Summary
Bloodbornefans have been left in the dark for years, as neither FromSoftware nor Sony has made any official statements about the IP’s future. It’s sad to say, butBloodborneis probably going to be on the shelffor the foreseeable future, as FromSoftware continues to work on other projects.
But this isn’t the end of the world. After all,Bloodborneitself couldn’t have been made if FromSoftware never deviated from theDark Soulsseries. The same goes forElden RingandSekiro: Shadows Die Twice. And althoughBloodborneis dormant and may never be roused again, its spirit lives on in a number of other projects, withDark Souls 3andElden Ringboth taking notes fromBloodborne’s fast-paced combat, worldbuilding, art design, and more. Non-FromSoftware games, likeLies of PandThymesia, have also been spawned fromBloodborne’s ashes. All of these games take inspiration from FromSoftware’s Lovecraftian opus, but none have managed to truly expand upon one of its most peculiar features: Chalice Dungeons.
Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons Can Be the Seed for a Proper Roguelite Souls Game
Chalice Dungeons Leverage Procedural Generation to Great Effect
Though they are totally optional and no doubt skipped by many players,Chalice Dungeons are amongBloodborne’s best features. The procedurally generated nature of these dungeons allows for virtually endless engagement withBloodborne’s combat loop, ensuring novel experiences even after hundreds of hours of gameplay. Chalice Dungeons also fold intoBloodborne’s lore, adding valuable context to its story.
Only Root Chalice Dungeons are procedurally generated. Non-Root Chalice Dungeons are fixed, and players must clear one fixed dungeon before gaining access to Root dungeons.
Chalice Dungeons house some ofBloodborne’s best optional bossesand minor enemies, making them essential for anyone looking to squeeze everything they can out of the game. They also offer great opportunities for resource gathering which, while not particularly useful during a first playthrough, is essential for upgrading gear on subsequent ones. Having said that, Chalice Dungeons aren’t for everyone, as they can feel a bit grindy, inconsequential, and repetitive in spite of their randomized design. But they can be expanded upon in a stand-alone game.
Adapting Bloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons to a Roguelite Framework
FromSoftware is known for its level design, so it says a lot that Chalice Dungeons can work as well as they do, being as randomized as they are. They work in tandem with the rest of the experience, from both a gameplay and narrative standpoint, though the core of the system could easily be fleshed out into a more typical modern Roguelite.
Roguelites and Roguelikes are ubiquitous in the modern games industry, but there haven’t been many that adhere to FromSoftware’s patented Soulslike brand of combat, atmosphere, and storytelling. This is a bit odd, as Soulslikes are ripe for this treatment: their simple yet satisfying melee combat, build variety, harsh learning curve, and diverse enemy design all lend themselves well to the Roguelite structure. Even FromSoftware’s much-imitated style of narrative delivery, which relies heavily on item descriptions for worldbuilding, would translate well to the Roguelite genre, as upgrades gathered during a run could also flesh out lore.
A Roguelite Souls game could alsocombat a common FromSoftware shortcomingby offering more flexible build variety, encouraging experimentation with unique power-ups and weapons in each run, rather than tethering players to one playstyle via a rigid weapon-upgrade system.
A game that merges the refreshing procedural generation ofBloodborne’s Chalice Dungeons with the ever-changing nature inherent to Roguelite gameplay could work remarkably well. FromSoftware has repeatedly proven its ability to tackle diverse gaming conventions, as evidenced by thesuccess ofElden Ring’s open-world design, so there’s reason to believe the developer could work wonders with a Roguelite game as well.
Bloodborne
WHERE TO PLAY
Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets to survive.A Terrifying New World: Journey to a horror-filled gothic city where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner.Strategic Action Combat: Armed with a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you’ll need wits, strategy and reflexes to take down the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city’s dark secrets.A New Generation of Action RPG: Stunningly detailed gothic environments, atmospheric lighting, and advanced new online experiences showcase the power and prowess of the PlayStation(R)4 system.Ever-changing Chalice Dungeons to Explore: Use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins, filled with traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer alone or with others. These procedurally generated dungeons offer brand new challenges to master, and can be uploaded or shared with friends.
