Bloodborne Before Bloodborne | The Nightmare Creatures Series

The Nightmare Creatures series is one of the more notable, interesting series to pop up in the early days of 3D gaming.
Nightmare Creatures gets plenty of comparisons to Bloodborne, and for good reason. Plague-ridden streets of mid 19th century London with things that go bump in the night.
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That said, Nightmare Creatures 2 is more in the vein of Bloodborne. The first game is more hack and slash with level design similar to classic FPS titles. While it falls victim to some issues plaguing early 3D titles, it's still a blast to play and one you can pick up at any time.
Nightmare Creatures 2 is slower, more spread out, and more linear in its design. In ways, much more like Bloodborne. But it's a sequel that pushed the hardware of the Playstation to its absolute limits.
As a result, cutbacks were made in other areas like gameplay. Nightmare Creatures 2 is a case of one step forward, several steps back. It's one of the more disappointing sequels I've played. With that, let's look into the Nightmare Creatures series. Where the games go right, where they go wrong, and why they're still worth checking out. At least the first game.
Timestamps:
• 00:00 - Prelude
• 01:16 - Nightmare Creatures Intro
• 03:03 - Nightmare Creatures Gameplay
• 15:40 - Nightmare Creatures 2 Intro
• 17:46 - Nightmare Creatures 2 Gameplay
• 29:38 - The Nightmare Creatures 3 That Never Was & Conclusion
Additional Footage:
• Bioshock
• BloodbornePSX
• Nightmare Creatures 3: • Nightmare Creatures 3 ...
• Nightmare Creatures Remake: • Nightmare Creatures (2...
• Ozzy Osbourne - Mr. Crowley
• Resident Evil
• Rob Zombie - Dragula
• Super Mario 64
• Tomb Raider
• KZbin comment from (allegedly) one of the developers of Nightmare Creatures: • Was it Good? - Nightma...
• KZbin comment from (allegedly) one of the developers of Nightmare Creatures 2: • Nightmare Creatures 2 ...
#boulderpunch #nightmarecreatures

[@BoulderPunch]

• SUPPORT ON PATREON: www.patreon.com/boulderpunch • KZbin Membership: kzbin.info/door/Ue2AK0iirPfXcDkYu5dWowjoin • KZbin comment from (allegedly) one of the developers of Nightmare Creatures: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3zdiKqslKtkbqc&lc=UgzY1UkD1FXLz1HJ0U94AaABAg • KZbin comment from (allegedly) one of the developers of Nightmare Creatures 2: kzbin.info/www/bejne/i5m6Yn-GbNNrfdE&lc=Ugw8yaP5cxpD4MpotnV4AaABAg

[@halfplusgood7115]

This IS a real game after all, I'm so happy to be reassured I didn't just make this up during my childhood.

[@liquidrufus]

The thing I remember the most about the series besides the cool monster design was the Rob Zombie music used during cinematics in 2.

[@robbanbobban2]

​@@liquidrufus That was in the US right? In Europe the soundtrack was different.

[@liquidrufus]

@@robbanbobban2 aye it was the US version

[@copperbadge1]

You have no idea how many times I went into the basement and searched through my boxes to try and find the CDs of games I swear I owned but seem to have disappeared into thin air.

[@scottjones845]

I've heard so many people with the same situation as you over the course of my life, I had wondered if you all went through your lives thinking this was like a Mandela effect game or something, quietly going crazy. Lol I can relate.

[@sukamadik5983]

God I wish more modern AAA games had this darker style to them.

[@Truant89]

That's how we got the Xbox 360 era of everything being a gray and brown gritty third person shooter.

[@sukamadik5983]

@@Truant89 This is a darker art direction than was done well. A lot of those other games were just bland and generic so there's a big difference. Sadly AAA gaming usually takes the wrong lesson from anything done right so yeah I get what you mean.

