Sleeping Dogs: Initial Thoughts

I’ve finally been able to draw myself away from Bloodborne and play something else for a change. I decided to finally pick up Sleeping Dogs–a game I’ve wanted to play since it came out a few years ago.

Yes, you look this cool in the actual game.

In short, I like Sleeping Dogs so far. The combat, driving and missions are fun, and the story is intriguing. It’s a blast to stand amidst a crowd of rival gang members and take them all down. While Sleeping Dogs may appear to be ripping off the Arkhman series’ pristine combat system on paper, in execution it’s unique. This is because of Sleeping Dogs’ emphasis on defense. The game never tells you this but being overly offensive isn’t typically the way you want to go. You’ll perform much better in combat if you wait for someone to make the first move. The Arkham series had the multiplier system that put pressure on being offensive, which was fine. However, it’s a nice change to take it slow. That’s not to say that being offensive isn’t an option. I’m loving the environmental takedowns that involve brutally finishing off an opponent via your surroundings. Also, I killed a guy with a fish. I slapped a guy in the face with a fish so hard that it killed him. I’m marking that as a positive.

So far the aesthetic of the game is gorgeous as long as I don’t look to closely. The city looks great while I’m zipping through it at high speeds or when I’m distracted with a fight, but it’s the quiet moments when I start to see how awkward or ugly characters or the environments can be. Basically, everything adds up to create a beautiful setting, but the individual parts don’t stand well on their own. Those parts give Hong Kong a life of its own though, which is important in a game that wants you to spend so much time exploring and driving through it.

I’ve been impressed by the voice acting in Sleeping Dogs. Though many character models strike me as awkward, the mixture of English and Mandarin gives the dialogue character. I’m also pleasantly surprised by some of the big names in the casting (Emma Stone, Tom Wilkinson, etc.). Getting the big names is definitely making a difference in such a dramatic, character heavy plot.

I’ve enjoyed most of what I’ve experienced in Sleeping Dogs, but I have a long way to go before I beat the game and a lot can change in thirty hours. I think the game will be fun at least, but I don’t expect it to blow my mind. I suspect repetition will be Sleeping Dogs’ downfall, but I’m hoping I’m wrong.

Grant Us Eyes- A Bloodborne Lore Series

Bloodborne lore speculation is all over the internet. I’ve read plenty of articles and comment threads discussing possible meanings to just about every aspect of the game. Well, I’ve heard everyone else’s opinion and now I want to voice mine. This series will be riddled with spoilers for Bloodborne and its DLC, The Old Hunters. It will receive posts as I play the game or have random epiphanies about the lore of Bloodborne.

For example, as I was taking a bathroom break from writing this morning I realized that the patients with the swollen heads in the Research Hall of The Old Hunters are reminiscent of the Winter Lantern enemies. These patients (the ones that don’t attack you at least) seem to reference Lady Maria when spoken to–often mistaking you for her, or begging for her to comfort them. If you somehow haven’t noticed, The Doll in The Hunter’s Dream was crafted to resemble Lady Maria (they look to similar to be a coincidence). You may have also noticed that the Winter Lantern enemies are wearing same set as the Doll.

This is far as I’ve gotten with this line of thinking, but I find these possible connections interesting. Lady Maria cared for these patients in the Research Hall, who I speculate may eventually ‘ascend’ or ‘evolve’ into the Winter Lanterns. Perhaps they clothe themselves as a sort of nod to the only one who cared for them during the horrible experiments they were subjected to–just like Gehrman supposedly created the Doll in Maria’s image.

I’ll be putting more thought into this, but I just wanted to get it down somewhere before I forgot about it. What better place than my gaming blog?

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters Review

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is a brutal, thrilling and surprisingly long and deep addition to an already stellar game. It’s every bit as difficult, horrific and satisfying as the main game, if not more so. If there’s anything missing from Bloodborne, The Old Hunters undoubtedly fills in the gaps.

One of those gaps that some people have mentioned is the scarcity of weapons. Bloodborne has plenty of weapons, but you can only find what some would call the ‘best’ closer to the end of a playthrough. The Old Hunters solves this problem by throwing several new weapons at the player soon after he or she enters it. You’re likely to see an NPC Hunter using an aforementioned weapon before you find it yourself, which is an intriguing and terrifying experience. I was initially disappointed with the weapons as most in the first area of the game are strength-based–an unfortunate  discovery for my skill/bloodtinge character. However, I implore you to keep looking, as there are plenty of awesome skill based weapons farther into the DLC. That being said, I’ve since created a strength build and The Old Hunters offers what I think are by far the best strength weapons to be found in the entire game. Regardless of build, every player should be pleased by what The Old Hunters offers in terms of an updated arsenal.

The Old Hunters is a nightmare. There are two reasons I say that. First, the place you go to is literally called The Hunter’s Nightmare. In terms of the story, it’s where the Hunters of Yharnam end up when they become blood drunk–essentially being dragged into an endless hunt. Second, the DLC will be a nightmare for you to advance through. It is vicious and unforgiving. However, it never feels too difficult until you get to New Game +, which is when things really ramp up. With every death I knew that I could overcome each challenge with one more try. Or two. Or three. Things do indeed elevate in difficulty the farther you venture into the harsh, chaotic nightmare. Though perhaps I should say, “as you descend,” because The Old Hunters gets progressively more sadistic and bizarre in each successive area. Every section of the DLC is undeniably beautiful in its own dark, horrific way. Crawling through The Old Hunters is undeniably worth the struggle, as the pay off in terms of lore and boss encounters is incredible.

