Bloodborne has been incredibly open lately. In the months leading up to launch, we’re getting a whole bunch of information – it’s rather generous from developers considering how widely available the beta/demo was late last year. However, in all that we’ve seen, there were never any shields. This doesn’t mean that they’ve been cut out of the game.
Confirming to IGN, Japan Studio producer Masaaki Yamagiwa explained that shields aren’t the same as they were in the Dark Souls games:
If you’re always standing back and guarding, you’ll die very quickly. So you have to incorporate it into your strategy of how you play and fight. We wanted to encourage players to not hide and wait, but instead be more aggressive and pro-active in battle.
It’s unclear how shields will work in battle. Maybe they will have a smaller range of protection, or possibly make you stagger more. It seems like you’ll probably be better off using your dodging, rolling and killing techniques instead of hiding behind your shield and eventually peeking out. This isn’t a game that will be built on cheesing your way through boss battles (although that will probably still be a thing) – you’re supposed to go in and accept your fate, fighting bravely and dying often.
For those PC gamers who are intrigued by this game and holding off for an eventual release, you might as well give up now. Sony Computer Entertainment Japan’s Yasuhiro Kitao explained that while visuals are being upgraded before release to take advantage of the full power of the PS4, a PC version will not be released. Instead, he encourages gamers to pick up a PS4 so that they can play.
Is this game a console seller for you? I know in previous generations I always picked up the new consoles in time for the new Final Fantasy game, but now it’s hard to really tell when it’s time to take the plunge. Then again, I already have my beloved PS4, and I’ll probably be getting an Xbox One in time for Quantum Break… or maybe Evolve.
Last Updated: February 9, 2015
Ross Woofels Mason
February 9, 2015 at 07:49
I really want to play this but not enough to make me buy a PS4, will play it at a friends place =p
Admiral Chief
February 9, 2015 at 07:53
Today is the day that I win that XBOX!!!
John Doe
February 10, 2015 at 14:51
I feel sorry for you.
Admiral Chief
February 10, 2015 at 15:41
I can get a hefty price for it, and upgrade my PC monitor!
Hammersteyn
February 9, 2015 at 07:53
Shields were always a last resort in any Souls game. Agility,Stamina and dodge rolling is what saved your life. Or summed up like this
http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m8q9trDFcm1ro8ysbo1_500.gif
Admiral Chief
February 9, 2015 at 08:03
Ahhhh, Patches
Hammersteyn
February 9, 2015 at 08:04
XD
Admiral Chief
February 9, 2015 at 08:11
If you can dodge a wrench…
Plerpy
February 13, 2015 at 07:30
..you can, but probably won’t, be able to dodge the sweeping attack of a giant meat cleaver wielded buy a massive blob of zombie humans,
thereisnospoon
February 9, 2015 at 09:11
I dunno hey. On my first playthrough I turtled the whole thing behind a tower shield. It was only on my many subsequent playthroughs that I was confident in my ability to evade. I always liked that the souls series allowed for a variety of play styles
Hammersteyn
February 9, 2015 at 09:56
Indeed, But I found it infuriating having to kill every monster again after dying just so that you can fight the boss again. So I made my character as light as possible with more stamina so that I can run past all of them and fight the boss asap.
thereisnospoon
February 9, 2015 at 10:00
A solid strategy indeed. I was just really nervous on my first run due to the game’s reputation. It did take ages though which is why I also switched to more a agile build from my second run onwards
gamer taboo
February 9, 2015 at 19:49
I bought a PS4 for Bloodborne because the Souls’ series, at least Demon’s and Dark 1, are my favorite games of all time, and I still go back and play them both regularly. My PS4 cost the same amount as my GPU in my PC, and if Sony and FROM decide to do another game after this, I’ll already be set. I’m just praying FROM doesn’t partner with Microsoft, ugh….. I don’t want to have to buy both consoles, I literally was going to skip this gen of consoles until Bloodborne was announced.
Alex
February 11, 2015 at 02:48
I will absolutely not be buying a PS4 for this game. As much as I loved DS1 & DS2, I will certainly not buy a $400 console for one game, while the rest of my game library resides on my PC.
Really hope this is overturned, because otherwise I’ll just never play it. And I really, REALLY want to. But not for $400 and a space in my TV cabinet.
Plerpy
February 13, 2015 at 07:34
That’s just something I guess you’ll have to deal with in your own time.