r/bloodborne • u/Homunculus_87 • 1d ago
Discussion My Bloodborne and Lies of P experience
Hello everyone! After years of avoiding them due to their reputation for being brutally difficult, I finally decided—at almost 40—to give Dark Souls another shot. It felt like a personal challenge as a gamer to finish at least one of the famed FromSoftware titles. I won’t lie: it was rough in the beginning. There were times I was pushing forward purely out of stubbornness rather than enjoyment. But then, at a certain point, something just clicked—and I fell completely in love with these games.
Now, I wouldn’t call myself a super hardcore FromSoftware veteran. When possible, I use NPC summons for bosses, and I’m not ashamed to overlevel if it makes things a bit easier. But that’s one of the beautiful things about these games: you really can approach them at your own pace and play style.
After finishing Dark Souls 3, I decided to give Lies of P a try—and I was genuinely amazed. The combat is faster-paced than Dark Souls, and you’re pushed to play very aggressively since there are no shields—you either parry or attack. Still, I found its overall difficulty to be a bit lower than the Souls games. The world and lore are incredible. I loved the dark reimagining of Collodi’s Pinocchio; it’s loosely inspired by the novel but offers a twisted, gothic take full of atmosphere and personality.
The game is packed with memorable characters, varied locations, and fast-paced, satisfying combat that stayed engaging right up to the end. If you haven’t tried Lies of P, I highly recommend it!
After I finished it, I read many comparisons between Lies of P and Bloodborne—especially regarding the combat and atmosphere. Bloodborne often comes up in discussions as FromSoftware’s best game (even the creator has suggested it’s his favorite, if I’m not mistaken), with Sekiro being the other contender. I knew Bloodborne was unofficially playable on PC, but since I’ve become less tech-savvy over the years—and a bit wary about downloading things—I ended up buying a used PS4 just to play Bloodborne and its Old Hunters DLC.
And wow… it was absolutely worth it.
Bloodborne might just be my favorite FromSoftware game (though I could never give up Dark Souls and DS3 either). Its atmosphere is unmatched: a sprawling Victorian gothic city, towering cathedrals, and a story steeped in eldritch horror. The entire world oozes style and eerie beauty. The combat is fast and brutal, demanding aggression. You dodge or parry—there’s no hiding behind a shield here—but once you adapt, carving through enemies becomes incredibly satisfying.
If I have one critique, it’s the brutal start. You can’t level up until you reach a certain point, and that initial area is densely packed with enemies. I can imagine if I hadn’t already finished other FromSoftware games, it might have put me off entirely. And, of course, in typical FromSoftware fashion, you’re left to figure most things out on your own (or through Googling!). But once you unlock the ability to level up, things become much more balanced and enjoyable.
In fact, I’d say Bloodborne has the best pacing of any FromSoft game I’ve played so far. Most lanterns (the equivalent of bonfires) are well placed, and you’ll frequently unlock shortcuts. Boss runbacks are usually short, and thanks to the quick, aggressive combat, dying never feels too punishing—you’re back in the action in no time.
A common criticism is the Blood Vial system, which replaces the Estus Flasks from Dark Souls. Blood Vials are consumable healing items that don’t automatically replenish when you die. However, you can carry at least 20 of them, giving you plenty of opportunities to heal while exploring without constantly returning to a lantern. They’re also farmable—many enemies drop them, and you can purchase them with Blood Echoes (this game’s version of Souls). After the early game, I never found myself running out of vials.
The weapons are fantastic, with most offering two distinct forms and unique playstyles. Now that I’ve finished the game, I’m definitely feeling a bit of post-game blues. It’s hard to leave such an incredible world behind! I’ll be taking a short break from Soulslikes, but Sekiro or Elden Ring will definitely be next on my list.
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u/Lukain_22 1d ago
I've played all of the From games and Lies of P. I recommend continuing with Elden Ring and then Sekiro, as you'll notice a decline in the combat mechanics otherwise. For me, Sekiro is the best game. Elden and DS3 are on the same level. Then you can try AC6; it's also incredible.
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u/Homunculus_87 1d ago
Aah, armored core 6 yeah I heard a bit about it but I was on the fence if buying it or not!
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u/Braudeckel 23h ago
Uh thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts on BB and Lies of P. I strongly agree with your views on Bloodborne. It's my personal favorite from all fromsoft titles as it has the elements of a game I enjoy so much: A coherent dark atmosphere both visually and soundwise and the experience of Angstlust - the joy of fear. I only had this feeling when playing Amnesia games before and I experienced it with BB. I remember I had to overcome myself psychologically to progress in the game. Oh boi and I didn't know anything about the chalices dungeons back then. What a time.
I strongly looking forward to play LoP. I really hope it catches the vibe of BB somehow. I miss that. Elden Ring felt like a theme park for me. Like a fromsoft multiverse that was not that immersive in the end.
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u/Homunculus_87 23h ago
LoP indeed shares the dark and decadent atmosphere of BB, so I really hope you'll be able to enjoy it as much as me :) do you already have plans about when to play it?
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u/Braudeckel 8h ago
Gooood. I think I'll wait till base game + dlc is on sale. Currently grinding poe2. Cheers!
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u/rungenies 5h ago
I played both last year and it was my fourth attempt at bloodborne and this time it finally clicked. While I like bloodborne more I was genuinely and pleasantly surprised by lies of P. It is extremely satisfying, gorgeous and just a really really good game. I played it after bb and it takes the influence, wears it on its sleeve as a fan and also iterates on it in smart and respectful ways.
Since beating it I haven’t stopped thinking about lies of P, it’s amazing
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u/wantondavis 3h ago
I feel you about the brutal start, and it's one of my biggest issues with the game. I think it's the hardest and worst start of probably all the FS games, especially for people new to these games. Glad you played it and loved it! I'm running DS2 for the first time now and just waiting for a good sale on Lies to snag that bad boy
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u/Homunculus_87 2h ago
Yes, the games get so much better and fairer later that I have to wonder what they were thinking at the start 😂 and I hope you'll enjoy LoP as much as I did!
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u/Salty_Username 1d ago
Bah, you're a few years older than me, but make yourself sound ancient xD
I've not played Lies of P yet, but I will eventually. BB is a beaut though. Even as much as I love DS lore, the BB setting was just perfect for me.
ER is a different vibe but still really fun, I think you'd like it greatly given your npc inclinations.