Bloodborne took the Souls formula and rebuilt it around aggression. Shields were almost useless; instead, a rally system let you recover lost health by attacking immediately after taking damage. This single mechanic transformed cautious Souls players into relentless hunters. The Victorian gothic setting of Yharnam was FromSoftware's best world, a labyrinthine city that shifted from werewolf horror to Lovecraftian cosmic madness as the night progressed. The trick weapons (each transforming between two forms) were brilliant in design. The lore revealed itself in layers, with the true nature of the nightmare becoming clear only in the final act.