Why Bloodborne's Micolash is the Ultimate NPC Boss Fight and FromSoftware Needs to Take Notes

FromSoftware took a risk in including a boss with significant lore in the finale of Bloodborne, but it fell short in terms of actual gameplay. Micolash, a crazed scientist, prioritizes gaining knowledge at any cost, making the fight frustrating as he spams Hunter's Tools with seemingly unlimited stamina and quicksilver bullets. This issue is not unique to Bloodborne, as FromSoftware's other titles have also struggled with creating a satisfying NPC boss fight that rivals the excitement of PVP battles. The result often feels like an enemy that has access to all of the player's tools without their limitations.

Bloodborne's Worst Chase and Spell-Spam

When facing Micolash, players will immediately notice the unorthodox start to the encounter. Unlike other boss fights in Bloodborne's Nightmare Frontier, the battle takes place on a narrow staircase rather than a spacious arena. This initial section of the fight can be frustrating as players are required to chase Micolash down and trap him in a room with a locking door. Unfortunately, this part of the fight can be weakened by RNG, with the boss sometimes not darting off into the actual encounter room. While careful positioning can always siphon him into the kill box, this may not be obvious for first-time players.

Once the player has cornered Micolash and the actual fight begins, things don't get any better. Despite his lack of physical strength, the boss heavily relies on his spells, using the Hunter's Tools Auger of Ebrietas and A Call Beyond to catch players in a stunlock combo or burn through a max-Vitality build in one shot. The majority of Micolash's attacks consist of swinging his fists, making the fight feel underwhelming.

These powerful spells can turn the daunting task of defeating Micolash into a game of chance, as players hope to avoid his relentless spamming of attacks. In particular, A Call Beyond is especially frustrating due to its unpredictable trajectory, making it nearly impossible to dodge in some instances. Consequently, many players resort to using poison knives from a safe distance rather than engaging in a direct confrontation on subsequent playthroughs.

FromSoftware Continues to Struggle With NPC Bosses

The issue of NPC bosses spamming attacks and utilizing powerful spells that players cannot counter due to the game's limitations is a recurring problem in FromSoftware titles. The latest example of this is Gideon Ofnir in Elden Ring, who could have provided an exciting challenge for players with PVP mage builds, but instead breaks the game's rules. Like Micolash, Gideon has unlimited FP and Stamina, and his spell spamming makes the fight more dependent on the luck of the spell selection rather than the player's actions.

Despite some shortcomings in the PVP fights of FromSoftware games, such as Bloodborne and Elden Ring, these encounters do not completely detract from the overall experience. These titles remain some of the developer's most highly praised and beloved games by fans. Moving forward, improving the design of these fights is crucial, and incorporating player limitations into the crafting of NPCs may be the key to achieving this. Bloodborne is currently available on PS4.