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The Souls-like genre is full and flowing with new additions in 2023, withLies of Precently released, andLords of the Fallennot far behind. After spending time with the latter at Gamescom this year, I’m glad to say that it seems we’ll be getting another hit in the genre and a difficult, rewarding, and intense one at that. Two hours and countless deaths later,Lords of the Fallendefinitely taught me a few lessons about what to expect come release.
Lords of the Fallen Respects its Predecessor
To those who remember as far back as 2014, you’ll no doubt be confused as to why there’s another game with an almost identical name to that of its predecessor. In short, the upcoming game was originally envisioned as a sequel but quickly morphed into a semi-reboot, semi-sequel status that can be quite confusing. In short, this is set in the same world as the original, but one thousand years on, with a different protagonist and a whole bunch of new mechanics.
Developed by the purpose-created Hexwork Studios,Lords of the Fallenis going to be the first truly next-gen Souls-like experience, utilizing Unreal Engine 5 to create a dual-world dynamic that both offers redemption upon death, but amps up the difficulty once you leave the land of the living Axiom, and enter Umbral, the realm of the dead.
Related:Lords of the Fallen Manages 60FPS with No Issue
You’ll spend a considerable time between the two, both entering Umbral once you die through combat, but also entering it to help complete puzzles. With your lamp showing the other realm in a real-time rendering, which is absolutely gorgeous and astounding in equal measure, you’ll notice some distinct differences between the structures of the two realms. Sometimes this means you’ll be able to progress in one realm but not the other, for example.
It is this two-world dynamic that is the real main character of the game. You will spend a huge amount of time comparing the two, exploring the world around you, and looking for clues, hints, and secrets to expand your knowledge of the two realms and their history. It sucked me in. I played for two hours at Gamescom and ended up spending a large chunk of that just looking at the visual delight in front of me. To say the developers have used Unreal Engine 5 to the max of its current capabilities is no exaggeration.
Combat and Characters in Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallenseems to have learned a big lesson from that of its predecessor. When first released nearly a decade ago, the original was one of the first non-FromSoft Souls-like games available, and for the most part has been largely forgotten in the wave of releases since then, but one thing can not be forgotten; the speed, or lack thereof, of the combat. It was slow, sluggish, and at times incredibly frustrating.
Thankfully, along with the genre as a whole, Hexworks has broughtLords of the Fallenforward and now the combat is far better. More responsive, quicker, and less like you’re fighting in tar. Of course, this will depend on the character base you choose at the start, along with the skills and points you choose as you progress, but there’s enough variety to keep everyone happy.
When playing the preview I chose the ‘Exiled Stalker’, one of ten classes available at the beginning of the game. This was a class that prioritized speed and agility over power. It showed straight away, as with my daggers in hand, I could move around, dodge, slice, and carve my way through the enemies in front of me. With speed and agility came lower health, which was again immediately evident as I died time and again after misjudging my dodge or parry. It was a trade-off, and one worth taking.
Related:Gamescom 2023: Lords of the Fallen gets Incredible Extended Story Trailer that Expands the Horror
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The other nine classes varied between the ‘Condemned’, the hardcore class of the game – where you start with nothing; no armor, no weapons, nothing, other than a bucket used for defecating, that is -, certainly not for the faint-hearted, to the ‘Orian Preacher’, a character that uses spells as much as heavy, damaging blows to explore the two realms.
Religion is such a large part ofLords of the Fallenit is no surprise to see it available as a character class, and as you explore, you’ll learn more of the motivations and ‘lessons’ of the religions on offer. Will you agree? Won’t you? That’s for you to figure out.
The General Mechanics of Lords of the Fallen – Nothing General about Them
Lords of the Fallenfeatures some standard Souls-like mechanics. The combat is based on learning the patterns and exploiting weaknesses, dodging is important, the currency is Vigor, which as per normal Souls-like fare, will remain after you’ve died to pick up, and much more.
The unique mechanics come from the world, with it presenting ‘stigma’s’, an echo into the past, and soul-flaying, a mechanic that uses the souls of the enemies as weapons themselves. Pull the soul from the enemy in front of you, dispatch the soul and the previously invulnerable, difficult enemy is now a few hits from being cannon fodder. These two mechanics offer a unique look at the way of the world in Axiom/Umbral, and a different approach to a well-trodden genre.
Already mentioned is the two-world mechanic, which is at the center of everythingLords of the Fallendoes. However, once you enter Umbral, the land of the dead, you cannot pass back to Axiom without first finding an exit point. It offers a second chance, sure, but that second chance is one filled with more difficult characters, a more intense and intimidating environment, and a constant feeling of dread. Die here and there’s no third chance.
All in all, after my time withLords of the FallenI was disappointed by one thing. It ended. I wanted to keep playing. I didn’t want to move. I wanted someone else to pick up another pad and jump in, both to help me with the harder enemies I encountered and also to see how the cooperative play worked in the land of Axiom and Umbral.
After experiencing many games at Gamescom, my time withLords of the Fallenended up being some of my best. I can’t wait for release, and it seems a lot of others had the same impressions. Are you excited forLords of the Fallen?Let us know in the comments!
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Luke Addison
Former Head of Gaming
Articles Published :462
Luke Addison is a Former Video Game Critic and Gaming Editor. As likely to be caught listening to noughties rock as he is watching the latest blockbuster cinema release, Luke is the quintessential millennial wistfully wishing after a forgotten era of entertainment. Also a diehard Chelsea fan, for his sins.
