Lords of the Fallen (2014)

 PC
User Score
6.7

Mixed or average reviews- based on 691 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 376 out of 691
  2. Mixed: 157 out of 691
  3. Negative: 158 out of 691

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  1. partyintheback
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    Very impressive. It's true that this game is in the same genre as the Souls game, but it also brings its own feel and flavor, and that's much appreciated. This is a very challenging game, but it's also incredibly satisfying once you learn how to defeat a foe. It also has amazing graphics, much better than the Souls games. I look forward to the sequel.
  2. djmusic10
    Nov 3, 2014
    6
    Pros : > Graphics are better then your average title but does not look anywhere close to trailer presentation (as always)
    > Challenging (Read more in description below)
    >Risk Reward System Cons: > No immersive Story accompanied by dry out dialogue > Forgettable Characters > Poor Lip Syncing to Dialogue > Extremely Slow pace Combat (See Description for more) > Game seems to push    Pros : > Graphics are better then your average title but does not look anywhere close to trailer presentation (as always)
    > Challenging (Read more in description below)
    >Risk Reward System

    Cons: > No immersive Story accompanied by dry out dialogue
    > Forgettable Characters
    > Poor Lip Syncing to Dialogue
    > Extremely Slow pace Combat (See Description for more)
    > Game seems to push you towards a certain class build (but is avoidable)

    Now to talk about the game. First i must address the audience calling this game a Dark Souls Clone (originally Demon Souls but that's for another day). The Game begins with no context or back story just a cut scene of the protagonist with great power which you don't even receive when you regain control. This game just drops you in the situation of battling against a god. When it comes to Action RPG the game is as basic as it goes with next Gen feeling which is not a bad thing at all. Coming from a big fan of RPG's this game was fun however compared to others it does fall short. The Graphics are above average in your Ps4 Library however some areas stand out (Catacombs) and others fall short to look like generic level design. The game features a Risk - Reward feature for hanging on to your experience [XP] which you may invest to level up certain attributes or spells such as the system implemented in Dark Souls. If you hold on to the souls you can get more as you defeat enemies however When you die, Like Dark souls you have to pick them up or they are gone. I found it interesting that it had a degradation system where you had a limited time to pick up the souls or they slowly started going away in percentage until you pick them up or die a second time.
    The Difficulty of the game is present in a mysterious way in which some gamers may have noticed half way through. There is no intial difficulty setting however this is present in the type of Armor you put on as well as your starting class. Going from Easy to Hard [Heavy - Warrior , Medium - Cleric , Light Rouge ]. Majority of the game you will be receiving Warrior items more then any class. I felt like every chest i opened contained Great swords and heavy armor pieces so i felt like i was being pushed towards that play style which let me tell you right now is SUPER SLOW PACED. The Lip Syncing did not match to the dialogue of the forgettable characters who you meet and disappear for no reason throughout the game with even serving you any purpose to your quest of killing a god for no reason as to why you are doing that except that your a convicted murderer who loves to kill [Kratos Syndrome]    … Expand
  3. Squidsie
    Nov 3, 2014
    9
    Lords of the Fallen is a beautiful compliment to the Demon's/Dark Souls series. The character detail is impressive and diverse, the environments are immersive, and the gameplay itself is extremely fun. It's like playing a more forgiving Dark Souls game. There are a few issues here and there, like frame rate drops and clipping, but otherwise it's a solid action RPG. I definitely recommend it.
  4. ARPG
    Nov 3, 2014
    7
    As with many players, "I really wanted to like this game". It has charm, it hits that craving for an ARPG that the wait for Bloodborne has so created, and the world/map feels clever and intuitive. However, it has some glaring flaws; most evidently, the odd difficulty curve (Annihilator that late in the game? Way too easy), various builds feel impossibly difficult, and my goodness, theAs with many players, "I really wanted to like this game". It has charm, it hits that craving for an ARPG that the wait for Bloodborne has so created, and the world/map feels clever and intuitive. However, it has some glaring flaws; most evidently, the odd difficulty curve (Annihilator that late in the game? Way too easy), various builds feel impossibly difficult, and my goodness, the crashes. I'm on PS4, and this game crashes during loading screens fairly regularly, but has no less than 4 times crashed about 10 minutes into the Brothers and Judge boss fights.
    I have hopes for a sequel, but I will certainly be more wary going forwards.    … Expand
  5. Llaerrick
    Nov 2, 2014
    7
    I actually rated this better than DS2 insofar as i actually had more fun with it. Not knocking on DS which is a great franchise and one that I enjoy greatly, but DS2 seemed to lack a little 'soul' and was missing that omph-factor for me.

    Lords on the other hand pressed all my right buttons. While in some ways character creating/building isn't as diverse as DS, it is still robust enough    I actually rated this better than DS2 insofar as i actually had more fun with it. Not knocking on DS which is a great franchise and one that I enjoy greatly, but DS2 seemed to lack a little 'soul' and was missing that omph-factor for me.

    Lords on the other hand pressed all my right buttons. While in some ways character creating/building isn't as diverse as DS, it is still robust enough for those who enjoy tweaking builds. Much like DS, there isn't a huge or great plot (or dialogue) for the most parts. But then again, I don't think many played DS for it's plot or dialogue.

