Lords of the Fallen is one of the better entries in the growing list of Souls-likes.  It featured dark fantasy landscapes,  punishing combat,  and potent magic.

There have been many Dark Souls-inspired titles over the years.  The genre From Software gave rise to is,  perhaps,  their greatest legacy.  Among them,  Deck 13 and CIGames’  Lords of the Fallen is one of the better entries in the growing list of Souls-likes.  It featured dark fantasy landscapes,  punishing combat,  and potent magic.  Although,  while there are moments when it placed a strong emphasis on making combat more accessible,  maybe too much so,  it frequently balanced this out by presenting a good risk-reward system that caters to multiple playstyles.

The Lords Of The Fallen: Here’s What We Know

Suffice it to say,  it was a mixed bag of sorts.  Now the sequel,  rather cryptically named The Lords of the Fallen,  may be well underway.  I know what you’re thinking.  All they did was add the to the title to make it sound more like The Lord of the Rings.  

Lords of the Fallen: Release Date

Lords of the Fallen will be release on October 13, 2023.  It’s being made by a new studio called Hexworks,  using Unreal Engine,  and will be available on PC,  PS5,  and Xbox Series XS.

Distinct Classes

Similar to its predecessor,  the character creation in The Lords of the Fallen sequel maintains its versatility.  Players can select from an array of starting Archetypes,  such as Rogue,  Fire Apprentice,  and Knight.  Reports suggest a total of nine distinct classes will be available,  just like the previous installment.  While the inclusion of the old magic systems remains uncertain,  the game preserves the freedom of customising playstyles, allowing players to deviate a little from  their chosen Archetype. 

Realms Of The Living And The Departed

In The Lords of the Fallen, the player assumes control of a protagonist who wields a lantern as their primary weapon.  This lantern serves as a conduit to a separate realm inhabited by the dead.  Not only can this realm be unveiled through the lantern,  but it also becomes a battleground where adversaries from this spectral world can be confronted.  The new iteration of the game boasts a significantly expanded scale compared to its predecessor,  dividing its focus between the realms of the living and the departed.  Demise leads players to the realm of the deceased,  where they confront eerie creatures.

Co-Op Multiplayer

Diverging from its forerunner,  The Lords of the Fallen will introduce co-op multiplayer at launch.  Taking inspiration from titles like Elden Ring and other games of the Souls-like genre,  this installment permits seamless online co-op,  mitigating the need for repetitive friend invitations before each new section or boss confrontation.  While co-op participation is restricted to a single ally,  players can also have the option to partake in invasions,  enabling them to infiltrate the worlds of others for both player versus environment,  PvE,

and player versus player,  PvP,  interactions.  Enabling them to infiltrate the worlds of others for both player versus environment and player versus player interactions.  Naturally,  players retain the autonomy to disable all multiplayer functionalities,  opting for a solitary journey through The Lords of the Fallen’s narrative.  

Plot 

As for the story,  The Lords of the Fallen plot remains veiled in secrecy,  with only a few details being made available.  Much like the original,  though, players take control of Harkin.  Like other sinners in The Lord of the Fallen universe, Harkin’s sins are tattooed on his face in the shape of runes.  The density of these markings implies that he has committed a great many offenses throughout his life.  In the first game,  he was tasked to defeat the demonic Rogar Legion,  whom returned from the Dark Realm.  Although his class and abilities are player-chosen,  Harkin is nevertheless a capable melee fighter and able to cast a variety of spells to aid in battle against this demonic threat,  led by the despotic ruler,  Adir.  The conclusion of the first game allowed players to choose between resurrecting Adir, slaying him,  or maintaining his dormancy.  

Ending

Based on current information,  it appears that one of the endings was adopted as canon.  In The Lords of the Fallen,  Harkin travels to both the world of the living and the dead,  in order to prevent the resurrection of this malevolent deity.  Another likely scenario is that they’re releasing a reboot instead of a sequel.  After all,  it was originally going to be called Lords of the Fallen 2.  Needless to say,  as the launch date for Lords of the Fallen draws closer, so too will our understanding of the game’s combat and lore. 

 Could this upcoming release potentially be one of the best Souls likes to date?  Hopefully it surpasses its rather tame predecessor.  What do you guys think? 

Ready to experience the thrill of Lords of the Fallen? Secure your game copy now through ElectronicFirst.com and be prepared for an epic journey into dark fantasy landscapes, intense combat, and powerful magic.