If you'd like to see my (very condensed) stream-through of this game for the first time, feel free to click on the link below. WARNING: I swear frequently.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a8q_tSOD2ow&list=PLklrkLw7j3VTq02g1ZnLXgD9oh1Ao5Qsw&index=1

I'll preface this by saying that I'm a huge Dark Souls fan. However, I'm extremely critical of all games that I play, including those dear to my heart like the Souls series. All of my experiences playing this game are as a lightly armoured Rogue. Apparently, the game is much different (easier) for heavily armoured Warriors, but I lack the experience to comment on that. Scroll to the very bottom for the TLDR-style conclusion.

REVIEW

This game is the only one in several years to crash on me. My PC should be able to handle it without a hitch on High, maybe even Ultra settings, yet I was forced to turn off all the extra effects and go Medium just to make it playable.

I don't remember anything about the soundtrack. Voice acting is stiff, but sometimes to comical effect.

The story is dull, the characters are forgettable and the writing is flat out bad. I for one can actually appreciate the comedic potential of bad writing, but most people won't be so forgiving. The majority of the story is told through collecting Audio Logs. This is a nice touch, as it lets you understand the setting while you continue exploring.

Combat is... all over the place. Sometimes combat is fluid and makes sense. Other times enemies will immediately counterattack and stun you without an animation, making you sit through free damage. Many enemies have giant shields, and just like in a Souls game, they're extremely monotonous to fight.

The pacing of combat is very slow compared to either Souls game, where your fast roll feels like something between a medium and fat roll from DS1. I wouldn't say the change in pace is a good or bad thing, just different, and Souls vets will definitely take time to adjust.

Boss fights drag on with huge health bars and little variance in attacks, making them a chore after the first few moments. They do, however, use a 'phase' system similar to bosses in MMOs, which can make the fights more interesting.

The game uses a combo system that encourages you to chain attacks together for increased damage and poise breaking. This sounds great on paper, but in practice, you'll rarely be given an opportunity to use them because...

...poise is an absolute mess in this game. When staggered, enemies will often break out of the stun to continue attacking you, which defies any sense of game logic.

I didn't use magic to comment, but the gauntlet - a ranged magic weapon - feels extremely forced into the game, as if it was something for the devs to tick off their checklist. Same thing with destructable items.

While the graphics are very good and well detailed, the game world is tiny and forces you to backtrack so much that one can only assume there were budget restraints. The game tries to emulate the joy of Souls shortcuts, but for every one that makes sense, there are ten that don't... or ask you to come back much later in the game. On foot.

There's really not much selection in weapon types, especially considering you'll be locked to your stat of choice. Agility, for example, has daggers, shortswords and staves, along with one axe that feels slow and heavy like a Strength weapon. You can socket items similar to Diablo games, but in similar fashion you'll be using the exact same gems every time to min/max.

Finally, let's talk about bugs. Crashes. Animations being skipped. Enemies standing still and attacking you from bizarre angles. Invisible enemies. Frequently absurd hitboxes. And yes... this game has almost been out for a year.

CONCLUSION

Lords of the Fallen is a shorter, buggier and often nonsensical version of Dark Souls 2 but with superior graphics and an art style reminiscent of Warhammer. While I wouldn't call it a terrible game and did enjoy my playthrough at least somewhat, there's a lot of barriers blocking the way for 'fun'. Impatient players and Souls players in particular will be rubbed the wrong way by this game. I cannot recommend this game in good faith simply because you can buy Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin for the same price, a game that is superior in almost every way. Only consider this game if you can get it at a very reduced price and are prepared to muscle through bugs and poor optimization. What I will say, however, is that it's very important that this game exists, because it shows that companies other than From are willing to take a shot at Souls-likes. Let's hope the next attempt is a better one.