In our BloodbornePSX review, Bloody Disgusting takes a trip back to Central Yharnam for a demake of From Software’s Cosmic Horror classic.
People have been begging for Sony to finally bring Bloodborne over to PC, and thanks to developer Lilith Walther we’re one step closer. BloodbornePSX manages to transform the PS4 classic into a game reminiscent of a game right out of 1997. It’s a clear labor of love that manages to hold onto the core of what made Bloodborne great in a completely different style.
Right off the bat, the game hits you with nostalgia by opening with that iconic PS1 logo, complete with that lovely startup sound. Not only do the chunky character models and muddy textures scream PS1, but the controls have also been “updated,” for lack of a better term, to be able to work on an older controller. You activate the target lock with the X button (or A if you’re using an Xbox controller like I was), move with the D-pad, and turn the camera with the back shoulder buttons. There are definitely moments where I reflexively tried using the analog sticks, but the remapping helps sell the illusion that this could have existed in the late 90s. You even have to go into the redesigned old-school menu to manually transform your trick weapons, which is clunky in all the right ways.
The new visual style isn’t just for nostalgia either. Having the less distinct visuals gives everything a bit more of an uncanny nature, letting your brain fill in all the details. This works especially well for a world that’s so Lovecraft-inspired, replicating the feeling of trying to gaze on something that your mind cannot fully comprehend. Despite having less detail, enemies are still readable enough that you always know what you’re up against, a key element for a Soulslike. Even the lower draw distance gives Yharnam a more oppressive and dark atmosphere.
Despite the changes to the controls, it still feels great to play. I was easily able to fall back into my old muscle memory, tearing through hordes of enemies as I made my way through the streets of Yharnam. It’s not as tight as the original, but it’s still easy to get quickly killed if you’re not paying enough attention. Even the boss fights feel appropriately exciting, giving me the same palm-sweating tension that I get from a full-sized soulslike. By keeping the scale small, Walther was able to polish this demake to an incredible level of quality.
BloodbornePSX isn’t a recreation of the full game, which would be an unfathomable undertaking to be done in the 13-month development cycle of this project, instead focusing on just Central Yharnam, including the Cleric Beast and Father Gascoigne boss fights. Interestingly, the recreation isn’t one-to-one, as Walther sprinkles in plenty of surprises throughout the levels to really make it her own. As someone who’s put over 200 hours into the original Bloodborne, it was nice to revisit the game in a new way that was able to surprise me. One moment that remixes the first appearance of the troll was particularly inspired. Even with these changes, it still retained the authenticity of the Bloodborne experience through a new lens.
Lots of other small changes help it forge its own identity as well. The insight mechanic is now used to gate areas in the Hunter’s Dream, slowly unlocking it as you progress through the game. Loading screens break up areas of the level, giving the player a way to escape from hordes of enemies and gain a small moment of respite. You’re also given a large amount of control over the PS1 style effects for the game. By default, you can have a more authentic 20 frames per second, or you can unlock it and let the game run as fast as it can.
So many demakes have a hard time getting out of the shadow of the original and being anything more than just a fun little gimmick. Instead of just being something that you load up to show your friends for novelty’s sake, BloodbornePSX is something I can find myself playing for hours on end, exploring one of my favorite worlds with fresh eyes. If you’re itching to get your hands on Elden Ring later this month, head over to the itch.io page and pick it up to help tide you over, as this is a quality Soulslike experience in its own right.
BloodbornePSX review code provided by the author.
BloodbornePSX is available now on PC via itch.io.
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