The Ultimate Spiritual Successor: Lords of the Fallen Transcends the Legacy of Dark Souls

Highlights

Lords of the Fallen breathes new life into a dormant franchise, embracing gameplay innovations while harkening back to the early days of the Soulslike genre.

The game's interconnected world, reminiscent of Dark Souls' Lordran, stands out due to its branching paths and secret areas, adding complexity and inviting comparisons to the original game's legacy.

The brilliant art direction of Lords of the Fallen, powered by Unreal Engine 5, beautifully captures the dark fantasy atmosphere that induces a sense of dread, resembling Dark Souls and establishing it as a true spiritual successor.

Lords of the Fallen, releasing in 2023, is a noteworthy Soulslike game unrelated to the 2014 title of the same name. Acting as a reboot for an earlier Soulslike franchise not developed by FromSoftware, Lords of the Fallen has the opportunity to revitalize what was previously a somewhat average series. It embraces the numerous gameplay innovations seen in the Soulslike genre over the past few years while also paying homage to the genre's early days. This results in Lords of the Fallen feeling like a contemporary Soulslike, with its primary inspiration clearly derived from Dark Souls, the genre's progenitor. Despite FromSoftware's earlier games and Demon's Souls setting the foundation for Soulslikes, it was Dark Souls' release in 2011 that truly birthed the genre. While the core mechanics of Dark Souls had a profound impact on subsequent action-RPGs, there are certain elements from the original game that even FromSoftware has yet to duplicate. Lords of the Fallen not only builds on these ideas but also adds its own distinct twist to them.

Lords of the Fallen's Interconnected World is the Closest Modern Analogue for Lordran

It's surprising that no other game in FromSoftware's impressive catalog has attempted to closely replicate one of Dark Souls' most defining features: the massive and interconnected world of Lordran. While Demon's Souls had players navigating between worlds via a central hub, Dark Souls featured one map that players could naturally explore, discovering shortcuts that folded the map in astounding ways. Lords of the Fallen's best design decision is to continue this abandoned idea.

The worlds of Axiom and its "spirit realm" counterpart, Umbral, are meticulously designed spaces with numerous branching paths and hidden areas. Progressing through new areas often leads players to stumble upon previous checkpoints called Vestiges or unlock previously inaccessible doors, creating a circular path that connects back to previously visited sections of the map. While it may not rival the expansive scale of Elden Ring's The Lands Between, it compensates with complexity and interconnectedness, reminiscent of Dark Souls' legacy.

The Use of Unreal Engine 5 in Lords of the Fallen Highlights the Brilliance of its Art Direction

Navigating these spaces in a game wouldn't be meaningful without inspired art direction and design cohesiveness. Fortunately, Lords of the Fallen stands out as one of the most visually stunning Soulslike games available. The game's visual brilliance is enhanced by its skilled use of Unreal Engine 5, demonstrating the immense potential for future titles developed using this engine. However, it's important to note that impressive graphics alone are not enough if the design falls short. This is where Lords of the Fallen shines, as its aesthetic and tone truly capture the foreboding dark fantasy atmosphere of Dark Souls.

Just like the kingdom of Lordran, the setting of Axiom feels like a vibrant and well-established place with its own rich history and a diverse cast of characters. Each new area you enter provides a visual spectacle that delights the senses. It's not surprising that Dark Souls served as the catalyst for FromSoftware's current success. By heavily borrowing from the game that sets the standard for quality in the Soulslike genre, Lords of the Fallen genuinely feels like a spiritual successor. The original Lords of the Fallen was one of the first games to adopt the "Soulslikes" style, and this reboot firmly solidifies the fact that drawing inspiration from the genre's original roots results in some of the best gaming experiences.

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