The Worst of All Possible Worlds

212 - Bloodborne (feat. What’s All This Then?)

Oct 22, 2025
Libby Watson and Charlotte McDonnell, co-hosts of the What’s All This Then? podcast, delve into the gothic horror of Bloodborne. Libby shares how the game reshaped her gaming experience, while Charlotte offers insights into its lore and themes. They discuss FromSoftware's design evolution and the game's steep challenges, alongside its emotional storytelling and innovative mechanics. The pair reflect on how Bloodborne serves as a transformative experience, helping players confront anxiety and mastery through its haunting atmosphere.
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ANECDOTE

Streaming Turned A Joke Into Commitment

  • Libby first played Bloodborne as a Twitch 'difficult games week' stunt and unexpectedly stuck with it.
  • Streaming support and chat encouragement kept her playing through repeated failures.
INSIGHT

Bloodborne As The Purest FromSoftware Combat

  • Bloodborne tightens FromSoftware design into a single, aggressive combat loop focused on speed and rally mechanics.
  • That focus creates a gateway: learn Bloodborne and the core skills translate to other FromSoft games.
INSIGHT

Lovecraft Meets Surgery Drives The Theme

  • Bloodborne mixes Lovecraftian cosmic horror with early-modern surgical history to create its themes.
  • The result ties 'insight' mechanics to madness, discovery, and bodily transformation in gameplay and story.
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