[@HiGlowie]

@@sukamadik5983AAA gaming priorities marketing to children and making graphics great than actual fun gameplay or mechanics

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

@@Truant89 Yeah that era was filled with piss filter, greys and putting too much bloom on everything ... Even to this day I have to disable the bloom from some games it's just absurd ... XB360 and PC games were just super ugly and still are ... or better say simply unplayable.

[@mr.bonezy1206]

Unfortunately most AAA studios don't know edgy from dark and end up making cringy trash that they blame us for not liking. Lol

[@bouncingbluesoul5270]

NC2 actually had a lot of content cut. The Game was supposed to have two playable characters like in the first instalment. There was going to be a third act of the game set in an American Bayou.

[@xXLunatikxXlul]

That would have been amazing!

[@cactuss33ds]

that is so unfair. american gothic horror in the bayou could be insane.

[@Grasses0n]

I always loved how the word "creatures" in the title screen looked like a death metal band logo to me, how it's big and symmetrical.

[@elrichklopper6207]

I was born in 1988. This game was epic back in the day

[@rnb4315]

Yeah, mom was surprised I could get Nadia doing flips and stuff when I was 5. I swear this game along with the Clive Barkers and American McGee's Alice were part of a starter set for some of us. I didn't even know there was a sequel!

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

I think the 2nd game was mainly targeted for the west even tho ironically set in England and the Europe version got some weird censored version or my copy was broken I don't know. All I remember some odd cuts stutters and broken parts of the game where I had to restart the whole level and the some cutscenes were removed or altered. Later I got a western copy and played that instead and far as I know that one was ok. (I had a modded PS1 and later PS2 too so I was able to play imports and choose the best from all versions thanks to all that ...)

[@swordofdanu]

I bet she was! What a child prodigy! And it's led all the way here...to a comment section, she must be very proud.

[@swordofdanu]

​@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy what a great story, i know I'll never forget it, thanks for sharing!

[@sprinkleddonuts6094]

Clive barker’s Jericho? That game was ass dude, was great idea poorly executed.

[@jimmybuba2683]

​@@sprinkleddonuts6094he probably means Clive Barker's undying, similar time frame

[@SeanMac-]

Playing Nightmare Creatures while listening to 3-6 Mafia...man i miss high school

[@galfajon1732]

youre honestly goated with the sauce and going super hard, 30 min reviews like youtube used to make before the 4hr video algorithm spam, big up boulder punch keep going

[@ThatOneGuyYouNeverWantToMeet]

Bringing back old childhood memories. I played both games for the first time when I was 7 or 8 on PS1 & when Bloodborne came out 16/17 years later I drew immediate connections between them. Didn't know they were going to make a third, I hope they do someday or at least remaster the original 2.

[@swordofdanu]

Course you did.

[@Dizzula]

I've still never defeated the final boss of nightmare creatures - back when I was a kid I didn't know how, and going back to it nowadays is... problematic to say the least!

[@MitchManix]

Love your videos. Have been playing the N64 release of NC recently. Didnt come out in the UK but having a great time with it so far.

[@INFILTR8US]

It is was on N64? Whaaaaaaaat

[@GabrielOnuris]

I thought you played only MMOs! Just kidding, I love your videos too. Looks like youtube is a small place after all.

[@dsmoothb]

One thing I disliked about the PlayStation version of nightmare creatures and what really kept me from getting into it was the adrenaline meter. Essentially, every level you're being timed and you have to attack enemies as quickly as possible or you will run out of time. If I remember correctly, the N64 version did not have that time limit although I could be mistaken

[@kuronoroux8864]

I always laugh that the guy who did the Bloodborne demake got pissed because people compared it to Nightmare Creatures time and time again.. Also, the narrations from Wallace just scream:"So Soul Reaver had Michael Bell info dumping the players about Nosgoth through Raziel's eyes. Let's do the same"

[@TheUnaBoomer]

Bro this series and Legacy of Kain series was my childhood. So edgy with all the Rob Zombie music lmao.

