Lords of the Fallen Reviews
Satisfying combat and a darkly beautiful, interconnected kingdom make Lords of the Fallen more than just a clone.
Lords of the Fallen has fun combat and a good spin on Dark Souls' skill system, but its hero is overpowered.
In all of my time with the game I felt there was something missing which Lords of the Fallen was just waiting to give and make the whole experience worth it. Having finished my first play through and being a fair way through my second, I'm still waiting. I worry that I'll be waiting forever.
There is apparently a 5GB patch incoming for Lords of the Fallen, which may make a difference, but at this point I'd advise steering well clear unless you're rocking an absolutely monster rig. Even then, is it worth it? From the not-inconsiderable amount I've played of LotF it feels like a game that lacks the finesse and precision of its inspiration, lacking any kind of multiplayer element and offering only a Diablo-esque quantity of loot to keep you coming back. Presuming that the game is patched to a workable state RPS will return to take another look in a week or so's time – but until then, you'd be better-served replaying the Souls games.
A new IP from Deck 13 and City Interactive that doesn't hold your hand, but won't slap it for failure either.
Lords of the Fallen will probably annoy just as many Dark Souls fans as it pleases.
A competent action RPG with real challenge that lets you get a little too powerful—that is, if your PC is powerful enough to run it without crashing.
A combat-rich ride with excellent mechanics and interesting customization
More inspiration than perspiration, Lords of the Fallen nonetheless presents a rich fantasy world to explore. Just don't mention Dark Souls.
I just wish it wasn't so happy to sit in another game's shadow, and made more of the few fresh mechanisms that might distinguish it and move the genre forwards. Instead, it hews so closely to a proven template that it's basically a pretty good action-adventure by default. Yet as the game clock ticked towards 20 hours and beyond, I could never quite shake the feeling that I'd still rather be failing in Dark Souls than succeeding in Lords of the Fallen.
As blatant a clone as has ever been seen, but although it does nothing better than Dark Souls it does do some things almost as well – and is certainly more accessible.
Lords of the Fallen is a successful twist on an established formula
In the end, the more straightforward design of Lords of the Fallen puts more focus on combat than building an interesting world. Players may be less likely to get lost, but the game lacks a sense of wonder and isn't helped by its dull narrative and recycled enemies. Still, the solid mechanics are a step in the right direction. Anyone looking for a diversion until Bloodborne may want to give it a try.
Take the role of Harkyn, fight creatures, use familiar controls, and attempt to save humanity from an invasion.
If you're hankering for a bit more Souls-shaped entertainment in your life, Lords of the Fallen can fill a gap. It can kill some time, provide some entertainment for a few hours. But its lack of subtlety in its mechanics, it's rather clunky nature and its somewhat dull, basic setting mean it will never be more than a decent distraction
Deck13 Interactive have created their own unique take on the action RPG genre in an intricate and, at times, labyrinthine world. Even with a few bugs and camera issues there is a lot to love in Lords of the Fallen.
Lords presents an enticing world, but staggered combat and numerous bugs leave it in the shadows of its rivals.
Lords of the Fallen is a challenging and well paced hack 'n' slash RPG. If you're not a fan, or have yet to dip your toes into the waters of the Souls series, it might seem somewhat frustrating at first, but once you get your head round the mechanics and pacing, it becomes a satisfying, if not brutally difficult, RPG. Whilst it's not really my cup of tea, I can see this taking a spot in some players' libraries as the wait for Bloodborne gets ever more excruciating. Whilst it's probably somewhat harsh to compare it to From Software's output, it's inevitable really. This is to its credit and its detriment, as certain elements outpace From's games, but other areas fall sadly behind. Overall though, Lords of the Fallen holds its own, but fails to do much more than that.
It might be a cover version of Dark Souls, but at least it's a good cover version, with solid mechanics, gripping combat and a few twists that make it slightly more approachable to newbies. Lords of the Fallen suffers from a forgettable story and some generic art, and could be a fair bit tighter, technically speaking, but if you like your Souls and want a slightly different take, it's a decent buy.