In the upcoming game “Lords of the Fallen,” developer Hexworks has taken a second shot at creating a captivating Souls-like experience. After playing the game for roughly two hours, it’s clear that Hexworks has a better understanding of what makes this type of game click. While this new entry is loosely tied to the original 2014 release, it has been completely rebuilt, offering a much darker fantasy world and stronger RPG elements. The combat has been fine-tuned, creating a heavy and consequential style where every move is a risk-reward scenario. The boss fights and enemy encounters showcase the game’s impressive attention to detail and understanding of attack patterns. With its responsive and relatively fast-paced combat, “Lords of the Fallen” manages to create a challenging and rewarding experience for fans of the genre.
Overview
In this comprehensive article, we will dive into the exciting world of “Lords of the Fallen.” Developed by Deck13 Interactive and CI Games, this action role-playing game (RPG) takes you on a thrilling journey through a rebuilt and darker fantasy world. With improved combat mechanics, stronger RPG elements, and captivating storytelling, “Lords of the Fallen” offers an immersive gameplay experience that will keep you hooked for hours on end.
Introduction
Welcome to the universe of “Lords of the Fallen.” Step into the shoes of Harkyn, a convicted criminal who is given a chance at redemption by joining a group of warriors known as the Rhogar Slayers. As Harkyn, your mission is to stop the Rhogar invasion and restore balance to the realm. Prepare yourself for an epic adventure filled with challenging enemies, immersive environments, and deep character customization.
Gameplay Changes
Rebuilt and Darker Fantasy World
“Lord of the Fallen” presents players with a completely rebuilt and darker fantasy world compared to its predecessors. The intricate level design and stunning visuals create a rich and atmospheric setting that fully immerses you in the game’s lore. From sprawling castles to treacherous dungeons, every location within the game is meticulously crafted to enhance your gaming experience.
Stronger RPG Elements
Taking cues from traditional RPGs, “Lords of the Fallen” has embraced a greater emphasis on role-playing elements. As you progress through the game, you can customize your character’s abilities, attributes, and equipment to suit your desired playstyle. With an extensive skill tree and a wide range of weapons and armor to choose from, the possibilities for character customization are vast, allowing you to create a truly unique and personalized gameplay experience.
Improved Combat Mechanics
Combat in “Lords of the Fallen” has been significantly refined and improved. The game offers a more fluid and intuitive combat system, allowing for faster-paced battles and more precise control over your character’s actions. Timing and strategy become crucial as you engage in intense one-on-one duels or face off against hordes of enemies. Mastering the intricate combat mechanics will prove vital in your quest to defeat powerful bosses and overcome challenging encounters throughout the game.
Boss Fights and Enemy Encounters
Prepare yourself for thrilling boss fights and exciting enemy encounters in “Lords of the Fallen.” The game presents a diverse range of formidable foes, each with their own unique mechanics and strategies to overcome. From towering monstrosities to agile and relentless adversaries, every encounter will test your skills and push you to your limits. Defeating these challenging enemies rewards you with valuable loot and progresses the game’s captivating storyline.
Character Building
Fluid RPG Systems
Character building lies at the heart of “Lords of the Fallen.” The game offers a fluid RPG system that allows you to tailor your character’s abilities and attributes to match your preferred playstyle. Whether you prefer a nimble and agile warrior or a heavily armored brute, the game provides a wide array of options to shape your character’s development. As you progress, you can allocate skill points, unlock new abilities, and experiment with different combat styles, providing endless possibilities for character customization.
Class Templates
To assist players in character creation, “Lords of the Fallen” provides class templates. These templates offer recommended starting attributes and abilities based on specific playstyles. However, don’t feel constrained by these suggestions. The game encourages you to experiment and create your own unique class by combining different abilities and attributes from various templates. Whether you prefer spellcasting, melee combat, or ranged attacks, the class templates serve as a useful starting point for character customization.
Sword and Bow Class
Within the realm of “Lords of the Fallen,” two primary classes stand out: the Sword and the Bow class. The Sword class focuses on melee combat, excelling in close-quarters combat and delivering devastating blows to enemies. On the other hand, the Bow class specializes in ranged combat, utilizing powerful arrows and long-range tactics to defeat foes from a safe distance. Each class offers unique abilities and playstyle variations, allowing you to tailor your character build to your preferred combat approach.
Variations in Character Builds
“Lords of the Fallen” encourages experimentation and offers variations in character builds. The game provides a vast selection of weapons, armor, and magical spells to choose from, allowing you to create the perfect build to suit your preferred playstyle. Whether you prefer a heavy-tank build that can withstand massive amounts of damage or a nimble dodge-focused build that relies on speed and quick reflexes, the game accommodates a wide range of character builds. The possibilities are endless, ensuring that each playthrough offers a fresh and exciting experience.
Dual Worlds
Axiom and Umbral Realms
One of the distinctive features of “Lords of the Fallen” is the inclusion of dual worlds: the Axiom and Umbral realms. As you progress through the game, you will encounter portals that transport you between these two realms. The Axiom realm represents the physical world, while the Umbral realm represents a distorted reflection of reality. The seamless transition between these two realms adds a layer of complexity and depth to the gameplay, allowing for unique challenges and opportunities.
