> outside of Dark Souls and to some extent its prequel and sequel, it's pretty much a one-of-a-kind experience.
Weird. Bloodborne is the first of the "series" that I've even been remotely tempted to play. The combat mechanics look fresh and exciting. Every video I've ever seen of its predecessors featured gameplay that looked boring and clunky (even if challenging).
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aWLsLb-tK8A (audio possibly NSFW)
Examples: http://gfycat.com/FlatOffbeatDrake http://i.imgur.com/WWUzhSe.gifv http://gfycat.com/LinedCookedKoodoo
From what I've seen of Bloodborne play, both of these concerns have been addressed. The removal of sword and boarding and the non fantasy/medieval setting make it so much more appealing to me than DS ever was. Just my personal opinion.
I would recommend the game Darkest Dungeon, which convincingly nails the atmosphere of some of Lovecraft's work, for me. It's pulpier and less serious (more purple) than Bloodborne, but I believe that Lovecraft himself was pulpier, purpler, and less serious than Bloodborne (going so far as to hide inside jokes in his work).
I'd love a couple of my cosmic-horror-loving friends to play it, but it is fucking hard. I'm not sure they'd make it to the first boss, to say nothing of past it and the next however many there are.
As someone else points out, it may unfeasible for you to get a copy of your own (it's a PS4 exclusive), so you can of course watch others play - but seriously, it's not the same thing. Creeping around corners waiting for an ambush, inspecting hideous statues, hearing the slither of some nearby yet hidden hostile creature - the mindset you enter while playing is important to the consumption of the content. Watching another play, you don't quite have that. If at all possible, don't watch, just wait for your chance to play it - outside of Dark Souls and to some extent its prequel and sequel, it's pretty much a one-of-a-kind experience.