Lords of the Fallen looks better and better each time I see it and it’s about time people start noticing. Developed by Deck13 Interactive and CI Games, Lords of the Fallen is looking to deliver a tight action-RPG experience for the new consoles. The game has crisp visuals and a strategic approach to combat where stamina matters and timing is critical. Comparisons to Dark Souls are inevitable but Lords of the Fallen isn’t trying to make things difficult for the player as executive producer Thomas Gop has already confirmed that there are no “treasure chests that kill you in the game.” So Lords of the Fallen isn’t out to get you but that doesn’t mean the game won’t be challenging. This is a game that has fallen (forgive the pun) under the radar but there are a couple things about it that may interest you.
Boss Battles
The good ole staple of the RPG is the vanquishing of bosses and Lords of the Fallen is no exception. Bosses have a segmented health system that once depleted; the boss will undertake new maneuvers as well as undergo physical changes. This keeps encounters fresh and constantly dynamic as you have to reexamine your battle tactics. The bosses we’ve seen so far have been pretty standard-fair for these fantasy RPGs; big hulking knight with a fiery sword or a spider demon the size of a pick-up truck. We hope we get to see more variety in the bosses and how their segmented health affects certain battles in real-time.
Graphics
Lords of the Fallen is one of the best looking RPGs to date. One of the best examples of this exists in the latest trailer released for the game. The particle effects and lighting really breathe life into this world as well as the fluid animations of the main character. When wielding the big hammer-like weapon, you can almost feel the weight as he lifts it right before striking an enemy. The beautifully-rendered environments are also a sight to behold and we can’t wait to walk around and take it all in.
Gameplay
Lords of the Fallen is the closest thing to a next-gen Souls game in 2014 and it will be a great stopgap until Bloodborne crashes the party this February 2015. But until then, Lords of the Fallen promises a deep and engaging combat system with a lot of personal customization. For example, want a tank-like build but want to also deal spell attacks? It’s all possible and up to the player to decide what class and perks he or she would like to mix and match. This is a system that works and allows you to switch things up without any hassle.
Lords of the Fallen is a game that may surprise a lot of people this Fall. I’ve been personally eyeing this title for a couple of months now and it looks like it’s going to deliver and cater to action-RPG fans. There is no online play which is a bummer but hopefully it will be something that Deck13 considers if a sequel is planned. Look for our review of Lords of the Fallen in the coming weeks. Lords of the Fallen is slated to hit store shelves October 31, 2014 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.