    Game play is very similar to DS but slightly more forgiving with less 'cheap-shot-insta-kills'. Graphics are decent but unless your rig is pretty robust expect frame-rate issues. I have not had many crashes thankfully but every single one is traumatic if you're the type that hordes xp. I do hope they fix the crashing soon as it is spoiling what is turning out to be a pretty fun game for me.

    A good filler for DS players and a good game for newer players to get introduced to the concept.    … Expand
  6. xhaosis
    Nov 2, 2014
    8
    I have played this game for about 18 hours now. It is a fun game, it has some technical problems, but the game is pretty fun to play. I give it about a 8 it is fun it is addicting..
  7. cstrang
    Nov 2, 2014
    7
    With the great success of the Souls series, I suppose it was only a matter of time before we started seeing Souls-likes - Action-RPGs focused more on pseudo-realistic swordplay, massive boss fights, and challenging (or punishing to some) gameplay. Enter Lords of the Fallen, an unapologetic Souls-like from CI Games and Bandai Namco (publishers of the Souls series). As the first reviews forWith the great success of the Souls series, I suppose it was only a matter of time before we started seeing Souls-likes - Action-RPGs focused more on pseudo-realistic swordplay, massive boss fights, and challenging (or punishing to some) gameplay. Enter Lords of the Fallen, an unapologetic Souls-like from CI Games and Bandai Namco (publishers of the Souls series). As the first reviews for Lords came in, it seems that the majority of complaints centered around the fact that the game was, in fact, not Dark Souls. Like it, but not the same. It seemed like a funny complaint at the time and, not satisfied to write Lords off just because it wasn't Dark Souls, I decided to give it a try.

    Lords of the Fallen centers around Harkan, an ex-convict who was freed from prison by an old gentleman in hopes of stopping an otherworldly scourge. That really is the long and short of the story - CI tried to produce a deep lore to the world presented through a few cutscenes and an overabundance of audio logs, but ultimately it's truly uninteresting and definitely takes a backseat to the action the game provides.

    The gameplay of Lords of the Fallen has often been described as a "slower Dark Souls". This is, actually, fairly accurate. The controls are almost lifted directly out of Souls, with buttons for heavy attacks, light attacks, blocking, shield bashing, item use, etc exactly where you'd expect them to be, with exception of the inclusion of a separate button for magic use. The vast majority of characters and enemies have a certain weight to their movements. Harkan, in particular, generally has a plodding and slow wind-up to most of his attacks. This aspect can take some getting used to and, even after you do, will probably be a source of frustration, as enemies seem to have been doing their cardio workouts - enemies will go from attack to attack to turtling at such a clip that it's near impossible to get in a clean hit. One enemy type irritated me so much that I resorted to chipping their health away with my unblockable ranged attacks. Boss fights are also unfortunately lackluster and often tedious, with the best tactics for all being "move close to bait attack, dodge said attack, attack, dodge away, repeat".

    CI improved upon the Souls system where you have to go retrieve your body from where you died in order to pick up any experience points you had when you died. Instead of just being something you must touch before you die again, it's now a glowing light that not only provides gradual healing but also slowly decays over time. It adds urgency for retrieval, but also adds another layer of strategy. Do you pick up your experience as soon as you can to prevent losing experience to the ether, or do you leave it on the ground so it can provide healing during a battle you may have just lost your life to? The other change in the experience system is the experience multiplier. The more enemies you kill without dying or resting at a checkpoint, the higher the multiplier goes. It's a neat risk/reward system that encourages combat and perhaps a little extra exploration.

    Unfortunately, this system does not play nicely with the unexpected, chronic crashing that the game has a tendency for. No fewer than 5 times within a day of playing the game did I lose significant progress and experience because the game crashed and I had been running up my experience multiplier and, thusly, not resting at a checkpoint to save my game. This is made even more puzzling by the fact that the game has already received a 5 GB patch. All that said, the game is fairly nice to look at and the framerate seems fairly stable.

    A lot of people are discussing Lords of the Fallen's difficulty. It is, without question, easier than any Souls game currently available. Automatically recharging magic points, incredibly powerful offensive and defensive spells, and even some weapons that you can heal yourself with without paying any sort of toll make it so that if you have more time than skill, you can still progress fairly handily. That is not to say that the game does not have some oddly placed difficulty spikes where the more seasoned players might be caught off guard.

    Lords of the Fallen is a fairly enjoyable 18-20 hour adventure, but the world is noticeably small and same-y. There are a limited number of environments, and your direct surroundings will typically be some sort of castle corridor.

    Though held back by a glaring technical issues, some puzzling gameplay decisions, and a small world with limited interesting lore, Lords of the Fallen still manages to be a mostly-enjoyable Souls-like experience.    … Expand
  8. psydreamer
    Nov 2, 2014
    0
    don't waste your money, pc version is buggy with low fps on high end computers.
         .
  9. worksa7
    Nov 1, 2014
    0
    Unstable, too unstable to be played for a proper review really.