Exploration in Axiom and Umbral Realms
Exploration is a key aspect of “Lords of the Fallen.” In both the Axiom and Umbral realms, you’ll discover hidden paths, secret areas, and valuable loot. The level design encourages thorough exploration, rewarding players with powerful weapons, rare armor sets, and useful items. Each realm presents its own distinct challenges, forcing players to adapt their strategies and utilize specific abilities to progress. Whether you’re navigating treacherous cliffs in the Axiom realm or unraveling the mysteries of the Umbral realm, exploration is a rewarding and essential part of the gameplay experience.
The Dangers and Powers of the Umbral Realm
While the Umbral realm offers unique opportunities for exploration, it is not without its dangers. Within the Umbral realm, you’ll encounter powerful enemies and encounter deadly traps that test your skills to the limit. However, the Umbral realm also grants you access to powerful abilities and enhanced attributes, making it a double-edged sword. As you delve deeper into the Umbral realm, you will need to carefully balance risk and reward, utilizing its powers to your advantage while being mindful of the increased threats it poses.
Resurrection Mechanic and Second Chance
“Lord of the Fallen” introduces a resurrection mechanic that provides players with a second chance in battle. Upon death, you have the opportunity to resurrect at a checkpoint and continue your fight. However, be warned that resurrection comes with a penalty. By resurrecting, you risk losing a portion of your experience points and potentially diminishing your combat abilities. This mechanic adds an interesting layer of risk versus reward, forcing players to carefully consider their actions and strategize their approach to overcome challenging encounters.
Storytelling
Vague Narrative through Cut Scenes, Spirits, and Dialogue
“Lords of the Fallen” delivers its narrative in a distinct and unconventional manner. The game employs cut scenes, spirits, and dialogue to provide players with fragmented pieces of the overarching story. The narrative is intentionally vague, inviting players to piece together the puzzle and decipher the lore of the world themselves. This approach adds an air of mystery and intrigue, leaving players with a sense of discovery as they uncover the secrets behind the Rhogar invasion and the protagonist’s past.
Uncovering Lore through Boss Designs and Backstories
In addition to the narrative fragments scattered throughout the game, “Lords of the Fallen” presents players with an opportunity to uncover lore through boss designs and backstories. Each boss encounter is accompanied by unique visual designs and intriguing backstories that shed light on the world and its inhabitants. Paying attention to these details and deciphering the symbolism within the boss encounters can provide valuable insights into the lore and deepen your understanding of the game’s intricate narrative.
Region Showcase
Skyrust Bridge and the God-like Hand
One of the standout regions in “Lords of the Fallen” is Skyrust Bridge. A massive stone structure suspended in the sky, Skyrust Bridge serves as a gateway to the Rhogar realm. Towering above the abyss, this awe-inspiring location showcases the game’s stunning visuals and intricate level design. As you navigate the treacherous bridge, you’ll encounter challenging enemies and engage in intense battles. Skyrust Bridge is a true testament to the scale and grandeur of the world within “Lords of the Fallen.”
The Six Beacons and Cleansing the Land
Another captivating region in “Lords of the Fallen” revolves around the quest to cleanse the land. Spread across the realm are six beacons, each representing a powerful source of energy. As Harkyn, your mission is to activate and cleanse these beacons, ridding the land of the Rhogar invasion. Each beacon provides a unique challenge, typically in the form of a boss battle. Conquering these challenging encounters and activating the beacons brings you one step closer to restoring balance and driving back the forces of evil.
Familiarity with the Genre
Expanding Souls-like Games
“Lords of the Fallen” is part of a growing genre known as Souls-like games. Inspired by the critically acclaimed “Dark Souls” series, these games focus on challenging gameplay, rich lore, and rewarding character progression. “Lords of the Fallen” expands upon the foundations laid by its predecessors, offering a fresh take on the Souls-like genre while still incorporating familiar elements.
Established Formula and Familiarity
Fans of the Souls-like genre will feel right at home in “Lords of the Fallen.” The game retains many of the core mechanics that have become synonymous with the genre, such as punishing difficulty, strategic combat, and deep character customization. By embracing this established formula, “Lords of the Fallen” provides a familiar experience that fans of the genre will appreciate while adding its own unique twists and improvements.
Lords of the Fallen as a Good Take on the Genre
“Lords of the Fallen” stands as a testament to the potential of the Souls-like genre. It successfully captures the essence of the genre while introducing its own unique elements. The game’s refined combat mechanics, immersive world-building, and captivating storytelling make it a worthy entry in the genre. Whether you are a die-hard Souls-like fan or new to the genre, “Lords of the Fallen” offers an enjoyable and challenging gaming experience that should not be missed.
Conclusion
In conclusion, “Lords of the Fallen” is a must-play for fans of the action RPG genre. With its rebuilt and darker fantasy world, improved gameplay mechanics, and deep character customization options, the game offers an immersive gaming experience that will keep you engaged for hours. The inclusion of dual realms, captivating storytelling, and challenging boss fights further elevate the game, providing a rich and rewarding gameplay experience. Whether you are a seasoned Souls-like veteran or new to the genre, “Lords of the Fallen” offers a fresh take on the genre that is sure to captivate and challenge players alike. So grab your sword, sharpen your skills, and embark on an epic journey through this dark and treacherous world. The fate of the realm rests in your hands.
In your hands-on preview of Lords of the Fallen, you’ll find that after spending about two hours playing the game, it becomes evident that developer Hexworks now has a deeper appreciation for the elements that constitute a satisfying Souls-like experience. Click here to read more.