[@swordofdanu]

I'm pretty sure if you grew up on these games you wouldn't be using 'bro' and 'lmao'

[@TheUnaBoomer]

@@swordofdanu I'm 30

[@sprinkleddonuts6094]

@@TheUnaBoomer🤦🏻‍♂️r/whooosh

[@keyman245]

​@@sprinkleddonuts6094not really a whoosh tough

[@gamervet4760]

Well, you're exploring my childhood. We had several games for our PS1. Project Overkill, Panzer General, Time Commando, and this. I got heavily invested into it. I was 9 or 10 at the time Batman Mask of The Phatasm is on VHS, and I'm riding the highs of Resident Evil. Though, this one stuck with me for being really amazing. I was scared, but once I started with the combo system, the game became a cakewalk. Until I had to rely on items and spells later on. Trial and error. Guns were always a nice fight skipper in 1 and 2. 😁👍

[@BeardlessPipeSmoker]

I remember my best friend coming over to play this game at my house, then he was too scared to return to his house at night, so he stayed over for the night hahahahahah. What a fun memory that is

[@maxxpyron7305]

I'm so happy to see you review this game! I used to love playing this with my dad when I was young. Lots of nostalgia and fond memories of handing my dad the controller. Thanks for covering it!

[@gubigubigubigubi]

This was one of the first 3 PS1 games I ever played in my life. I was 6 years old.💀

[@pawelisecki6054]

Good times

[@jediducky623]

Thank you! I been waiting for someone to finally cover these games.

[@DaBudd]

I loved Nightmare Creatures 2. Was 6 years old and played it on the Dreamcast. Still have that system and play it whenever I feel the need to reminisce.

[@bencorrigan5915]

Great video. I used to rent the first game over and over when I was young. But I could never get that far in it. I just loved the atmosphere. Hope they do something new with the franchise in the future. There's lots of potential in this series post bloodborne

[@NomadSoul21]

Been waiting for your take on this classic. Nice work, as always! Thanks!

[@sukamadik5983]

Oh I am really loving this game and your video very much. Thanks for introducing me to this franchise.

[@brainrich1358]

Crazy seeing how this game is starting to now develop a cult following years after it's initial release

[@ashleydolin4292]

We've always been here. You're just noticing us now.

[@minmogrovingstrongandhealthy]

The gaming community had a major shift. We old folks stopped gaming because games stopped being games and are online locked placebo driven nonsense ... We played the old games way too much to the point there is nothing else to do but quit ... When Bloodborne came out we basically chuckled and kept saying it's nice to have finally a Nightmare Creatures followup game after all these years XD There were times when by mistake I called Bloodborne a Nightmare Creatures it became 2nd nature ...

[@Naruga]

Ye the game was kinda shit on by most people on release and relegated to a weekend rental.

[@djhenyo]

@@Naruga The game sucked even back in the day. It was shat on all over as being mediocre at best by nearly everybody. The demo was a neat way to test out a new Voodoo card, but the full game wasn't worth spending money or further time to play.

[@Zorros2ndCousinTwiceRemoved]

Great video! (Although I think you may be a bit forgiving here and there.) Tiny nitpick, though: It's Hecate (as in the Greek goddess), not Hectate.

[@hamletdreams2881]

Thank you for this video and reminding me about this game. I never played the full version, it wasn't really available for me as a very young teen but I had the demo on the PSX and played it to death. I still remember it very well but couldn't remember the name of the game. It's great to finally having it rediscovered by your video. Great content. Thx

[@Brucedoos]

Glad to see you cover this!

[@user-kn8mf3rw9f]

I had Nightmare Creatures on N64. Loved it. 2 great systems . Ps1. N64. Appreciate both.

[@nupraptorthementalist3306]

I bought NCII in an independent VHS rental store, on a whim and a sale. Back when you picked games on the box; hit gold.