    -Crashes on launch
    -Crashes mid game
    -Lags on high end hardware
    -Game breaking bugs that ruin your save and make you start the entire game over brand new

    The list goes on. Avoid this title on PC.
  10. magic_jon
    Nov 1, 2014
    3
    You know what, I was all for giving this game some praise for its design and atmospherics however the more I play of it the more it plagues me with infuriating design choices and 'difficulty'. I say difficulty in the inverted commas because most of this game's difficulty stems from cheap tricks or plain dumb spam enemies till player dead routines. Almost every boss encounter can be summedYou know what, I was all for giving this game some praise for its design and atmospherics however the more I play of it the more it plagues me with infuriating design choices and 'difficulty'. I say difficulty in the inverted commas because most of this game's difficulty stems from cheap tricks or plain dumb spam enemies till player dead routines. Almost every boss encounter can be summed up in this way:

    Boss repeats routine set of around 4 moves for first phase. Boss will do same moves but have a big death move or stun lock move for phase 2 and then phase 3 is where the minions come in. So no skill or prowess from the boss causing it to be tricky to beat, its just a case of right put extra enemies in there and be done with it, that'll make things harder. Yes it does make things harder but not because you need to use all your wits to outsmart or out manoeuvre the boss but just because there is a mob of enemies. Great...how truly inspired. I've poured easy over 100 hours into both Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 and whilst those games, which this game clearly takes inspiration from (putting it diplomatically), were frustrating and difficult nothing compares to whats on offer here. It wouldn't be such an issue if the difficulty weren't so ham fistedly forced into the game in the most underhanded and ignorant way possible.

    The aforementioned points are so hard to look past that it really mars the game as a whole and any redeeming features are lost under a sea of stupidity. I really wanted to like this game but it just tries so hard to be hard using every cheap, dirty, gimmicky trick in the book that I just can't recommend it. It doesn't help that the game just bugs out occasionally and at one point was actually playing in slow mo making me lose to a boss which I'd already spent a significant amount of time on because of its stupid horde of enemies.

    This game just makes me sigh in frustration at all the potential on the table wasted at the hands of those lacking the skill to truly execute it.    … Expand
  11. Avadon
    Nov 1, 2014
    4
    I wanted to like this, but I just can't. Slow and clunky combat, slow and clunky engine, does not feel very smooth on my 780Ti, crashes frequently. Sorry, just no. Maybe in 6 months when a few patches have been out and it's 15$ on sale.
  12. madferret
    Nov 1, 2014
    6
    Decent graphics and innovative features such as the bankable xp with the accompanying xp multiplier drag this game kicking and screaming from the depths of disaster firmly into the realm of mediocrity. Combat can be clunky and unsatisfying at times making fighting some enemies ridiculously easy and others frustratingly long-winded (but still fairly easy) and Boss fights quickly settle intoDecent graphics and innovative features such as the bankable xp with the accompanying xp multiplier drag this game kicking and screaming from the depths of disaster firmly into the realm of mediocrity. Combat can be clunky and unsatisfying at times making fighting some enemies ridiculously easy and others frustratingly long-winded (but still fairly easy) and Boss fights quickly settle into the pattern of waiting for the opening to get a couple of hits in before waiting out the next series of pre-scripted attacks before getting another hit in. Very little that hasn't been done before and usually done better.… Expand
  13. umair_s51
    Oct 31, 2014
    7
    I am only about an hour or-so in to the game & haven't played any of the soul games before, but on its own right this plays quite well and is both fun & accessible at the same time.

    Graphics and music are quite enjoyable but performance chugs here and there which is a real shame. From my early impressions I give it an 8/10 for a fun yet deep hack-and-slash RPG.
  14. Kyochi
    Oct 31, 2014
    10
    11h played - not a single crash. Sometimes I have fps drop down on highest settings but nothing that makes game unplayable. Im playing on Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2Ghz, GTX650, 8GB RAM so my rig isn't high end. Overall game is very good, Playing heavy armored tank it's kinda easy mode but medium/light armor is another story. Maybe on NG+ you will need more dodge and monsters attacks will crush11h played - not a single crash. Sometimes I have fps drop down on highest settings but nothing that makes game unplayable. Im playing on Phenom II x6 1090T 3.2Ghz, GTX650, 8GB RAM so my rig isn't high end. Overall game is very good, Playing heavy armored tank it's kinda easy mode but medium/light armor is another story. Maybe on NG+ you will need more dodge and monsters attacks will crush you. Bosses are fine, nothing "epic" but compared to boring ones from DaS2 they have more interesting mechanics. There are some things that annoys me a lot like "invisible walls", a bit too much of backtracking or minor bugs. Controls and combat are same as DaS games (with same terrible run-jump mechanic) with some addition like shield charge (run+shield button) or fluid combo chain light+heavy attacks. I find LoTF more responsive than DaS2, kinda same good as DaS1. Graphic is beautiful, art style, locations, armor and weapon models, everything is top notch, especially compared to DaS2 terrible graphics. Animations are also great, "feel" of heavy weapon swing is one of a kind. There is no map, no objective mark or other easy-mode features so if you don't like exploring locations on your own and being lost (dmn those catacombs) think twice. There are also features like other dimension trials - some sort of side missions. Story? Really? This game is about combat and nothing else if you want good story go buy a good book for yourself. Overall it's very solid title and if CI Games will patch it and fix performence issues (for other ppl?) and minor bugs it would be even better. Game is 8 of 10 for me but I'll give it 10 to oppose 0 scores. In general DaS1>LoTF>DaS2… Expand
  15. Grizzlyadamz
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    Still in the process of playing it, but so far it feels pretty good.

