Lords of the Fallen 2

Lords of the Fallen is a stunningly good game.  Following a path set for it by Dark Souls 3 it nails every major part of what makes From’s games so damned good.  Stunning visually, the art style and music are some of my favorites.  While the very end does get too “big” for its gameplay this one is an easy recommendation to both the most hardcore Souls lovers and those who feel intimidated.  Seamless co-op takes what is a great game and makes it a special one.

Lords of the Fallen (2023) is a dark fantasy Souls-like and successor to the original Lords of the Fallen from 2014. While the original was met with lukewarm reception, this new iteration has ticked all the boxes of a great Souls-like with deep and satisfying combat, interesting lore, a wonderfully grim fantasy world and one of the most technically impressive mechanics I've seen all year.

Lords of the Fallen is a solid, if conventional Soulslike, offering imposing adventure while never quite breaking new ground. Though a litany of performance woes currently hinders the experience, expansive realms, gloomy lore, and a bloody, heavy-handed challenge await the more sadistic corners of the game-playing audience.

Lords of the Fallen captured my interest in its early hours more than its 2014 predecessor of the same name ever did. But despite a solid gameplay foundation, stunning world, and unique two-realm mechanic, by the time I reached credits after 48 hours, I was overjoyed to be done. What begins as a remarkable soft reboot unravels by the halfway point due to pacing issues, abundant repetition, and lackluster level design, unfortunately leaving a disappointing back half to slog through.