Summary
The future is looking bright for FromSoftware. The famed Japanese developer has most recently expanded the world ofElden Ringwith the ambitious andsomewhat controversial Shadow of the Erdtreeexpansion, but it has been churning out inventive and well-crafted games for many years now. For its next projects, FromSoftware should look to its previous titles, particularlyBloodborne, for a specific bit of inspiration.
Bloodborne’s world is very different fromElden Ring’s high-fantasy extravaganza. The 2015 Gothic horror game is moreVan HelsingthanLord of the Rings, taking players through cobblestone streets and having them face off against quasi-werewolf enemies. That is, untilBloodbornetakes a sharp turn down a Lovecraftian avenue, calling into question the very nature of reality and humans' significance on the cosmic scale.Bloodborne’s thematic framing is supported by several clever mechanics, which is a big part of what makes it such a unique and arresting experience.
Future FromSoftware Games Should Learn from Bloodborne’s Insight System
Insight Is Essential to Bloodborne’s Story
Bloodborne’s unsettling loreand atmosphere are tied directly to the player’s moment-to-moment gameplay, mainly through Insight. Insight is an in-game resource that players can either earn through consuming Madman’s Knowledge or by entering certain areas and encountering bosses. Players need at least one insight to use the doll in the Hunter’s Nightmare and level up, and higher insight levels can cause dramatic changes in the game world. These changes include, but are not limited to:
These smaller details are fun, but they serve a deeper, more crucial purpose.Bloodborneis obviously inspired by the works of H.P. Lovecraftand thus presents a narrative centered around incomprehensible phenomena. More specifically,Bloodborneis all about the dangers of certain types of knowledge, and many of the game’s NPCs are driven mad by research, experimentation, or simply bearing witness to otherworldly sights. Insight draws these themes down to the mechanical level, forcing the player to interface with them directly. It’s an elegant system and one of the best examples of how gaming can use interactivity as a unique storytelling device.
How Future FromSoftware Games Could Adapt Bloodborne’s Insight System
Insight may be viewed as an evolution ofDark Souls' Humanity system, in that it is a critical game mechanic that serves to uphold the themes of its narrative. That is to say that, whileBloodborne’s use of Insight is FromSoftware’s best iterationof such a feature, it’s not its only potential incarnation. Other games, with different stories and settings, can apply the broader philosophies of the Insight system: a variable that a player has loose control over, that can significantly alter how the game plays or is presented.
FromSoftware’s long-rumored magic game, known asSpellbound, could be a great venue for this sort of system; perhaps players could ‘expand their minds’ by learning certain spells, which would modify the game world or core gameplay elements. This would be an effective way forFromSoftware to offer a unique magic framework, settingSpellboundapart from other, similar titles. More importantly, it could drive home whatever magic-specific lore the game is built around.
That’s just one example, though (andSpellboundis still just a rumor), as there’s a wealth of potential when it comes to features like Insight.Even a futureArmored Coregamecould possibly benefit from such a system, with certain upgrades altering the mental state of the player-character due to their neurological connection to the AC. Put simply, Insight is one of FromSoftware’s best and most immersive features, so it would be a shame to not reincorporate it outsideBloodborne.
Bloodborne
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.