    If your rig can run it, you're in for a dark souls clone with a feel rather different from the inspiration. Tighter fighting zones & good visuals. It feels like a more casual version of DS, where they reward you for taking risk but offer more frequent safety nets. Different equipment choices feel & play    Still in the process of playing it, but so far it feels pretty good.

    If your rig can run it, you're in for a dark souls clone with a feel rather different from the inspiration.

    Tighter fighting zones & good visuals. It feels like a more casual version of DS, where they reward you for taking risk but offer more frequent safety nets.

    Different equipment choices feel & play differently, as do the class abilities.

    There are more NPC interactions, & lore is delivered through them & audio logs, of all things.

    Secrets are all over, & while it's still linear in the end, the condensed nature of the map actually gives a bit of exploration.

    If DS is a 9, this is a solid 8, and so far it's being rather badly under-rated, (thanks in part to the technical problems).

    At this point I'm glad I picked this up.    … Expand
  16. PhraseUniverse
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    I've never played a DS game, so this review is unbiased.

    I'm totally enjoying this game! Graphics are great. Lighting and particle effects are really good. The camera is a little weird at times even with the camera focus, that's my main gripe. The game isn't extremely difficult, but it isn't a cake walk either. Combat feels good. The weapons seem heavy. As far as the story, it's nothing    I've never played a DS game, so this review is unbiased.

    I'm totally enjoying this game! Graphics are great. Lighting and particle effects are really good. The camera is a little weird at times even with the camera focus, that's my main gripe. The game isn't extremely difficult, but it isn't a cake walk either. Combat feels good. The weapons seem heavy. As far as the story, it's nothing special so far.

    Really, there's not much to dislike.

    Playing this does make me want to go back and play a DS game. And I'm definitely looking forward to Bloodborne.    … Expand
  17. DerImperator
    Oct 30, 2014
    8
    The Artdesign is like Darksiders. The Story and the Cutsequences are only 5 Points, but the combat system and the exploration of the environment makes really fun and its comparable to Dark Souls.
  18. pogelwoodcancer
    Oct 30, 2014
    5
    The fact that this game is being compared to DS is laughable. Just picked it up and i gotta say that the combat is pretty dam clunky. All these long hold managing spells and lumpy attacks makes for a bogged down experience. The death/resurrection mechanic seems tacked on rather than integral to design. The development team are very lucky that they are even mentioned in the same breath asThe fact that this game is being compared to DS is laughable. Just picked it up and i gotta say that the combat is pretty dam clunky. All these long hold managing spells and lumpy attacks makes for a bogged down experience. The death/resurrection mechanic seems tacked on rather than integral to design. The development team are very lucky that they are even mentioned in the same breath as dark souls really. At the moment i would liken it more to Darksiders without the responsive controls. the artsyle has some flair but nothing that hasn't been coughed out the backside of Mordor a thousand times.Its an ok game. but not worth the $80 i spent at all.… Expand
  19. schinderhannes
    Oct 30, 2014
    0
    Broken piece of software, Devs clearly dont know how to code.

    Endless crashes, like 2-4 times for one hour played, Horrible perfomance with my top of the line custom built gaming pc.

    The game is just a DS clone, and not a very good one, its very generic and without a single new unique gameplay mechanic.

    0/10
  20. weazz1980
    Oct 30, 2014
    9
    Finally a very well done Action RPG on PC! This is how Dark Souls should have looked like on PC. Perfect combat mechanics, tons of weapons and gear, good graphics and sound, sharp fonts and interface. If you liked Dark Souls you will like Lords of the Fallen. I would say it surpasses it in every way, except the difficulty. It is hard sometimes, but never as brutal as Dark Souls. For someFinally a very well done Action RPG on PC! This is how Dark Souls should have looked like on PC. Perfect combat mechanics, tons of weapons and gear, good graphics and sound, sharp fonts and interface. If you liked Dark Souls you will like Lords of the Fallen. I would say it surpasses it in every way, except the difficulty. It is hard sometimes, but never as brutal as Dark Souls. For some this is a positiv aspect, for some a negativ, but overall i really like this game!… Expand
  21. Dionizos
    Oct 30, 2014
    9
    Game for DS fans, who certainly would like to have more fun from the game, and less frustration. And certainly, LotF is a game for players less experienced, as I do. Great playing with her, there is a lot of dying, but it still gives you a lot of fun.
  22. Calinca
    Oct 30, 2014
    9
    Lords of the Fallen looks simply beautiful. From what I recall, Gop said that rather sure I will not be competition for the DS, only alternative for those who complained that the DS is frustrating. For some, the Lords of the Fallen also may be such, but rather for the majority, however, a good game. For me, for sure.
  23. Offtheheezay95
    Oct 30, 2014
    9
    feels like a more polished Dark Souls, graphics are better, animations are better, sounds are better, music while not as good is still decent.
    while the game isnt crashing or running at a miserably low fps, its a very decent game
  24. ScotchWallace
    Oct 29, 2014
    8
    Smooth, well paced action romp, derivative but so what... Challenging without being annoying... I recommend this game for anyone looking to play a g are to tide them over until Dark Souls comes out with their inevitable next ten incarnation...
  25. BlessFrom
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    I was shocked by the "feel" of this game. As a student of the From Software/Miyazaki school of thought, the mechanics are already familiar. This is where the similarities to the "other" game end.

