Summary
While some of the endgame bosses inBloodbornedon’t measure up to other difficult encounters, Gehrman is an outlier who manages to keep the pace fast and difficulty high into the final moments of the game. This comes on top of Gehrman being one offew bosses in FromSoftware’s catalogthat has as much of an impact on the narrative as he does on the lore.
The multiple endings ofBloodbornewere a new twist on an older concept from theSoulslikeseries, with three options for a final boss centered on a decision made when speaking with Gehrman. It is this small conversation that helps to set Gehrman apart from other FromSoftware bosses since he’s one of the few characters that players can actually speak to and get to know before the fighting starts.
Gehrman as Bloodborne’s Stellar Finale
Understanding FromSoftware’s Most Complex Villain
To call Gehrman a true villain might be a stretch, given the fact that he is not only reluctant to attack the player but also clearly doesn’t want tobe in the Hunter’s Dreamat all. However, he does still play his role as it would seem the Moon Presence asks, offering the Hunter the chance to wake up from the dream and finally escape Yharnam when morning comes. It’s the last of many moments where Gehrman acts as a guide, trying to help the Hunter reach the end and eventually be released from the endless dream.
This all makes Gehrman one of the most complex enemies across the FromSoftware catalog because his role as a guide gives players time to understand who he is and his struggle of being trapped in the Hunter’s Dream. One of the most notable moments from Gehrman doesn’t even come from dialogue he speaks directly to the player but is found when he’s sleeping out in the garden and screams to himself about the horrors of the Hunter’s Dream and his history with the hunt.
The result is a level of firsthand context added to the comingfight with Gehrmanthat the Soulsborne series hadn’t experimented with untilBloodborneand wouldn’t show up again until the final encounter against Isshin Ashina inSekiro.
A Moveset That Goes Beyond the Lore
Outside of the lore and narrative use of Gehrman inBloodborne’s finale, there is also the matter of the character as an actual boss fight that challenges the player to see the end credits. Up until the release ofBloodborne, FromSoftware had actually stumbled quite a bit at making a compelling final boss that can live up to the hyper-difficulty that the flagship Soulsborne series is known for. Between Gwyn’s relatively easy parries and Nashandra’s low hit points, the finales for these games had long been some of the simpler fights across these games, and the same can almost be said for thefight against the Moon Presenceafter Gehrman.
This is where theboss fight against Gehrman stands out, especially since he can be the final encounter depending on the ending that the player manages to unlock. Spread across multiple phases, Gehrman swaps his trick weapon between a scythe and a sword to deliver combinations of quick slashes and massive lunges, broken up by an occasional gunshot to parry overly aggressive players. It is a fast-paced fight that requires players to master the game’s combat better than another Hunter who has access to powerful tools that almost cheat the system.
Bloodborne’s Best Ending Could be the Saddest
With three endings to choose from, it can be difficult to tell what is the"best" way to finishBloodborne, either for the first time or on subsequent runs and in New Game Plus. It can be easy to see Gehrman as optional, with the choice to not fight him leading to what might be the happiest ending where the Hunter wakes up, or a stepping stone to eventually challenge the Moon Presence and ascend to Great One status. However, the best ending to shoot for from a gameplay perspective might be Gehrman, as he gives the best final challenge to overcome before reaching the end credits.
Bloodborne
WHERE TO PLAY
Hunt your nightmares as you search for answers in the ancient city of Yharnam, now cursed with a strange endemic illness spreading through the streets like wildfire. Danger, death and madness lurk around every corner of this dark and horrific world, and you must discover its darkest secrets in order to survive.A Terrifying New World: Journey to a horror-filled gothic city where deranged mobs and nightmarish creatures lurk around every corner.Strategic Action Combat: Armed with a unique arsenal of weaponry, including guns and saw cleavers, you’ll need wits, strategy and reflexes to take down the agile and intelligent enemies that guard the city’s dark secrets.A New Generation of Action RPG: Stunningly detailed gothic environments, atmospheric lighting, and advanced new online experiences showcase the power and prowess of the PlayStation(R)4 system.Ever-changing Chalice Dungeons to Explore: Use holy chalices to gain entrance to a network of vast underground ruins, filled with traps, beasts, and rewards, to explore and conquer alone or with others. These procedurally generated dungeons offer brand new challenges to master, and can be uploaded or shared with friends.
