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Bloodborne PSX is a smart demake of a FromSoft classicClever spins on original things
Clever spins on original things
Bloodborne PSX is the work ofLilith Walther, who’s de-made the first portion of the game up to Father Gascoigne. You’ve got the fast-paced combat, the werewolves, the screech of the Cleric Beast. Yes, it’s all there, just in a chunky-PS1-on-your-CRT aesthetic. It’s free to download offItch.ioand I’d recommend you get on it before Sony’s lawyers unsheathe their lawsuits.
Having given it a whirl, I’m super impressed. Bloodborne PSX captures FromSoft’s original game remarkably well. The atmosphere is still haunting, and as a returning Bloodborner, it’s cool retracing your steps through a different lens. Yes, it doesn’t share absolutelyeverythingwith the original game, but I reckon this is what makes Bloodborne PSX stand out. Instead of being a pretender, it does its own thing sometimes.
Bloodborne PSX Launch TrailerWatch on YouTube
Bloodborne PSX Launch Trailer
At one point, I was like, “Ah yes, this bit. This bit I recognise.” A cluster of baddies with pitchforks and torches stare at a roasting beast. Just beyond, a huge wooden door. In the original game, the door shakes and clatters, with the snuffling and snorting of a beast just beyond (at least, that’s how I remember it). But here, a gigantic troll burst through it without warning. I saw it as an in-game punch to the gut from Walther with a similar energy to Miyazaki’s mimics; a cheeky reminder that you’re playing her version ofBloodborne, so prepare yourself for some surprises.
Walther could’ve easily leaned into the mystery element of Insight, but I like that she’s made it function like a bog standard key. So, some doors can only be opened with a certain amount of Insight in your back pocket, like those back in the Hunter’s Dream (a hub world of sorts). Here, you can use it to unlock the main house and its other spaces, where in the original, they’d all be wide open. It may seem like a small thing, but I thought it was neat how she’d transformed this feature into something that worked more appropriately for the constraints of her demake.
PS4 and Xbox controllers aren’t supported, so you’ll need to opt for a PC gamepad if you want to avoid keyboard combat. With that said, I got along with the keyboard controls just fine.
And if my fight with the Cleric Beast was any indication, combat is smooth. I only had the occasional lock-on issue, but otherwise it was great fun. Meaty and gratifying as ever, albeit far more forgiving than the original. Blood Vials are handed out willy nilly, as are Quiksilver Bullets. Plus, you deal far more damage than you take. Again, this isn’t a bad thing. If anything, it means you’re able to lap up the bite-sized goodness without too much of the stress that comes with a pure FromSoft special.
So,do give Bloodborne PSX a goif you haven’t already. Not only is it the perfect warm-up forElden Ring, it’s also a free way to get a feel for FromSoft’s classic. Now if Sony could hurry up andbring Bloodborne proper to PC, that would be great.
Looking for more freebies? Check out our list of thebest free PC games to play in 2024.