    The world has it's own particular feel which is hard to explain. It is very subjective. It is like looking into a View-Master or perhaps Iranian miniatures in a way. As a child I was    I was shocked by the "feel" of this game. As a student of the From Software/Miyazaki school of thought, the mechanics are already familiar. This is where the similarities to the "other" game end.

    The world has it's own particular feel which is hard to explain. It is very subjective. It is like looking into a View-Master or perhaps Iranian miniatures in a way. As a child I was fascinated with tabletop miniature wargames, this brings the same feeling. The lightning is splendid, and it is very "gamey" but in a very good way. Extremely atmospheric.    … Expand
  26. LiquidFrostbite
    Oct 29, 2014
    3
    Pretty horrible Dark Souls clone. I REALLY wanted to like this game, but it just doesn't have anything going for it besides it's art style. I really enjoyed the way everything looked, including all of the armor and weapon designs. You are given so many different choices on how you would like to play, but it just feels cheap and unpolished in the end. The character imbalances are huge and aPretty horrible Dark Souls clone. I REALLY wanted to like this game, but it just doesn't have anything going for it besides it's art style. I really enjoyed the way everything looked, including all of the armor and weapon designs. You are given so many different choices on how you would like to play, but it just feels cheap and unpolished in the end. The character imbalances are huge and a lot of the difficulty is artificial. Coming from someone who has beaten Demon Souls, Dark Souls, and Dark Souls 2.. I can't recommend this game to anyone that is looking for a similiar experience. It just isn't worth your time. Maybe grab it when it's much cheaper, but sadly it isn't worth it for the full price.… Expand
  27. Wieseljunge
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    Giving this game 0 points is a joke. Graphics are nice and gameplay is fun. Nice armors and weapons, huge bosses and an atmospheric world. I recommend this game!
  28. Vamrem
    Oct 29, 2014
    7
    Good ARPG with some annoying bugs that surely would be corrected in future patches. It reminds me Blade The Edge of Darkness (yes, this was the very first ARPG that inspired Gothic, Dark Souls, Dark Siders and all of those ARPGs in which we risk our lives in each action... don't forget it).
    Well, it reminds me Blade because (unlike Dark Souls), this game uses the best technology    Good ARPG with some annoying bugs that surely would be corrected in future patches. It reminds me Blade The Edge of Darkness (yes, this was the very first ARPG that inspired Gothic, Dark Souls, Dark Siders and all of those ARPGs in which we risk our lives in each action... don't forget it).
    Well, it reminds me Blade because (unlike Dark Souls), this game uses the best technology available, and in a video-game this is a solid point to considered.
    About its flaws are the extremely "Blizzardy" ornamented gear that removes all realism of them, but the most important (and the only it makes me downgrade its score) is that we CAN'T physically customize the main character (face, body and gender), the customization is only in skills. And in a immersive game like this I want my very personal character (at least they should have done as Blade, in which you can choose among 4 different characters), but you will like or hate his face and deal with that...    … Expand
  29. Cordova
    Oct 29, 2014
    8
    Okay, first things first, I can't talk about this game without bringing in Dark Souls. So, I'll give a comparative review and a stand-alone review which grades the game against itself as a game.

    Depending on which Souls game is your favorite, you may have a different view of the Souls games and LotF. In my eyes, Demons was the pilot of the franchise, a proof of concept if you will - and    Okay, first things first, I can't talk about this game without bringing in Dark Souls. So, I'll give a comparative review and a stand-alone review which grades the game against itself as a game.

    Depending on which Souls game is your favorite, you may have a different view of the Souls games and LotF. In my eyes, Demons was the pilot of the franchise, a proof of concept if you will - and if you go back and play it today, it has aged poorly and is a fairly buggy game. Dark Souls was a masterpiece, a work of meticulous world building and attention to detail. Dark Souls 2 was a fun game, but it was a hack job of a sequel to the original. That's out of the way, now you know where I stand on the Souls games, now to compare LotF.

    Combat - LotF has superior combat and controls. Everything is absolutely precise, the game does what YOU want it to (assuming you know what you're doing). It's basically the DS1 combat system, but with added depth, it's everything I wanted in a DS sequel. Dks2 was departure and it did two things very wrong imo, it did not have the exacting nature of DS1 (hit boxes were terrible), LotF DOES have well constructed hit boxes - you're not eating phantom swings or getting hit while being visibly quite far away from . . . anything. Dks2's weapons didn't feel as differentiated as they did in DS1, and thankfully that's not the case in LotF. In LotF weapons have a great deal of variation on a sliding scale, just the smallest increment can be felt in gameplay and you might really enjoy swinging something with a speed of 94% but not something with 100%. That's how carefully constructed this combat system is. The range is broad, but you can really feel the difference between weapons.

    Story/Lore/Plot - DS1 hands down wins. I totally understand that some people enjoy a more accessible narrative, but LotF isn't compelling enough to warrant it. And it pulls me out of the world. It's kind of a pause that doesn't fit.

    Graphics - Well, LotF is much newer and gorgeous (though it does need a decent rig to run well).

    Visual aesthetics - This is the art style. You know, I like both. I do. I'm not one of those people who can't stand any certain type of visual stylization, I like realistic, I like exaggerated, I like cartoony. So I have to say I really enjoy the direction they took in LotF. And they kept it consistent which is important.

