Why Bloodborne's Patch 1.04 Is Fundamentally Damaging

Simon O'Neill of VgamerZ.com discusses in depth how he believes Bloodborne's newest patch (1.04) has destroyed the very essence of Bloodborne.

Do you think this patch will have a positive or negative impact on the community and game? Let us know.

[DanielGearSolid]

Meh...

[Crimzon]

Ditto.

It's just sad seeing someone whine that people can co-op with higher level players now provided they have a password. So what if they can? If it makes the game more enjoyable for them that's only a good thing. It doesn't affect me, and it doesn't affect the author of this article either.

The utterly bizarre obsession some people have with the difficulty of these games makes me cringe. One of the greatest innovations with this series (I'm referring to all the Souls games and Bloodborne) is the online play, which was quite frankly revolutionary. Considering they're a Japanese developer, it's astounding that From Software were thinking outside the box so long ago and brought true innovations to gaming such as the concept of invading other players worlds. Either way you cut it, online play is a huge part of these games and if From Software want to make it slightly easier for friends to play together, than who cares, really?

I completed this game long ago, and I'm sure that the author of this article did as well. Getting upset because newer players might have it easier than you is just pathetic. Let them enjoy the game.

[icaruslives]

I question whether you even bothered to read a single line of the article before saying that it doesn't affect me. Of course it affects me, and it will affect almost everyone who likes to do PVP or co-op, in ways you might not have thought about.

[ReconHope]

I agree with this article. PVP is pretty much broken. But I guess people will just strug it off as elitist whining. Sigh. The decline of Soul Games begin and the catering of casuals continues.

The truth is the whining of the so called "Elitist" are people with legit concerns that this patch has broken PVP for lower level characters by opening up a world of Twinking.

[SanctuaryExitia]

Honestly are you guys reading the article at all? It goes into great detail how it affects other players not only in pvp but in coop as well.

[Bimkoblerutso]

People disagreeing do not seem to understand that really, really low level characters can now easily obtain ridiculous equipment very early on. It completely unbalances PVP.

I like that cooping in easier, really I do. But there should have been some kind of scaling put in place so people can't exploit the game so easily.

[ReconHope]

No Bimbko. Stop speaking that logic. They will just phantom disagree anyway, with no explanation. The only good argument I have heard supporting this patch is that Billy and BoB can now coop together so it completely outweighs the negatives of unbalancing PVP(sigh).

People need to look up twinking and understand that it's never a good thing for any game or series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wik...

[MysticStrummer]

The definitions of "broken" and "unbalanced" have changed apparently. This doesn't break or unbalance anything, people are just mad that new players could have an easier time obtaining certain items. Moving on to the next imaginary crisis.

[llxKonanxll]

This is pathetic. Just to sum up this whiny article, the author is pissy because now players can co-op with you regardless of the oath or level...his argument is it's just a way for people to steamroll their way through the game and it takes away the 'satisfaction of beating the game all by yourself with no help'. -well i'd disagree. It gives the game a better social aspect. If I'm a level 80 and i have a friend who's just starting out and wants some help, I should be able to help him if he wants it.

Another issue he has is the 2v1 or 3v1 gank spanking scenarios when you invade other worlds. -Well, when you decide to invade another worlds, you run the risk of the master having a couple friends along. That's how it's been since dark souls(could've also been DS but i don't remember).

His last complaint is being summoned while the master of the world is fighting the boss with a high leveled friend who beats the boss quickly, thus runs the risk of missing out on the fight if you're far away from the fog door- that's why you ring your bell right next to the fog door.. It's not hard, and who knows you might invade a NG+ world.

I don't see why this guy has an issue with any of this. BB is meant to be a more streamlined. Besides it's only co-op that was most changed. Be grateful you can't invade at any level.

[icaruslives]

It's obvious you didn't bother reading what I was saying beyond my initial "points", considering I made more than 3 and you neglected half of what I said so let me clarify.

1) The game is not meant to be a social game and of course you can help your friend. It's called boot up skype and make a character with him, you guys will have a great time slaying beasts together without it being a cheese-fest where he loses out on experiencing the game because you slaughter everything for him in 1 shot. If you want to play with your friend so badly, it'd be infinitely more fun if you both go through the game together with the balance in tact. This way is pointless.

2)the gank squads thing I'm against is because before it was just a normal 3v1, or 2v1. Everyone would be in a fair level range with fair gear depending on where you are in the game. Now, the ganks will consist of host level 20, and his two buddies level 200 and 250, while I or you are level 20 as well. Do you not see the problem with this?

