Lords of the Fallen originally released back in 2014. Now, publisher CI Games and developer Hexworks are bringing the franchise back and giving the From Software-inspired title a facelift in 2023. We got the chance to go hands-on with the game for the first time.
Like most Souls-likes, Lords of the Fallen has all the staples you’d expect from the genre, a focused, deliberate combat system where every input matters, danger at every turn, insane enemies and memorable boss fights. The devs have pushed things forward with this new iteration by making combat faster and integrating melee and spells. Lords of the Fallen also takes other aspects from titles like Bloodborne. Lords of the Fallen features withered damage which is tentatively added to the player after certain actions or from certain attacks. Like Bloodborne’s regain system, if the player attacks the enemy, the health loss from withered damage can be reclaimed. If the player gets hit, the withered damage hits the player all at once. Lords of the Fallen also has features players having a second life like Sekiro.
Lords of the Fallen puts players in the role of a Dark Crusader who is called upon by the Church of Orius to stop the demon god Adyr. After an age of the cruelest tyranny, the demon god Adyr, was finally defeated by mankind’s greatest heroes – The Judges. Following their victory, the Hallowed Sentinels were formed to stand vigil for signs of Adyr’s return. The Sentinels created beacons throughout the kingdom, to repress any lasting remnant of the demon god’s malignance.
As time passed, Adyr’s noxious whispers pervaded the earth once more enticing those who swore to oppose him. The Sentinels fell along with the beacons which became corrupted. Adyr’s demon hordes ravaged the lands, cleaving a path through which their great lord might ascend.
Now, after centuries of warfare, the demon god’s resurrection draws nigh. Humanity’s only hope of survival lies with the Church of Orius. Disciples of the Radiant God – Adyr’s arch nemesis – this devout union recently unearthed a device of ungodly power; a lantern that grants its bearer the ability to cross between the realm of the living… and that of the dead. Though sacrilegious by its very nature, The Church has no choice but to bestow this black art upon their most devout and ferocious champions – The Dark Crusaders – as a last, desperate attempt to destroy Adyr. Only they who shun the light to fight the darkness, possess the power to defy God.
From Software-inspired titles features all of the things fans want but they also do things to make it their own. In Lords of the Fallen’s case, this comes in the form of inter-connected parallel realms. The game takes place in the land of Mournstead. In it, there is the living world, Axiom, and the world of the dead, Umbral. Each realm features its own unique pathways, enemies, characters, and treasures. Umbral can be entered at any time with the use of the Umbral lantern. The lantern isn’t just used to enter Umbral. Players can bring it up at any time and see Umbral while they are in Axiom. The lantern is also used in puzzles and combat. Some areas will be inaccessible and players will need to find a way to continue by going into Umbral. Players can use the lantern to temporarily take the soul of of an enemy. It returns after a short time but damage applied to the enemy’s soul will be added once it returns. There are also enemies that will be protected by a spirit and won’t take any damage until the spirit is destroyed.
Players can sacrifice their second life to enter Umbral at any time, or they die while in Axiom. When players die in Axiom, they are brought back to life and transition into the world of Umbral. So in addition to healing items, players will always have an extra chance while they are in Axiom. If you die while in Umbral, players will not get the chance because of the Umbral Rift which is how players enter Umbral. Players can exit the world of Umbral by visiting specific idols scattered across the world.
The addition of a second realm to traverse at any time adds a lot of variety, not only in the enemies you’ll encounter but how you traverse the environment. One area may be inaccessible in Axiom but a pathway can be opened in Umbral.
These new additions to Lords of the Fallen added with the awe-inspiring music and boss fights seem to be the perfect combination for any From Software fan looking to get lost in another world where you have to earn every victory, every step of the way.
Lords of the Fallen launches on October 13, 2023, for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, and PC.