    Audio - Both games are top notch. The ambient sounds, the music when it's there is appropriately used on both games.

    Fun - I'll give the nod to DS1 here. The world and atmosphere really pulled me in deep and made me want to stay in the world and keep exploring. With LotF, everytime I start getting into it, y'know that feeling of traversing this citadel area, boom awkward dialogue with your typical good guy, evil, smarmy choices shows up and yanks me out of it. As far as difficult goes, it's much more challenging than Dks2, anyone who feels differently confuses me because Dks2 was a walk in the park.

    So, as a comparison DS1 > LotF > Dks2
    This is the game that I wanted Dks2 to be.

    Now, for a look at LotF on it's own two feet.

    Combat/Controls - Tight, responsive, actions have good clear weight behind them appropriate to your equipment, it's hard to ask for a better combat system. The combo system offers a lot of options and as you get used to timing combos (picking up a new weapon means you need to learn new timings!) you really start to appreciate what you can do. You start attacking but then you see the enemies attack animation begin, if you time a light combo into a heavy attack you can generate a stagger to interrupt. Or if you need to finish off an enemy you can chain a heavy combo into a quick light attack for that last immediate bit of damage (say you're fighting multiple enemies and you need to quickly change targets). Really cool stuff.

    Visual aesthics - A very Warhammer inspired aesthetic, which I like, but it is what it is. If you like the big burly look with exaggerated weapons/armors then it's definitely for you.

    Graphics - So it's gorgeous, BUT it's not optimized very well currently (I believe there's memory leak) so it can make even a good system chug. This game studio hasn't made a game like this before and they went a big crazy with the draw distance. If you look over a ledge, everything is completely rendered for a really long ways out. Things that far away can be less detailed to save on resources guys.

    Audio - Everything is excellent, but the heavy breathing is a bit louder than I feel it should be. I like the effect, but when you're not in combat it's a bit much.

    Story/Lore - The story itself is fairly blandish, BUT they have a lot to work with if they want to build a world. There's so much they could go into and really flesh out and deep and layered world. If they make a sequel I hope they can show us something great.

    Fun - It's a tough game, but it feels so good to play, and you'll definitely fist pump when you down a hard area/boss.    … Expand
  30. XxSoULxMaNxX
    Oct 29, 2014
    0
    DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AT PRESENT. The game is broken and needs to be fixed. It runs at approximately 15 to 20 fps (on a system that runs - for instance - Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 - at a smooth 60 fps at 1920x1080p). In other words, my GPU is better than the recommended GPU and vastly better than the minimal GPU but, still, at times it drops to 11 fps (per FRAPS). It is simply notDO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY AT PRESENT. The game is broken and needs to be fixed. It runs at approximately 15 to 20 fps (on a system that runs - for instance - Dark Souls and Dark Souls 2 - at a smooth 60 fps at 1920x1080p). In other words, my GPU is better than the recommended GPU and vastly better than the minimal GPU but, still, at times it drops to 11 fps (per FRAPS). It is simply not playable.… Expand
  31. Nistor
    Oct 29, 2014
    9
    For me Lords of the Fallen is great game, great to players who want to have challenging game with awesome combat system. Maybe I'm not ideal RPG player so I die a lot but I have a lot of fun with it. Graphics is very good, location looks great, this game has very nice atmosphere. I'm very surprised this game.
  32. sniper1337
    Oct 29, 2014
    10
    I've been waiting with patience veeery long for this game... Just played it and im so happy I did it.
    In plus: graphics, music, fighting, leveling, world, story.
    In minus: sometimes game crashes.
    Very Good Job CI Games and Deck 13 .... Good Job Tomasz Gop!
  33. Rafiul
    Oct 28, 2014
    2
    First Impressions? Dark Souls (DS) shipped with an "Easy" difficulty setting. I can't get any more honest than that. Not that this comes as an insult. While DS was genre-defining for the PC, anything decently capturing the combat of DS is definitely worth playing for me. But I see a lot of reviewers giving this game a perfect 10 and calling it better that DS owing to the better visuals andFirst Impressions? Dark Souls (DS) shipped with an "Easy" difficulty setting. I can't get any more honest than that. Not that this comes as an insult. While DS was genre-defining for the PC, anything decently capturing the combat of DS is definitely worth playing for me. But I see a lot of reviewers giving this game a perfect 10 and calling it better that DS owing to the better visuals and "less frustrating" combat. Now I understand how punishing DS can be, but saying this game has more responsive controls is pushing it too far. Personally, I think control responsiveness reached new heights with DS, which have not been quite matched by this game. Also, for anyone who actually took the trouble of not only completing DS but understanding what the game was about, would know better than saying, "oh, this game has better graphics, so this must be better!" DS's atmosphere and settings were perfect for the feeling it wanted to convey to the players - those of claustrophobia, death and helplessness. Also, appreciating the brutal combat in DS does not mean I'm "hardcore" - far from it! I labored for hours on end at my game pad just to have gratitude wash over me seeing some particularly difficult boss finally roll over and die. That, in my opinion, was the beauty of DS - legendary bosses and rewarding, if a bit too difficult, combat. Therefore taking away the difficulty definitely diminishes said beauty in my eyes. Finally, maybe I would have given this game a 7 or 8, but 6 feels like a more honest score for watering down the prime aspect of the game it was not-too-subtly based on - the combat.… Expand
  34. Apollo77
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Really enjoyed it. It's a bit little bit challenging but nothing like dark souls I want to go berserk and throw the computer challenging. Graphics are really nice although most environments sort of look the same. A good mix of arcade and timed combat. I think people should definitely give it a go. Just dont pass it off as a dark souls clone. Yes it's similar to dark souls, but that's likeReally enjoyed it. It's a bit little bit challenging but nothing like dark souls I want to go berserk and throw the computer challenging. Graphics are really nice although most environments sort of look the same. A good mix of arcade and timed combat. I think people should definitely give it a go. Just dont pass it off as a dark souls clone. Yes it's similar to dark souls, but that's like saying I'll never play another fps because it was like some other fps. Just judge the game on its own fun and flaws.… Expand
  35. zeven
    Oct 28, 2014
    7
    Had a brief running with the game. vs DS series
    Good:
    - the graphics is not superb but is already much better than DS - the UI is more friendly and look more modern to me honestly - the design of equipment is better Bad: - the boss fight is not as interesting as DS, I hope the later ones would be better - sounds like the magic is far more limited than DS - the world is less    Had a brief running with the game. vs DS series
    Good:
    - the graphics is not superb but is already much better than DS
    - the UI is more friendly and look more modern to me honestly
    - the design of equipment is better
    Bad:
    - the boss fight is not as interesting as DS, I hope the later ones would be better
    - sounds like the magic is far more limited than DS
    - the world is less interesting than DS, I hope I will see better ones later
    Mixed:
    - no character recreation, but I don't really care about this as I always have a helm
    - its far more easier than DS, especially if you start as a heavy armor warrior together with the DLC equipment. Playing as a Rogue will be more challenging in my situation.

