Lords of the Fallen Reviews
Lords of the Fallen isn't going to triumph in a direct match-up with Dark Souls, but seeing the Souls combat system and level design transplanted with this degree of success into a shorter, more accessible game is really no bad thing.
Lords Of The Fallen has a good core that is being let down by too many other things. The combat is pretty much on point and really does provide a great challenge. If you're looking for a game that has punishing fights, but is a bit easier than Souls then this is it. However the story and lore just aren't that interesting, despite a good premise and Harkyn doesn't have much personality. There's also quite few bugs that really need addressing, like clipping through the environment and objects, or the enemies that just stop moving completely, yet can still deal damage, or suddenly develop the ability to fly. Those problems take Lords Of The Fallen from a potentially great game to something just above average.
Lords of the Fallen, a shameless and sloppy copy of Dark Souls, shouldn't be as enjoyable as it is. Somehow, through all its imbalance and oddity, it remains a surprising amount of fun, even if its propensity to make the player laugh is a sheer accident.
The world and characters are forgettable and uninspired without any of that deeper lore and storytelling Dark Souls is known and loved for. But despite those criticisms Lords of the Fallen is still worth a look if you're after challenging combat and a grisly dark medieval world to explore.
Some parts of Lords of the Fallen are surprisingly enjoyable, but many weigh it down.
All in all, I have and still am enjoying my time with Lords of the Fallen and it's a game that takes elements that made other games fun and popular while adding it's own charm and twists to it. Admittedly the AI of the enemies is odd at times and the boss battles are a bit on the easy side especially for those are well versed with the Soul series, but will still give newcomers a run for their money. For those who enjoyed the Soul series or even other action RPG's such as Dark Siders 1& 2, I highly recommend Lords of the Fallen, even if it only serves to be a filler for what many are calling the main course and you PlayStation 4 gamers know exactly what I'm referring to.
You almost don't want to describe Lords of the Fallen as a Souls Lite, but that is what it is. It follows the formula, but doesn't quite reach the heights set by From Software's titles. However that isn't to say this is a bad knockoff, it is still a damned fine game and does a lot of nice things. If you are a fan of the genre, than it will entertain you and is certainly worthy of your time.
But even with its bland environment and uninteresting story, Lords of the Fallen is fun. The combat is enjoyable, leveling up is a blast, and when you beat the game you unlock New Game Plus which is a great treat. In a game that seems to build itself off the ability to be broken in a format where you feel underpowered, New Game Plus is just the icing on the overpowered cake.
Lords of the Fallen has a lot to offer for fans of the genre as well as newcomers. While a few choices break up the ambiance, the learning curve is much more welcoming to newcomers of the genre without losing a lot of the challenge.
All told, this is a reasonably good first effort and a worthy attempt to imitate and iterate on one of the finest games of the last generation. Lords of the Fallen will hopefully be commercially successful enough to lead to a sequel or, better still, a more ambitious and more unique project from Deck 13/CI Games that builds off this game rather than simply tacks on to it.
Despite the dull plot, basic character design, and occasional buggy boss fights, the overall mood of Lords of the Fallen is fantastic – even if you're forced to play it alone. The punishing difficulty may not please everyone, but fans of the Souls series should definitely consider taking a swing at the Rhogar. Those looking for a quick and easy adventure should duck and roll elsewhere, though, as this game will test your patience, skills, and dedication.
I really want to love Lords of the Fallen. Being a big fan of Darksiders II and appreciating the mystical, forbidding darkness of the Dark Souls games, it really appeals to me. But there are issues I just can't ignore and the more I play, the more I realize I can't, in good conscience, gloss over them.
Lords of the Fallen is a decent role-playing experience with some innovative features but it's weighed down by the balancing problems and the technical issues. After a few updates, it might become a good and challenging RPG, but for now, it falls short.
Overall, though, "Lords of the Fallen" is a solid first efforts in an industry that's sometimes starved of new intellectual property. It certainly won't be for everybody but if you love games with more challenging combat, "Lords of the Fallen" should be worth taking a stab at.
Lords of the Fallen is not a bad game, but when compared to the Souls series, it is a lesser one. At every moment, it draws comparisons to Dark Souls, but it never quite lives up to the inspiration. I disliked spending so much time comparing one game to another, but LotF all but demands it, and it never manages to crawl out from the shadow of Dark Souls. As a next-gen alternative for those hungry for more Souls gameplay, it is perfectly serviceable, but that is about the limit of its capabilities. I had fun playing it, and it's a good way to bide the time until From Software's next title, but it never forges an identity of its own. The core for a true Souls competitor is there, but Lords of the Fallen seems content to be a placeholder.
Lords of the Fallen copies, but it does so from great sources in a mostly competent fashion, and adds in a few neat systems of its own.
A challenging, rough around the edges title in the vein of the Souls games that gets a lot more right than it does wrong. It deserves your attention this holiday season, and hopefully we'll see more from this franchise.
Pretty, but pretty forgettable
Lords of the Fallen has some pretty clear inspirations, but it's a very different game despite those influences - enough so that Souls fans can't be guaranteed to enjoy this one. What it is is a challenging fantasy game with a good sense of progression that is entertaining to play, even if it's got no chance of being remembered as a classic like Demon's Souls and Dark Souls are.
Lords of the Fallen is a solid action RPG, but it isn't without its flaws. The weighty combat, while enjoyable, is offset by disappointing difficulty and a lacking narrative. It is a commendable first attempt whose follow-up, if there is one planned, could stand as a worthy rival to the Souls series.