[@Thetrue777luck777]

The last boss on the first game was a demon made by Adam Crowley to look like him so he could fake his death and continue his work,the one grabbing the demon's head in the end is Adam Crowley.

[@pawelisecki6054]

👀👀

[@twood1277]

I was too little to be any good at this game but 1 of my absolute favorite gaming memories was watching my dad play every night until he beat it. Core memory!

[@FluidRat]

Ah yes, the Catacooms of France, many a man met his end in the cooms

[@philippqquutt4549]

a remaster/remake would be great!

[@DedAlexFive]

Thank you for giving these games exposure 🙌

[@og_ice_freezer]

I remember this game dearly. It was good. It was good

[@reptilemark7346]

Nightmare creatures was one of the first games I had in the 90s for ps1. I even knew the names of the monsters like pepys monster and docker. It definitely gave me nightmares

[@JohnBrown-wk4io]

I would love to see a remaster of this series. I loved NC1, beat it multiple times, and did not get to complete NC2.

[@WangNurMouth]

And breh, the fatal execute in the big monster guys was too dope. Bury his axe in their chest and just keep swinging at its corpse hearing its rib cage break. Great stuff

[@andyruiz3460]

I remember playing this a lot on my 64, favorite game growing up. Still play it to this day.

[@sikevillian]

Holy shit this actually looks amazing to play. Hate how many great older games will fly over our head. Thanks for keeping this games memory alive. Hope you visit Hunter the reckoning games one day 💪

[@garymcderp1146]

I remember playing this when it first came out when I was a kid. I found it pretty scary actually. Loved the crazy combat too.

[@gamingdragon276]

I got in this series with the 2nd nightmare game and never played the 1st game. It was amazing especially that Rob zombie music intro

[@steelcurtain187]

I remember I was super excited for the first one when it came out. I bought the game and the dual shock controller, which had just come out as well. It was an exciting Friday night 😆

[@exmalobonum1]

Damn, I completely forgot about this game! Good catch on the BB link.

[@Lord_Deimos]

Being a huge Castlevania fan as a kid, when I first saw Nightmare Creatures on GamePro I was hooked. The atmosphere was dark and it seemed so scary I could only play it in small sessions as I was only 12 at the time. I often wonder what Nightdive could do with it.

[@thebeardofpepew4538]

I’ve loved this game since i rented it back in the day 97! The atmosphere is unmatched, the weather effects, the sound and music all beautifully lined up to really deliver. I remember being so impressed with the rain actually having a splash graphic when it hits the ground and the snow crunching under your feet. Great stuff man. Just wish the ps1 version would let you turn off the damn adre line meter so you could explore in peace

[@evolancer211]

He said it at the beginning, did you hear him? He says it!!

[@jaded5957]

I spent so much time playing this game and Deathtrap Dungeon back in the day. Money well spent.

[@kingdavid5202]

I remember playing nightmare creatures I remember being very hard. Good video 👍

[@JellyJman]

I always thought of this as Bloodborne before Bloodborne, Micheal Zaki definitely played this back in the day im sure of it

[@SkepticalBucketman]

Its quite interesting to say the least that this game came out around the same time that Star Wars: Dark Forces 2 (a personal favourite of mine) did. I know we are talking different approaches here but imagine how awesome would've been if the lightsaber combat had the style that this game had for its combat. Thank you for the video, didn't know this game even existed and it certainly looks cool

[@EndThusIAm]

Oh man, I remember seeing that face in Gamepro but never knew exactly what it was! Gotta try this out!

[@Fyodor_Kafka]

The song by Rob Zombie at the beginning of Nightmare Creatures 2 was FIRE.

[@user-cc7jv6nj7z]

Video games gave us some of the best memories to remember

[@nin_tendo6458]

Cracked me up the way he said "cata-cooms" in the second game

[@joaquinbaume1291]

i remember playing Nightmare Creatures 2 as a child, it was really scary but i loved it

[@icemann42086]

I played the first one when it came out, loved it. You get a thumbs up just for that 😉

[@ChristianRamirez-vx2le]

I couldn't even get past the first level because I was so scared as a kid. You have an old tv where you can't see anything, then monster jump scares coming out of nowhere.

