Bloodborne has remained one of FromSoftware's most iconic releases for a few reasons. The combat encourages gamers to play aggressively instead of hiding behind shields, leading to more adrenaline-raising encounters with enemies. Gamers also fell in love with the game because of its setting. Yharman, with its gothic architecture and deep lore, is a beautifully dark place that is full of secrets. Though fans have been begging for a remake of Bloodborne, it may also be a good idea for FromSoftware to experiment with spin-offs set in Yharnam.
A spin-off set in Yharnam could further explore the location's lore. Old Yharnam in particular has a rich history waiting to be uncovered. A game that explores how Old Yharnam was before it was abandoned would be a great way to uncover more about the mysterious location while giving fans another dose of Bloodborne.
The Dark Allure of Yharnam
In Bloodborne, players assume the role of a hunter on the night of The Hunt. When they arrive in Yharnam, they discover that many of the inhabitants are afflicted by an illness that has them violently marauding the streets. Surviving the long night requires expert combat, though it doesn't mean players won't have time to admire the environment. Yharnam's gothic architecture is as eye-catching as it is eerie, and its convoluted, maze-like structure is difficult to learn but satisfying to travel through once it has been mastered.
Players begin in Central Yharnam, and beneath it lies Old Yharnam. As the name suggests, it is the oldest part of Yharnam. Though it was once heavily populated, the Plague of the Beast struck, forcing the inhabitants to flee and burn the city, leaving nothing but burned ruins. Players can explore Old Yharman, and it is a place that is creepy enough to make one's blood run cold. The location isn't vacant, however, and players will encounter many enemies, including the terrible Blood-Starved Beast.
Old Yharman Is a Great Setting For Spin-Offs
Bloodborne has earned itself a cult following, though it is now quite dated. Although the art style is gorgeous, the graphics aren't as impressive as they once were. Furthermore, the 30fps frame rate is bad enough, but the game often has a hard time holding it. This has caused many gamers to beg FromSoftware for a Bloodborne remake. It's not a farfetched idea, as Demon's Souls received a brilliant remake from Bluepoint. Instead of opting for a remake, developers could also go for a spin-off that expands on Bloodborne's lore.
Old Yharnam would be the ideal location for future spin-offs. The game could take gamers to the days when the plague first struck, chronicling how it took over, wreaked havoc, and how everything was burned to the ground. This would shed more light on what precisely the beast plague is and how it affected the inhabitants of Old Yharnam. With a good studio like Bluepoint at the helm, a gorgeous re-imagining of Old Yharnam would give gamers the dose of Bloodborne darkness that they've been craving, and it would also allow Bloodborne 2 to leave Yharnam behind.
For now, it seems FromSoftware is mainly concerned with Elden Ring and Armored Core. Elden Ring recently received an update that added ray-tracing, and it also has DLC on the way titled Shadow of the Erdtree. The Armored Cored series has been revived, and a new entry is in development titled Armored Core 6: Fires of Rubicon is scheduled to be released in 2023. Hopefully, the studio hasn't forgotten about Bloodborne, because fans definitely haven't.
Bloodborne is available now on PS4.
