lovecraftian setting, unforgettable character and environment design, and fast-paced combat help it stand apart from other Soulslike games while informing the development of future FromSoftware titles. The more aggressive combat of Dark Souls 3 relative to its predecessors, for instance, is a clear holdover from Bloodborne.
And yet, the Bloodborne IP remains dormant. In the nine years since its initial release, Bloodborne fans have been hoping against hope for a sequel to the game, or at least a remaster or PC port, unshackling it from the constraints of its PS4 version. Unless FromSoftware is hiding a major surprise, it doesn't look like any of these scenarios will be happening any time soon. And even if the game gets remade or ported, it probably won't get a proper follow-up, as Miyazaki has gone on record expressing his dislike for making sequels. Indeed, as sad as it is to admit, Bloodborne may be a one-and-done franchise.
Trick Weaponry Should Extend Beyond Bloodborne
Bloodborne's Greatest Gameplay Trick
Compared to something like Elden Ring or the Dark Souls games, Bloodborne doesn't have a lot of weapons to choose from. But what the game lacks in variety, it makes up for in-depth, as each weapon is effectively a two-in-one.
Trick weaponry is a crucial piece of the Bloodborne experience, giving players greater flexibility and versatility while emphasizing the crafty and clever ways of the Hunters; Hunters are tacticians as much as warriors, and swapping between multiple different offensive tools on the fly helps elevate their battle prowess. Bloodborne's trick weapons also fill the void left by two-handed wielding, which is a combat feature the game doesn't carry over from Dark Souls.
Future FromSoftware Games Ought to Borrow Elements of Trick Weaponry
Both Dark Souls 3 and Elden Ring offer loose alternatives to Bloodborne's trick weapon system: Weapon Arts and Ashes of War, special abilities linked to each weapon. Sometimes, these abilities can fundamentally shift how a player engages with combat, serving as an alternate stance with a different moveset. Though Weapon Arts and Ashes of War offer great opportunities to shake up gameplay and gain an upper hand in certain encounters, they simply don't have the same appeal or charm as trick weapons.
The fact that every Bloodborne weapon has an alternate appearance and moveset makes discovering new gear a genuinely exciting process, as no weapon is as straightforward as it seems. It also means that mastery of a weapon is far more satisfying than in other FromSoftware games (except Sekiro). The unique audiovisual design of each trick weapon is the icing on the cake: each transformation often makes logical and mechanical sense, and this buttresses the worldbuilding of Bloodborne as much as its combat sandbox.
Elden Ring's Ghiza's Wheel weapon is often seen as a direct homage to Bloodborne's Whirligig Saw, though it lacks it latter's transformative quality.
With no Bloodborne sequel on the horizon, there's a chance that trick weapons may be a thing of the past, but that would be a shame. Though one could make the argument that trick weapons are inextricable from the Bloodborne experience and should therefore remain exclusive to it, there's no real reason why the feature can't have a spiritual successor in a future FromSoftware game. Even if they aren't "trick weapons," armaments in future games could benefit from alternate movesets or appearances that make them more memorable, versatile, and fun to use.
While there are strengths to a sprawling roster of weapons, a game like Elden Ring can suffer from underpowered or uninteresting weaponry due to sheer volume. Even if it results in fewer options, a weapon system that borrows from Bloodborne's trick weapons, with their deeper and more varied gameplay utility, would be a worthwhile inclusion.
Bloodborne
- Released
- March 24, 2015
WHERE TO PLAY
Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.
A Terrifying New World: Journey to a horror-filled gothic city where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner.
Strategic Action Combat: Armed with a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you'll need wits, strategy and reflexes to take down the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city's dark secrets.
A New Generation of Action RPG: Stunningly detailed gothic environments, atmospheric lighting, and advanced new online experiences showcase the power and prowess of the PlayStation(R)4 system.
Ever-changing Chalice Dungeons to Explore: Use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins, filled with traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer alone or with others. These procedurally generated dungeons offer brand new challenges to master, and can be uploaded or shared with friends.
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Violence
- Developer(s)
- From Software
- Publisher(s)
- Sony
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 4
- How Long To Beat
- 33 Hours
- PS Plus Availability
- Extra & Premium
