A fan "demake" of Bloodborne brings the infamous boss Father Gasccoigne back in time to the PlayStation 1. The 2015 action role-playing game, created by FromSoftware, takes place in the gothic horror nightmare of Yharnam. Initially depicting classic monsters such as werewolves and angry mobs, Bloodborne notoriously develops into a truly Lovecraftian horror tale of gods and the unknowable universe.
YouTuber, game developer and tech artist Lilith Walther has previously shown off her attempts to recreate Bloodborne as a classic PlayStation game. The retro PS1 demake of Bloodborne utilizes low-polygon graphics reminiscent of iconic games such as Metal Gear Solid or Resident Evil, and it matches the style of those games through the use of large subtitles and bare loading screens. However, the original Bloodborne's gameplay mechanics are faithfully retained in the PS1 version, with stamina-based combat and lamps which act as save points.
An update on the Bloodborne demake, posted to YouTube by Lilith Walther, brings iconic boss character Father Gascoigne into the world of the PS1. The fight's opening cutscene, very memorable for those who have played Bloodborne, is delightfully nostalgic when rendered using low-polygon textures and given large blocky subtitles. However, once gameplay begins it becomes evident that Walther has almost perfectly recaptured Bloodborne's combat systems. Stamina management, dealing damage to restore health, powerful visceral attacks and healing with Blood Vials have all been adapted. Gascoigne's terrifying werewolf form is put on full display, and the video ends with the unfortunate Hunter's death at his hands.
Lilith Walther's PS1 revision of Bloodborne is undoubtedly impressive, and it is one of many video game demakes that have appeared online recently. Single-person independent developer Ohana Studio recently released footage of a retro Game Boy Color demake of Breath of the Wild, bringing the massive open-world adventure to the small screen. The project uses a mix of new assets and assets borrowed from past Zelda games and adopts the top-down perspective that was often used in the series' early installments. While the art style is faithful to the Game Boy Color and older Zelda games, the gameplay appears to faithfully replicate the Breath of the Wild experience. Players are able to cut down trees, harvest fruit and pick up equipment and weapons from fallen foes. Yet another PS1 demake comes from YouTuber Hoolopee, who brings the Resident Evil series full-circle by returning it to the classic console. The demake video imagines Resident Evil Village as a PS1 game, recreating the recent game's first trailer in the familiar polygon style.
Lilith Walther's retro demake of Bloodborne shows not only great talent, but also a great deal of care and attention to detail. The project strikes a lovely balance between retaining the original game's combat and style while also capturing the PS1's beloved graphics. With an iconic character like Father Gascoigne now complete, Walther is well on her way to transporting the entirety of Bloodborne onto the first PlayStation console.
Source: Lilith Walther/YouTube