    To me, its a good sign to have copycat of DS, it would be beneficial to DS fans as well if this copycat can KO the original one. With no competition, I don't think From software will make better DS to us.    … Expand
  36. Cantthink
    Oct 28, 2014
    9
    Great game, awesome graphics, same dark souls combat we all love. A little easier than DS but still pretty damn tough, had a dude try it on shareplay today on PS4, he beat both dark souls multiple times yet was having a problem killing a normal mob...so the tough factor is still there. Only downside to this game is crappy voice acting, and the sound cuts in and out during cutscenes.Great game, awesome graphics, same dark souls combat we all love. A little easier than DS but still pretty damn tough, had a dude try it on shareplay today on PS4, he beat both dark souls multiple times yet was having a problem killing a normal mob...so the tough factor is still there. Only downside to this game is crappy voice acting, and the sound cuts in and out during cutscenes. Besides for that this game is badass and is without a doubt worth the money.… Expand
  37. izembo
    Oct 28, 2014
    3
    Game is not even close to Dark Souls as people claim it to be. The only thing they did is take a basic action game with horrible combat and then run the slider for enemy damage up so that people would make the comparison to the DS series. The story is laughable, characters are incredibly basic, and combat consists of rolling all over hoping you don't get hit for 75% of your health barGame is not even close to Dark Souls as people claim it to be. The only thing they did is take a basic action game with horrible combat and then run the slider for enemy damage up so that people would make the comparison to the DS series. The story is laughable, characters are incredibly basic, and combat consists of rolling all over hoping you don't get hit for 75% of your health bar when you occasionally get 1 attack in. Would totally be possible on last-gen consoles, is nothing ground-breaking at all.… Expand
  38. kaldon
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    The game is absolutely amazing, it has out Dark Souls'd Dark Souls, the Combat is addicting and the visuals are breathtaking. I couldn't decide whether to pick it up for PC or PS4, ultimately opting for PC, if I continue to enjoy it as much as I have thus far, I will pick it up for PS4 as well down the road.
  39. tomek771234
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    I'm gonna spend many hours on that staff... Graphics... Climate... Nice combat system... VERY good idea with challenging exp collecting system, that you get more xp points when killing more monsters...
  40. mweagle
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    Great graphics, great gameplay and more playable than Dark Souls. Sure, it looks a but like that game, but nowadays, it's hard to find 2 games that have not a couple thing in common. They made a very good game with DS elements, but most stuff of their own. The best thing is that you don't die as much. Nobody likes dying in games.

    Downside, which is personal, is that it's not really    Great graphics, great gameplay and more playable than Dark Souls. Sure, it looks a but like that game, but nowadays, it's hard to find 2 games that have not a couple thing in common. They made a very good game with DS elements, but most stuff of their own. The best thing is that you don't die as much. Nobody likes dying in games.

