Bloodborne is about more than just vanquishing monsters.

It’s a modern classic of Gothic horror.

What really won audiences over, though, was the rich Gothic atmosphere of each Hammer horror experience.

The design team certainly had an obvious affection for Gothic horrors romantic aesthetics.

However,Bloodborneis no mere tribute.

In fact, it is the greatest example of effective Gothic horror that gaming has ever produced.

In other words, how can such an overwhelmingly stylized Gothic game be genuinely scary?

For that matter, how did they turn the already decidedly Gothic worlds ofDark Soulsinto something truly horrifying?

Part of that process involved incorporating and embracing the weird and wonderful world of Lovecraftian horror.

The subject of Lovecrafts role in the evolution of Gothic horror is the source of a great debate.

Manuscripts are essentially ghost stories in the Romantic Gothic, Hudson writes.

This lone aspect not only ties Lovecrafts works with the Gothic horror genre butBloodborneandDark Soulsas well.

Master Willem presided over the College of Byrgenwerth.

There, he along with scholars and students discovered many great things.

It was, perhaps, even the key to becoming a god.

However, Willem believed that the blood was dangerous.

He preached the words Fear the Old Blood in the hopes his students would seek knowledge instead.

Some listened, but others did not.

He formed the Healing Church and turned Yharnam into a destination for those seeking aide.

Sometimes, they elminated the people before the symptoms even manifested.

That isnt to say the Church abandoned their use of the Old Blood.

Instead, sections of the church researched the origin and purpose of the blood more adamantly than ever before.

Bloodborneconditions you to not trust yourself.

It even causes you to question what exactly you are accomplishing with your actions.

Its that last question that will hant you duringBloodbornes final moments.

At what point do you stop asking these questions because you cannot process the answers?

InBloodborne, madness is always with the player.

Some of your first enemies resemble wolfmen and crazed villagers in wide-brimmed hats forming a mob of torchlight.

Perfectly placed carriages line the moonlit streets.

One of the games first bosses is a man in black watching over a decaying graveyard.

It isnt long, though, beforeBloodborneexploits your complacency.

Here, the visual design begins to resemble a classic Universal horror film as directed by David Cronenberg.

What is so commonly referred to as nightmare fuel has become the thing that drives you.

Matthew Byrd is a staff writer forDen of Geek.

You canread more of his work hereor find him on Twitter at@SilverTuna014.