[@jaded5957]

We used to scream laughing at Ignatious' mincy run with his stick.

[@frethero19]

I still have my original N64 and my original copy of this game. Sadly I dont have a tv old enough to plug into. This game, Super Smash Bros., Goldeneye, and Space Station Silicon Valley were the main games that informed my entire childhood.

[@fatal-vice8145]

Shouldn't need a old TV. As long as your TV has a coaxial or component hook ups.

[@amanchoosesaslaveobeys6510]

This is a blast from the past

[@ShallowVA]

Speaking of Doom, that snow monster’s roar seems to be the same sound sample as the Cyberdemon’s death!

[@s81n]

I loved this game and its atmosphere. I'd buy a modern remake of it in a heartbeat. My favorite beginning where you see the bloody carriage, it really set the tone.

[@lakobause]

I never would've even knew this game existed were it not for that one creepy commercial I saw on TV when I was a kid.

[@KrazyKuno]

I have a copy of NC2 for the Dreamcast. I played it for a bit, but quickly got lost, and I shelved it. Hoping to try again as an older gamer and see where I went wrong. From what I remember it handled fairly well at the time.

[@gabrielcarmine69]

Something that doesn't get talked a lot about with this series is that, while seemingly not particularly popular and only vaguely remembered, in the year 2000 Universal Studios during Halloween Horror Nights made two haunted houses (one in Orlando Florida and the other in Hollywood) based off of the games. The Orlando one seemingly being a modern day take on the concept, if a bit loose in approach, and the one in Hollywood namedropping Adam Crowley directly. The Orlando one also allowed people to walk around inside the King Kong ride on the ground level while the ride still operated. Oddly enough, with the series being so obscure, it isn't even remembered within the HHN fandom as being the first house based on a video game property.

[@daveemooowostreams192]

I remember this game and I remember this game fondly, this was if not one of the games that scared me as a kid and made me hate it after I got over the scary parts and into the combat, but however. I also remember that this game was also very hard in the sense of controls, but I am now 28 and I should pick this game up or at least emulate it. It's a real shame that I couldn't do the game as a child, but now it's even more shameful that I want to play it as an adult.

[@centuriongirlw5822]

I freaking loved this game growing up

[@erinweatherly6539]

I used to love playing this and blasting Ozzys MrCrowley on repeat

[@CatManDoom84]

I remember sneaking onto the family computer late at night to play the demo of this from a pc gamer magazine and being so creeped out hah. Ive never beat it but i have it on my modded ps3, i def need to give it a go.

[@BloodRedFox2008]

I remember renting the N64 version and really enjoying it, even beat it during that weekend. Never did play the sequel, but despite its flaws I’m sure teenage me would have enjoyed it just for the atmosphere alone.

[@kyrridas1573]

if NC2's development had aimed for a PS2 release, and they were able to include at least _some_ of the additional elements they wanted, it probably would've been incredible. we'd still be playing the series to this day.

[@alieldorado1438]

I loved Nightmare Creatures so much!!!

[@resevil2396]

I still like this era of games. I think we got more experimental and unique systems and game types than we do today. Even a lot of indie games follow one of a relative handful of established styles. The graphics while awful arguably made non horror games feel darker and creepier than modern equivalents (id point to some levels of the spyro remake as good examples of this). Sure it was due to rough hardware and graphical limits and nostalgia is definitely a factor, but I enjoy it.

[@dungeondesigns104]

Well this brings back memories!

[@ronjefferson4261]

Played the hell out of 1 and 2. 2 on Dreamcast was amazing.