3) That's not at all what I said. I said you get no satisfaction in killing a boss because even if you're at the fog, people can now 2 shot bosses so you all go in and it's over before the music even starts.

If you don't agree with me and think I'm whiny that is your opinion and I respect that, but don't try to sum up a 1500 word piece and neglect half of the key points I tried to make just to throw people away.

I expected a lot of hate with this as I said in my piece about the community loving this patch, but I am mainly posting this for CONSTRUCTIVE discussions, not angry responses.

Have a good night.

[llxKonanxll]

It's not an 'angry discussion'. I'm just pointing out that your criticisms are weak.

[M1ST4K3]

They are valid points. Their fixes violate the initial game design.

IMO, they couldn't bother going through the amount of work that it would take to fix the matchmaking and simply bumped the level range so you are constantly finding matches... but every match is unfair (specially regarding PvP).

I love blood borne's single player... Have played a lot of PvP too... I have more than 200h already on the game. But I think I'm done with the game... will keep playing it from time to time (DLC coming :D ) but nowhere up to the time I "wasted" on DS1 / DS2.

[DragonDDark]

You make it sound that summoning is not optional..

[Gazondaily]

@llxKonanxll

"It's not an 'angry discussion'. I'm just pointing out that your criticisms are weak."

Really? Because when you start off your post like this:

"This is pathetic. Just to sum up this whiny article, the author is pissy"

Then how on earth can you say that your sentiments don't come off as 'angry'?

[Hereiamhereibe2]

So play something else. X2

[Masterofwiiu3ds]

The patch has done 1 thing for me. It allows me to play with my buddy who is just starting out. Before, it wasn't even a consideration.

This one positive outweighs the sum of all the negatives the patch brings with it. By a huge margin.

[gangsta_red]

The patch pretty much dissolves what made Bloodborne so great in the first place.

[Massahud]

1) The game is meant to be social, it even reminds a social network where you can leave messages to other users and like/dislike those messages.

2) Even before patch 1.04 it was a high risk ring the sinister bell at level 20. You could enter in a level 50 player game with two level 80 friends, considering the lvl difference. And they can add some calculation using the level of all players to limit the invasor level.

3) It's the player choice if he want an easy experience with his high level friend helping him, maybe he just wants to see the plot, or does not have enough skill for bloodborne.

I for myself wouldn't summon a high level friend because you have to up your own playing skills and reflexes while you play this game.

[generic-user-name]

IMO your only valid complaint is point 2. Point 1 and point 3 have zero effect on anyone unless they willingly allow it and if they willingly allow it, that's their business, none of yours.

[MysticStrummer]

@gangsta - This does nothing to what makes Bloodborne so great.

[mixelon]

Its a difficult one - I generally think they've made it better for the average player by making the changes but there's no way you can do that without making it worse for certain types of player who liked a certain aspect a particular way.

[Celeras]

Being able to play with your friends at any point far outweighs any downside to this so-called "issue". It has zero effect on any player outside those directly involved except in a single instance: where you invade a player and now have to deal with his higher level friend. In which case, the invader risks nothing for invading regardless. You still can't be invaded by higher level players yourself.

This is nothing but an "on principle" complaint for the elitist who doesn't want players to be able to make the game easier for themselves. If that's what they want to do, who cares?

[icaruslives]

There is a huge difference between making it less difficult through things like normal co-operation, and making it easy by going online and getting a glitcher who has a super high level character to beat the game for you.

It's Bloodborne, it's not some random game. It thrives because of it's challenge and difficulty. It's designed to be fair in a way that once you learn the game and overcome what it offers, it is no longer crushingly difficult and in turn you reap the endless satisfaction.

Why as a Souls fan yourself, would you want people to infinitely cheese the game when they miss out? I don't understand the mindset.

Also, "being able to play with friends at any point", you mean how we could before?

My favourite thing to do with my friends is co-op the game together. It's not hard at all, the patch only does one thing, it enables your end-game character to help someones new game character.

If you guys want to play with your friends, you could do that and have absolutely no trouble connecting. Use Skype too, it's fun times. Just start a character with them and enjoy the challenge together. Why is that a bad thing that needs fixing?

Why do you insist on needing your level 120+ NG+ character to make the game such a cakewalk that your apparent cherished friend won't be able to even see some of the BEST PARTS about the series you apparently want him to enjoy.

It makes little to no sense to me.

[goldwyncq]

There are many ways to enjoy what the game has to offer. If someone chooses to summon a high-leveled player for aid, then let them be. How does that affect your personal enjoyment of the game? Not everyone plays for the same reason as you do, please keep that in mind.

