The Ultimate Challenge: Lords of the Fallen New Game+ Pushes Players to the Brink

Highlights

Lords of the Fallen has faced performance issues since its release, but fans have praised its mechanics, world, and combat.

In Lords of the Fallen's New Game+ mode, the absence of checkpoints heightens the challenge for players. However, one mechanic presents a significant obstacle to progress. The inclusion of vestige seeds enables players to establish their own checkpoints, but in New Game+ mode, they can only utilize one seed at a time, resulting in restricted freedom to navigate the game's world.

Since its release last week, the action RPG Lords of the Fallen by developer Hexworks has not received the universal acclaim that was hoped for. Following a similar formula to the Dark Souls trilogy in terms of mechanics and aesthetic, the PC version particularly has been plagued by performance issues. Despite this, many fans have praised the game's mechanics, world, and combat, and have been actively playing since its release. Those who have not yet completed the game may be surprised to learn that the New Game+ mode significantly increases the challenge by removing checkpoints.

Recent soulslike games like Lords of the Fallen and Lies of P have shown that the genre has indeed progressed, even with their different approaches. While FromSoftware remains the leader in the sub-genre, the gap between them and other developers, such as Hidetaka Miyazaki's team, is not widening. Although most soulslike games adhere to a set of core rules, they strive to differentiate themselves through unique features and mechanics. Lords of the Fallen is no exception, introducing unexpected surprises that defy fans' expectations in exciting new ways.

Lords of the Fallen's New Game+ Significantly Ups The Stakes

Difficulty is an essential aspect for many when it comes to a soulslike game. A crucial part of evaluating the difficulty in such games is the placement of checkpoints, known as bonfires in Dark Souls. Placing these checkpoints too frequently can diminish the game's tension, while placing them infrequently can remove any sense of fear or dread, as players know the next checkpoint is close by. Lords of the Fallen introduces a slightly different approach.

In Lords of the Fallen, players will come across Vestiges, which serve as the game's equivalent of bonfires, in both of its dual worlds. These Vestiges can be used for healing, leveling up, or fast travel to other locations. However, they are scarce and not easily found. Some areas may only have one Vestige or even none at all. This means players may find themselves cautiously navigating an area, desperately hoping to stumble upon a Vestige, as the risk of death outweighs any potential rewards in engaging in combat.

In an attempt to ease the pressure on players, Lords of the Fallen introduces vestige seeds. These limited consumable items allow players to create their own checkpoints in specific areas with flower beds. This unique twist on the familiar soulslike mechanic adds an additional layer of strategy as players must decide where and when to place these checkpoints. Notably, the New Game+ mode takes this concept even further by completely removing vestiges. This means that players can only establish vestiges using these consumable seeds, which can either be obtained from bosses or purchased in the hub world.

However, it is important to note that players can only plant and utilize one vestige seed at a time. Planting a second seed will replace the first one. Consequently, in New Game+ mode, players will not have the freedom to freely warp between areas, limiting their ability to explore the vast world of Mournstead, which is one of the highlights of Lords of the Fallen. This decision may appear peculiar, as while New Game+ mode should undoubtedly increase the game's difficulty, it raises questions as to whether this mechanic achieves that goal without sacrificing some of the game's most enjoyable aspects. Considering Hexworks' responsiveness to feedback, it remains uncertain whether this particular element will be modified.

Lords of the Fallen is out now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.