Eric Hall’s Top 10 Video Games Of 2015

1) Bloodborne

Like I’m sure many gamers out there, I wasn’t quick to enjoy the notoriously tough Souls franchise. I certainly respected the work done by Hidetaka Miyazaki and the From Software team, but the series seemed too difficult to overcome. However, instead of shelving it for good, I slowly worked my way through the backbreaking challenge of Dark Souls. And as my skills improved, so did my enjoyment in not only Dark Souls II, but also the series’ predecessor, Demon’s Souls. Despite all of my training and experience with the series, though, Bloodborne provided an entirely new challenge.

Suffice to say, I found myself getting my ass kicked repeatedly by the creatures of Bloodborne. The core mechanics of the title are carried on from previous games, yes, but the addition of the gun can be challenging to comprehend. Of course, since it wouldn’t be a challenge if you could snipe enemies from afar, the gun is best utilized at close range. Oh yes, and I should probably mention the fact that the gun does kind of replace the shield most fans of the franchise probably wished they could have back.

While the removal of a proper shield does make Bloodborne significantly more challenging, it also helps propel the gameplay over its predecessors. Whereas past Souls titles emphasized a more cautious approach to combat, From Software’s latest wants you to be aggressive.

The shift in combat may not be for everyone, but I found myself more and more willing to deal with the constant death that accompanies the series. Part of that comes from just how excellently crafted the gameplay is, the type of excellence that doesn’t make getting up from failure feel like a burden. Being able to venture further into Yharnam, despite how many times I may die, feels like a privilege.

And while the Souls franchise never lacked when it came to setting, Bloodborne blows the previous titles out of the water in this regard. The various pieces of Yharnam are all well worth exploring, whether it’s just to get a full glimpse of your surroundings or to talk to interesting townsfolk. It’s the horrifying, Lovecraftian horror that was most memorable to me, though. The monsters you duel with are some of the most horrific designs I have seen in any game period.

Hauntingly gorgeous and expertly crafted, Bloodborne stands head and shoulders above any other action game to be released this console generation. It has set a high bar for not only the upcoming Dark Souls III, but also any other title in the genre. There were plenty of memorable experiences to be found this past year, but nothing could quite match what was found in Miyazaki’s epic.