Lords of the Fallen, developed by Hexworks, boldly plants its flag in the Dark Souls mud, drawing inspiration not only from the Souls series but also from Fromsoftware’s more recent Elden Ring. Set in the dark fantasy world of Axiom, where humanity has conquered a cruel god named Adyr, the game revolves around the Hallowed Sentinels, warriors sworn to prevent Adyr’s resurrection. As the hero of the story, you step into the shoes of a chosen Umbral Lampbearer, armed with a magical lamp capable of traversing the world of the dead, Umbral. Having played and reviewed the original game almost a decade ago, we couldn’t wait to dive in.
One of the striking departures from the Soulslike formula that Hexworks takes here is the game’s narrative approach. Lords of the Fallen embraces its story through cutscenes, dialogues, and rich blocks of flavor text – and we love the game for that. The game also introduces a dual-world system, enabled by the Umbral Lamp. This mechanic allows you to transition between the realms of the living and the dead, revealing a starkly different yet eerily captivating world in Umbral.
Umbral is a realm of eerie visual beauty, where bone bridges span chasms, lakes dry up to reveal dry beds, and colossal eyes watch your every move. However, it’s also a perilous place, with increasingly menacing enemies hunting you down the longer you stay. The dual-world dynamic mentioned before not only sets Lords of the Fallen apart, but also intensifies the challenge.
The game’s difficulty and how it’s spread out is a thing to consider for Soulslike fans. While Soulslikes are known for their challenging gameplay, Lords of the Fallen leans heavily towards a world teeming with threats outside of boss encounters. The bosses themselves, on the other hand, often demand pattern recognition and persistence rather than the sudden phase shifts seen elsewhere.
Navigating Axiom is a demanding task, though two types of save points are available: Vestiges for permanent progress and Seedlings for Umbral deaths. While Vestiges offer fast travel, their widespread placement can lead to grueling return treks. The level design, while largely linear, occasionally feels less polished than expected, with some confusing shortcuts and inexplicable routes – especially when compared to Demon’s Souls on the PS5.
Combat and magic are the game’s strong suits, despite a few hiccups. Spells and ranged weapons are governed by Catalysts, albeit with limitations. Your character’s starting class mainly determines the base stats and gear, leaving room for more diverse customization later on. Survival hinges on avoiding damage, as even basic enemies can inflict significant harm, especially in large groups – familiar territory for fans of the genre. The combat system does have some issues though, as the hitboxes for both you and enemies can be inconsistent. This occasionally leads to questionable hits or dodges, and the combat can feel somewhat floaty at times. In addition, the environments don’t always facilitate open combat because there’s sometimes not enough room for that.
Multiplayer introduces cooperative exploration, with PvP elements following the Dark Souls tradition. The characters you encounter are engaging, and they can be summoned for boss fights or engaged in lore-rich conversations. The story is delivered effectively, though the game’s difficulty curve can be a point of contention for people who feel it stands in the way of them getting further in the game.
In conclusion, Lords of the Fallen, with its captivating world of Axiom and intriguing characters, stands as a notable addition to the Soulslike genre. The game’s dual-world system and rich narrative approach offer a fresh experience. However, issues with combat balance and level design hinder its potential to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with other heavyweights in the genre. Despite this, the game’s captivating visual design, intriguing characters, and effective dual-world system make it a compelling journey for those who relish a formidable challenge.
Score: 7.9/10
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