Bloodborne: The Old Hunters

The Old Hunters is another shot in the arm of the same serum that coursed through Bloodborne's veins. Though diehards may pillage its secrets quickly, my approximate 15 hours spent delving its depths and gleefully employing each new destructive tool felt satisfyingly dense. The Old Hunters is an impressive return to From Software's oppressive and rewarding universe, and while it retreads much of the same path, it's very much a path worth taking.

There's beauty in both success and failure in Bloodborne. A one-second lapse in concentration can place you at the receiving end of a fatal combo but if you can maintain a persistent presence of mind, a triple-digit killstreak is not unheard of. Being tested by new foes in these new lands is an unquestionable joy, as is the ability to bring these newfound armaments and treasures into the main game. The Old Hunters is Bloodborne from another time and place, and with more difficult bosses and confounding stories to unravel, it's a fitting complement to the original, gruesome adventure.

Generous, artful and brutally hard, The Old Hunters is the perfect send-off for a modern masterpiece.

Ultra-challenging and demanding of your time, The Old Hunters isn't for the easily intimidated. But its morsels of lore, imaginative weapons, and engaging battles are all the reward you need.

An essential add-on to the core game, offering significant challenges and new ways to play the game through weapons and other goodies to suit all playstyles

From Software has always excelled when it comes to DLC, and The Old Hunters is no exception. It's simply some of the best Bloodborne content you'll ever find, especially if you blazed through the game last Spring and need a valid reason to relive the nightmare all over again.

While I'm glad I had an excuse to drop into the world of Yharnam once again, there's a part of me that feels disappointed that this will be the last, and only add-on for Bloodborne.

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is much more of the same from what is already an outstanding game. The new environments and boss encounters add hours to the main experience, but it's the deluge of additional equipment that will keep veterans most occupied. If you've been yearning for a reason to return to Yharnam, then this DLC practically demands your Blood Echoes. Just remember that the life of hunter is defined by death – and you're going to die a lot.

The Old Hunters is the best piece of DLC From Software has ever created. It does exactly what it's supposed to do and makes a great game even better.

Bloodborne: The Old Hunters is a solid add-on to an already outstanding game. While it fails to try anything new and is relatively short, the bosses make this something worthy of trekking through, especially for existing fans. There's a bevy of weapons to add to your arsenal, additional lore to accumulate in your journal and luscious environments to keep your interest. It's a shame the majority of the new areas are rather straightforward and the standard enemies don't really offer much of a challenge, but there's something about figuring out the strategies of each boss and exploring every nook and cranny of the world that will leave you satisfied. There's a masochist in everyone and Bloodborne: The Old Hunters helps bring it out in people.