'Bloodborne' Creator Explains How Gamers Will Have A Wider Variety Despite Fewer Weapons

A lot is riding on "Bloodborne" as From Software primes the PlayStation 4 exclusive for the March 24 launch. This is especially true for Sony, which has spared no expense the marketing campaign, as the company believes that this exclusive title is integral to the console's success. There's little concern about the game's success mainly because it enjoys a loyal fanbase – most of which will purchase a copy no matter what.

The lack of weapons was only concern that was expressed from the many promotional trailers previews leading up to the launch. "Bloodborne" Director Hidetaka Miyazaki has stepped in to clear the air on the contentious subject. Speaking in an interview with the PlayStation Blog, the director assured fans that the significantly lower number of weapons will not limit their experience in any manner.

"In terms of how many physical weapons there are, the amount is less than in a Souls game, but that’s to some extent a decision made due to the game design," said Miyazaki in the interview. "The weapons transform – so one weapon will have various uses and strategies that you can implement."

The talented director, and the brainchild behind the series, put down the conservative number of total weapons available to the player in "Bloodborne" down to a design element, according to Cinema Blend. Unlike the last three "Souls" games, the upcoming PS4 exclusive will have weapons that transform to achieve multiple roles and support vastly varied combat styles. A typical melee weapon, for example, will have two modes allowing players to either use faster but weaker short-range attacks, or transform the weapon to increase its reach and attack power at the cost of agility.

The variety doesn't end at weapon transformation. The primary currency of the "Souls" games has been changed from Souls to Blood Echoes in "Bloodborne." This can be used to upgrade weapons to boost their potential. Blood Gems can be added to drastically alter their characteristics by imbuing them with unique capabilities. Although it may seem similar to the Titanite rock-based upgrade system of the "Souls" games, a total of three Blood Gems per weapon can significantly alter the way players wield them.

Gamers who have played the Dark Souls games will remember how almost everyone chose the Drake sword in the first game and Fire Longsword or Heide Knight Sword in the sequel, despite the wealth of options. These weapons, quite simply, were considered the most optimal for all melee builds. "Bloodborne" aims to cut down the number of weapons and allow gamers with varied play styles to choose and customise weapons to suit their needs. If the game plays its weapons balance right, this could potentially result in a greater variety of weapons that will actually end up getting used by a large number of players.

Bloodborn "Cut You Down" Trailer (credit: Sony Playstation YouTube channel)