[@syminite1]

Ayeee!!! I viciously had this game back in 98! Was one of the best on ps1! 😊😊

[@swordofdanu]

You must of had a shit collection to think this was any good 👍

[@redmist78]

Remember the order game that came out for PlayStation 4? Imagine this game reimagined with those graphics. I'm still waiting for next gen.

[@bleee849]

They've had these guys from a french designing studio who made all these creature models. They looked creepy af, i think these were one the most terryfying monsters in games ever made., especially in NC2

[@Deathcore615]

Brooooooo my friend had me convinced this was a Castlevania title when I was a kid. I had forgotten all about this game.

[@brandonjenkins2836]

If i had one wish, it would be for someone to remake the Nightmare Creatures franchise. This was one if my all time, most played and favorite games. Bloodborne was the initial game that pushed me to get a ps4 as fast as i could.

[@incredibleflameboy]

There was quite an interesting study done probably about 20 years ago, im not sure who did the study but i know it had an effect on tomb raider where they found that male video game players are more likely to take a right path when the choice is presented. im not sure if there was a follow up study but they weren't sure if it's because its a learned habit from game design (like treasure under waterfalls) or if it's a natural bias that is just exposed when the stakes for making the choice are low.

[@WangNurMouth]

Loved murdering things in nightmare creatures 2. Chopping off arms and legs. Soldiers of fortune for dreamcast had a limb removal system too such a great console.

[@stuartbagley2586]

I played this on the PS1 when it came out out and the adrenaline meter killed it. Game was already super hard and having to fight the meter meant you really couldn’t search for health or other power ups. The game was ripe for exploration but alas it was not feasible. I still liked it, but never beat it.

[@KhaozVoid]

I had nightmare creatures 1 and 2 growing up

[@lowfat0g]

Hey thanks for sharing, great game great memories 😊

[@dougneon9550]

9:11 that's a deep violation right there

[@ClunytheScourge1]

Hecate pronounced 'Hekk-a-tee' (one of the Ancient Greek deities).

[@Asterion_Mol0c]

Gun

[@unbearifiedbear1885]

As if memories of this game weren't _"fever dream"_ enough, my experience of it came by way of a demo that was "hidden" inside the back of the jewel case of another game (maybe Crash 2?) - I had the game for well over a year before I realised the case folded out and there was another disc in there lol Me and my mate were SO fkn stoked to have something new to play, will always have a place in my heart 😂

[@jacobanderson7509]

Loved this game but man did it creep me out as a kid

[@wolfmarian]

i used to be terrified of the soundas and monsters in this game, memories!

[@Fartylipjuice]

I REMEMBER THIS GAME BACK IN THE DAY

[@Peatnik9]

Would love to see a remake of 1&2.

[@puddel9079]

I noticed pretty late that the mode was mentioned. Fun fact: the monster mode has a bug. If you encounter a monster of the same type you were assigned, your character will immediately look away, forcing you to cheese them with AOE item spam.

[@Wallace-Amadeus]

Nightmare Creatures 2 I was a huge fan of back in the day, as a kid. I still really like it, jank and all. The first game though, I can't stand it because of the damn adrenaline meter. Also, on the DC version of 2, if you wanna cheat and become invincible, I have the code memorized Pause, and highlight the options menu. Hold L and R then press the following:

[@Andriej69]

I've never finished this game (first one) as a kid, got back to it just recently, thanks to Zomb's Lair - imagine my disappointment when I was unable to complete the game because I missed the last bladed weapon in the game, and you can't decapitate final boss with a blunt one...

[@djblaklite]

this video is great! however, id recommend putting some kind of music or something in the background, just so were not ONLY listening to your voice. besides that, this video is very good, well done :) i fucking loved the first game. wish i could replay it on something that wasnt an emulator :/

[@VannTheDawn]

I played this for a while when I was younger, and never touched it again.

[@ernestisom5878]

I've been trying to remember what this game was called forever

[@zZiL341yRj736]

Sony: What the fuck is a Bloodborne?