Low poly, top quality
Bloodborne PSX is a cool PS1-style demake of FromSoftware’s gothic RPG
With Bloodborne fans still in the dark about whether FromSoftware will bless them with a glossy remaster for the PS5, their yearning to explore the city of Yharnam grows ever stronger. If you’re looking for something to scratch that soulslike itch, then Bloodborne PSX is the cure for what ails you.
Developed by Lilith Walther, Bloodborne PSX is a fan-made project for PC that has recreated the gloriously gothic PS4 classic in the style of a PS1 game, and it’s surprising how well Bloodborne suits the rougher graphics of the PS1 era. Everything has been recreated in full polygonal glory; the chunky visuals really pluck on our nostalgic heartstrings. They’re matched by appropriately fuzzy sound effects too. Walther has even included the
PS1 loading screen before the game’s start menu, those gentle chimes providing a major serotonin boost. It truly feels like FromSoftware’s tough-as-nails RPG has tumbled back in time and is now on a long-forgotten PS1 demo disc at the bottom of your desk drawer.
The demake doesn’t cover the entire game but there’s a handful of hours of gameplay to sink your teeth into. You can fight the first two bosses, the Cleric Beast and Father Gascoigne, who are more terrifying than ever, even with the old CRT monitor overlay. In combat it becomes clear that Bloodborne PSX doesn’t just look like a demake, it feels like one too. There’s controller support, but don’t even think about touching those thumbsticks because moving your hunter requires you to get reacquainted with using the D-pad. There are other lovely little touches, like how you can slow down the frame rate and increase loading times in the settings.
Bloodborne enthusiasts definitely shouldn’t miss Bloodborne PSX, especially as it’s completely free to download from the website itch.io. With fans still holding their breath for a proper PS5 remaster of Bloodborne (they’re probably a deep shade of purple by now), this demake might be the closest we may get to replaying the game with any sort of graphical overhaul. For a while, anyway.