[Hereiamhereibe2]

Play something else.

[sereal_killer]

i agree.
People just dont want their game ruined or i think more the image of their game ruined but it has little effect on their game.

If they want to go get a friend and beat the game the ez way let them they paid for it.

Yo can also have glitched your way thru the game the "proper" way.

Sure invading now might be a little harsher with the chance but i thought that's what you wanted , more challenge ....

[die_fiend]

This article is fundamentally brain damaging

[goldwyncq]

Summoning is OPTIONAL. I personally only summoned twice during the entire game. Why anyone would care how others choose to enjoy the game is beyond me.

[mixelon]

I summoned on a few of the bosses.. No regrets!

I don't have any help in the chalice dungeons though so they get a bit sketchy.

[fonduktoe]

Don't bother clicking on this garbage.

[Roccetarius]

I agree with the Author that it's a damaging patch for the game, and they probably did it this way as a bandage fix. The wound is still there, but they're not spending the time to treat it properly because they have DLC / Expansions to release.

Oh, and don't mind the Defensive Formation being set up in the comments.

[Blacklash93]

I can see the PvP imbalance being a thing. The main PvP areas are some of the most difficult in the game, so I'd expect that's where high level-difference summoning would occur the most. Other than that, the people who are co-oping and are thus invade-able in other areas naturally present this risk.

Anti-climaxes on bosses for summoned players shouldn't be a concern. If the player uses a friend password, which is the only type of summoning that is lifting the level restrictions, they can't summon an unwitting random player into their cheesing.

As for most of the rest of the article, I find it to be sentimental and pointless moralizing over how the game should be played. Some valid concerns are raised, but the author seems to care too much about how some others are playing the game now.

[Takwin]

I've read the article and read the comments. Nothing will change my mind.

I'm still of the opinion the game should have difficulty settings to make it easier for those that just want the story and settings and far less hassle. IT IS OK. They could make it so each difficulty setting has its own summons and PvP. Problem solved AND they sell a lot more copies. It would not affect a single second of the game for people of higher difficulty levels.

[madara0sama]

I force myself to suffer and so should you!

[ReconHope]

I think that was sarcasm.

[Hereiamhereibe2]

So play something else.

[Vanfernal]

Some people paid full price for that game and don't have the skills to beat it. If this gives them a chance to experience all of the game content then I say all the better. Most hardcore Souls fans already beat this game multiple times. Give the little guy a break. I personally will be helping my friends who suck at this game beat it.

[itisallaboutps]

Casuals need help eventually. Before they quit the game for ever

[theFAYEsorceress]

it would be nice if they just opened the entire game to co-op without the use of bells or the worry of invaders. it already has a co-op feature implemented and they should just let people play this how they want to now. a small gripe but i really wanted normal co-op for this game.

[Reaper1590]

Man its just a game, who gives a shit

[gangsta_red]

So from now on no one should be disappointed or write anything of an opinion about any game because "it's just a game" or "if you don't like it, don't buy it".

Gotcha.

[SanctuaryExitia]

Kind of weird saying that on an article about a game. Why do you even read about games if you they are "just games"?

[GrubsterBeater]

This definitely won't affect me at all yet, considering I play offline/or without help, on my first play through. I'm stuck on Ebrietas right now, by the way.

[InTheLab]

Very good article and I agree on all points. Particularly the point about how these souls games were meant to be played. Can you imagine how disappointing 5-1, 5-2 would have been in Demon's Souls if you had a lvl 200 tank walking around with you? Or how disappointing that first encounter would the Tower Knight would have been if he's one shot by one of your friends who played the right way and experienced the game as it was originally intended.

This step to make the game more social does not work with this franchise. Having a buddy tag along in general is kinda weak but having that buddy over leveled beyond any challenge is flat out stupid.

Don't believe me? Go do your chalice dungeons at level 100 and tell me how much fun that is.

[SanctuaryExitia]

If people can't see how this is horrible then you either didn't read the article or are incapable of rational thought. Or you just don't care about the idea of a game being balanced and would happily throw that all away just for instant gratification.

Seriously if you have a friend on Cleric and your toon is at level 80, make another damn character. The game is designed to be played that way. But nope, you'd rather just steamroll his way to victory and a platinum.

All the while destroying the small amount of pvp left and destroying the balance of pve. This is not good and anyone who is aware that a game is about using the mechanics to overcome obstacles will tell you that. Otherwise, it's not a game. You might as well buy a walking simulator off Steam.