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Lords of the Fallen falls into that vast genre called Souls-Like. This expansive term is generally penned for anything that’ll break your balls in seconds. However, there is much more depth to this genre. Furthermore, a flippant term shouldn’t define a whole gaming experience. Instead, this blend of RPG, adventure, and cruel Souls elements ensures that it carves its own path.
This harsh endeavour was developed by HEXWORKS and published by CI Games. What’s more, it is the sequel to the 2014 title of the same name. However, no prior knowledge is required if you wish to tackle the latest iteration.
Lords of the Fallen tells a dramatic tale.
The God, Adyr was defeated. However, his resurrection is all but assured. As such, a hero must step forward to quash this uprising. Thankfully, a fabled Dark Crusader will journey through the realm of the living and dead to thwart this threat and restore equilibrium.
Though the plot lacks layers of originality, I enjoyed its dramatic approach and the blend of dark and light. On top of this, it allows the developers to create a monstrously large world that rarely outstays its welcome. Additionally, there is an entrenched feeling of danger and reward as you push yourself further into the abyss.
Alongside this, there is a deep character customisation mode and several classes to choose from. Moreover, you carve your own playstyle to tackle the harsh nature of the gameplay. Whether you focus on magic or close-quarter combat is your choice. However, whatever you decide, you must master the fluid combat mechanics to get the most out of the action.
How will you approach things?
Though I like the all-out nature of Elden Ring, Lords of the Fallen rewards you with a more refined approach. Furthermore, trying to brute kill your way through the mountains of enemies you face will not suffice. Instead, you must use your character build, weapons, and skills to your advantage. However, this is easier said than done as the game chucks mountains of enemies in your path. Additionally, the combination of ranged and close-quarter foes complicates matters further.
If you then consider the janky locking-on technique, it makes every encounter more testing than it should. Yet, if you can overcome these hurdles, there is plenty of odd lore, strange creatures, and unique weapons to discover and acquire. As such, if you adore the customisation element of this genre, then you are in for a treat.
2 worlds to explore and a bit of a gamble.
The 2014 title wasn’t expansive enough. However, Lords of the Fallen is 5 times bigger than its predecessor. Thanks to the two parallel worlds, you will have a testing time exploring every nook and cranny. Moreover, the realm of death and darkness is unbelievably cruel. Accordingly, the demonic beings that roam this plain are not to be messed with.
If you like to up the ante somewhat, you can put your XP on the line. Alternatively, you can bank it at a checkpoint to use at a convenient time. Yet, if you keep hold of your XP, you receive a bonus that rewards you for your bravery. Consequently, the more XP you hold, the greater the XP that you earn. As such, you must decide whether to risk it all or play it safe.
The bosses make Lords of the Fallen shine.
Though I have my complaints, I adored the cruel and enormous bosses in Lords of the Fallen. These asshat creatures test every ounce of patience and skill you may possess. Moreover, it can be tough to highlight their weakness, especially if your character build doesn’t complement the situation. Yet, if you can take advantage of each brute’s shortcomings, you’ll cut through them like a hot knife through butter.
Lords of the Fallen is janky and lacks polish.
My biggest disappointment is the janky and uncomfortable combat animation. Sadly, you cannot cancel any action and this causes problems in any fight. On top of this, the camera doesn’t keep up with the action and this increases your chances of dying. What’s more, the auto-locking system isn’t great, and this makes it progressively hard to move forward.
These issues to one side, I liked the character customisation and the vast difference between the two parallel realms. Furthermore, the stage design is interesting and exploring the vast areas was fascinating. Yet, I wish the developers had reduced the number of enemies and improved the poor animation.
The audio fared better, thankfully. The oppressive sound effects and dramatic soundtrack create an ominous environment. Accordingly, I enjoyed the crunching sounds of your weapon and the noises of the NPCs.
The combat system was smooth.
Combat is a key element of Lords of the Fallen. As such, a smooth combat system was a must-have. Luckily, the well-told tutorial sets you up to master whichever class you have chosen. After this, a whole heap of trial and error and practice are required if you wish to excel. Yet, once you know what you are doing, you’ll enjoy rolling, slashing, and killing everything in your path. However, remember that the auto-aim isn’t great, and the camera isn’t your friend.
With a vast world to explore and 2 parallel realms to traverse, this has plenty of replay value and longevity. Alongside this, you are free to pick your class and customise it however you wish. Additionally, you can join others online, or raid players to ruin their day. As such, this cruel title ups the ante and makes things harder still.
Lords of the Fallen is no Dark Souls clone.
Though much of the action is similar to Dark Souls, it isn’t a clone. Luckily, it has enough about it to make it stand out from its much-loved/much-hated peers. Consequently, if you want a new Souls-like experience to scratch that cruel itch, then this will be right up your street. Subsequently, I recommend that you buy it here! Can you explore both realms and save the day? Master your class, destroy every boss, and gamble your life for vast rewards.