The bosses are, with a couple exceptions, the best among the entirety of Bloodborne. They challenge every skill you possess and soloing them grants some serious bragging rights. What’s more, they’re not two-dimensional bosses thrown in for a challenge (again, minus an exception). Most of the bosses, if you follow the game’s lore, are tragic figures in the Bloodborne mythos. Once you realize their significance, it’s rather heartbreaking to take them down. Unfortunately, all of that is lost while fighting them. However, one boss (my personal favorite) is the only one in a Souls game I’ve not wanted to finish off. To me, that’s significant in a game full of nightmarish creatures that want to end your existence.

If you enjoyed Bloodborne’s base game then I have no doubt you’ll love The Old Hunters. It has everything–weapons, lore, challenge and unforgettable boss encounters. It hits all the right marks in just the right way. I’m going to give it a 5/5, just like the main game.

(Side note: to access The Old Hunters you must have defeated Vicar Amelia and picked up the Eye of a Blood Drunk Hunter in the Hunter’s Dream. Then you need to be snatched up by the Lesser Amygdala outside the Cathedral Ward lamp, which will give a short cutscene and send you to The Hunter’s Nightmare. Happy hunting.)

Bloodborne Review: Ascend the Hunt

Bloodborne is a fast-paced, blood spattered beast. It’s scary, smart, quick and determined to bring you down–though it will settle with a controller through a wall. This, is how I would describe Bloodborne. Over 100 hours in and I’m still showing no signs of slowing down. Amidst the dark, terrifying atmosphere is a solid masterpiece. Here’s my review of what’s possibly my new favorite game of all time: Bloodborne.

Your first view of the deceptively beautiful Yharnam.

Bloodborne is every bit as difficult as From Software’s Dark Souls series. Don’t be fooled by the new looks or mechanics–Bloodborne does not pull punches. You will be smashed, sliced, eaten, maimed, burned, insulted and forcibly relieved of your eyes before you see the credits roll. Bloodborne isn’t for the faint of heart. Even if you can handle the gameplay, the setting and atmosphere of the game will stick with you. This is the impression you will get once you suffer through the first of many deaths within the first few moments of the game. From Software wants to make sure you know it’s not holding back.

That’s not to say Bloodborne isn’t a beautiful game. Even after playing over a hundred hours I still stop and take in the beauty of Yharnam, the city in which the game takes place. From Software has always taken presentation seriously, and they clearly took full advantage of the Playstation 4’s powerful hardware to create their most aesthetically pleasing game to date. Slicing your way through the streets of Yharnam, though graphic and horrifying, is an undeniably beautiful experience. Sometimes I think that its beauty is part of Bloodborne’s deadly bag of tricks. It seems as soon as you start to appreciate the scenery something that wants to kill you comes around the corner.

Exhibit A.

The creatures and foes you’ll be fighting are just as well done as the environment in which you find them. I wouldn’t classify them as beautiful so much as well-made. Enemies are well thought out, and some have designs that are downright devious. Most designs make you want to look away, or at least make you anxious to hack it to oblivion. It’s their revolting appearance that puts you in a bit of a shock before they strike at you. From Software took it up a notch with their sound design as well. Many enemies make sounds that are something out of a nightmare. There’s still one enemy type that I need to turn down the volume for. Bloodborne’s enemies are expertly crafted and ready to take you down.

That’s where your weapon will come in handy. Though there are a scant few in comparison to other From Software games, each weapon has two different forms that can be switched between with the press of a button. Each weapon seems more unique than the last, and is viable so long as you know how to use it. This is a huge part of Bloodborne that you’ll eventually realize. You have to know what your weapon can do and how to use it efficiently if you’re going to master Bloodborne. Practice certainly makes perfect in this game, and using a weapon as it was meant to be will get you far. It’s easy to but don’t forget to use your firearm in your left hand. There are few ways of guarding yourself in Bloodborne. Instead, you use a gun to turn an opponent’s attack against them. A well-timed shot will open them up for a powerful counter attack.

In case you didn’t realize it yet, there’s a lot of blood in Bloodborne.

There is truly no efficient way to protect yourself besides being fast and smart. Encounters happen quick, and you need to master the art of evasion if you’re going to adapt. This is done with sidesteps and lunges that can swiftly get you in and out of a scrap. Should you take a hit (and you will), you will have a few seconds of opportunity to regain some of your lost health by hitting the enemy back. This is an incredibly clever mechanic that persuades you to be aggressive, which is an important lesson to learn. You’re going to have trouble if you try to be defensive. Bloodborne urges you to fight your enemies head-on.

Despite all the tools given to you, there will be obstacles you can’t overcome yourself. This is where the stellar multiplayer mechanics can be of great use. As long as you’re online, a simple ring of a special bell will search the world for another player around your level to come into your world to assist you in defeating the boss of the area. It’s an easy, simple process that I fell in love with. Most of the time I spent in Bloodborne was helping others overcome their own challenges. There’s great satisfaction in helping someone else overcome a powerful enemy. The ringing of the bell also opens up your world for invasion, meaning another player can come in to try and kill you rather help you. Many fun moments can be found when you start playing with other people. That’s certainly where I had the most fun.

I loved playing with others.

I can’t speak much of the plot of Bloodborne, as much of it is up for debate. I can say, however, that part of the fun of the game is playing through and then discussing your theories with other players. In classic From Software form, hints and clues to the subtle story driving the game are littered throughout. It’s up to you to seek them out and gain insight on what’s going on behind the scenes. With Bloodborne, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes. It’s chock-full of solid, tight mechanics that rarely seem unfair or obnoxious. Those mechanics are covered with a gorgeous skin that creates a beautiful world to explore at your own risk. After all this time, I can’t think of anything in Bloodborne that marred my experience with it. That’s why I’m going to give it a 5/5. Definitely a masterpiece that must be experienced.