    Downside, which is personal, is that it's not really giving you a lot of freedom in the map. Lot of lineair maps with some side-roads, but generally not a whole lot of moving space (but I have not finished the game, so who knows?). Robust RPG with fun combat.    … Expand
  41. omranooo
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    A graphically great game with a good amount of weapons and armor set to customize, BUT it's not perfect due to the lack of Plot and absolutely ZERO character customization, it's basically a more forgiving side of Dark souls, but i still say this game could stand it's own ground.
  42. op8
    Oct 28, 2014
    7
    With regards to the shills and there reviews. Guys I know you are just doing your jobs, but dont make it too obvious. At least have some other games you have reviewed on your account besides Enemy Front (another CI developed game). I'm looking at you "sniper1337" and "atmosf3ear".
    Personally speaking I think this game does exactly as advertised and is what I expected. Solid 7/10
  43. Firemind
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    A good game. More forgiving than Dark Souls and even though it clearly is inspired by it, Lords of the Fallen is way more than a cheap rip-off. The fighting is quite fun, the weapons are pretty cool and it is overall pretty much fun. It gets a little less forgiving in NG+ but it never reaches the "difficulty" of DS.
  44. codetyper
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Beautiful graphics. Excellent game mechanics. Awesome combat system. Amazing leveling of main character. Perfect game. Highly recommended! 10/10! Good job City Games!
  45. CriticoDubioso
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    This is one of the best game I've ever played. CI Games did nice job. If you have player Dark Souls and you liked it, this is way better. If you didn't like Dark Souls, then try this LOTF, you will not regret it.
  46. AliceEngine
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Excellent Dark Souls-esque aRPG that expands upon the basic Souls gameplay in pretty much every aspect, and does it well. Fighting rewards correctly timed attacks instead of R1 mashing, the bloodstain mechanic evolved past a simple pick-up to a choice between safety and boosting your combat ability when near it, armor finally has a noticeable impact. Enemies attack accordingly to theirExcellent Dark Souls-esque aRPG that expands upon the basic Souls gameplay in pretty much every aspect, and does it well. Fighting rewards correctly timed attacks instead of R1 mashing, the bloodstain mechanic evolved past a simple pick-up to a choice between safety and boosting your combat ability when near it, armor finally has a noticeable impact. Enemies attack accordingly to their gear - you won't see a knife-wielder wind up as if he's carrying a massive club.

    One word of caution though, magic is, just like in DaS, the key to easy mode. Use it sparingly or better yet, avoid.    … Expand
  47. metagamer80
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Perfect game. It's way better than DS. More satisfying combat and superb graphics. Huge bosses, epic fights, I really enjoyed it. Highly recommended! 10/10
  48. VoodooRider
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    The world presented in this game is simple breathtaking. Gameplay experience is just pure fun and not frustration as it sometimes has been with its older brother - Dark souls... :)
  49. DeathJim
    Oct 28, 2014
    8
    Great. There's alot of butthurt Dark souls fan who wants to write this off as a rip off which is lousier/cheaper/whatever but after playing dark souls 1 and 2..I gotta say, This is better.
    I think maybe in the first place, I was never really into Dark souls kind of game and style, and most fans of the series pride themselves in being the 'Hardcore' gang.
    This has better graphics,    Great. There's alot of butthurt Dark souls fan who wants to write this off as a rip off which is lousier/cheaper/whatever but after playing dark souls 1 and 2..I gotta say, This is better.
    I think maybe in the first place, I was never really into Dark souls kind of game and style, and most fans of the series pride themselves in being the 'Hardcore' gang.

    This has better graphics, better controls, yes its more 'arcadey' but definitely feels more fun than the sluggish combat style I find in dark souls. Maybe im the beat'em up crowd or maybe Im the guy who prefers 'easier' fun , but yeah definitely give this game a try.

    In Retrospect, DArk souls universe and game seems very old school, very ancient, with poor UI and systems (although the stats and details involved is staggering) whereas this feels more updated, modern, polished and designed to attract the MASS MARKET....

    There's definitely room for more, and different crowds!
    Lords of the Fallen 2, bring it on!    … Expand
  50. Snek
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    A great looking action RPG with a distinct next-gen feel. If you ever wanted the satisfying combat of the Souls series, this is it. Even without finishing the NG+ a second time, I got solid 30 hours from it so definitely worth giving it a shot.
  51. atmosf3ear
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    Finally an excellent game from CI GAMES. Beautiful graphics, excellent game mechanics, awsome combat system, amazing leveling of main character. As true gamer - you can't miss this title.
  52. talal1007
    Oct 28, 2014
    10
    now this is a game that keeps me busy for sometime, and it's gloriously amazing! I'm a dark souls type of gamer and I like a lot of RPGs. this one has surpassed my expectations! Well done City Interactive!
  53. Dog4life
    Oct 28, 2014
    0
    Cheap Dark Souls rip off, with almost no story or interesting world to explore. Just ok graphics and generally the game lacks character. Invest your money better in the real deal, Dark Souls 1/2 & Dlcs
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Awards & Rankings

40
#40 Most Discussed PC Game of 2014
3
#3 Most Shared PC Game of 2014

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
73

Mixed or average reviews - based on 36 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 14 out of 36
  2. Mixed: 22 out of 36
  3. Negative: 0 out of 36
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Dec 15, 2014
    83
    Lords of the Fallen may be a simplified, easier version of Souls games, but is it necessarily a bad thing? Being an overpowered iron mountain at the end game, well, it is actually quite satisfying for a change. [Dec 2014]
  2. CD-Action
    Dec 13, 2014
    90
    I was flabbergasted by what two largely unknown studios managed to achieve. Lords of the Fallen is not just a creative take on the formula introduced by From Software, but also a game that can rival the greatest recent RPGs and looks like Monica Bellucci and Sophie Marceau from their best years. [Dec 2014, p.40]
  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    Dec 3, 2014
    80
    Straightforward copycat of "Souls" games achieved a success because it can reach players the Japanese series could not because it was too difficult. The game is still challenging but you won't be desperate from playing it. [Issue#247]
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