Unleashing the Nostalgia: Lords of the Fallen's Incredible Tribute to a Beloved PS1 Classic

Highlights

Lords of the Fallen stands apart from other Soulslikes through its distinctive dual-world traversal mechanic. By employing the Umbral Lantern, players can seamlessly transition between the physical world and the enigmatic Umbral realm.

The Umbral Lantern in Lords of the Fallen bears resemblance to Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, a cherished PS1 classic that also featured a similar dual-world traversal mechanic known as the Shift glyph.

Both games necessitate constant movement between realms to unravel traversal puzzles. By incorporating this mechanic, Lords of the Fallen distinguishes itself and establishes its own distinctive identity within the Soulslike genre.

In the crowded subgenre of Soulslikes, developers must find a unique twist to make their games stand out. Lords of the Fallen accomplishes this by incorporating a dual-world traversing mechanic through the use of the Umbral Lantern. This sets it apart from other Soulslikes and pays tribute to the beloved PS1 classic Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver.

Legacy of Kain: Soul Reaver, a sequel to the cult classic Blood Omen: Legacy of Kain, was originally released for the PlayStation in 1999. Players take on the role of Raziel, a lieutenant to the vampire Kain, as he seeks to revive the decaying world of Nosgoth and seek vengeance against his former master. In the game, Raziel gains the ability to shift between the material and spectral planes using the Shift glyph, similar to how Lords of the Fallen utilizes the Umbral Lantern.

Comparing Lords of the Fallen's Umbral Lantern to the Shift Glyph

In Legacy of Kain, players begin with the Shift glyph ability, similar to how the Umbral Lantern is the first item granted to players in Lords of the Fallen. The Umbral Lantern allows players to temporarily travel between two realms -- the material realm of Axiom and the spectral realm of Umbral. These realms have distinct visuals and are alternate versions of the same structures and locations.

Both games, Lords of the Fallen and Legacy of Kain, have a unique relationship between the alternate spectral realm and the player's health. Raziel, in Legacy of Kain, would automatically be transported to the spectral realm when his health ran out, reflecting his nature as a wraith. In Lords of the Fallen, entering the Umbral realm carries a significant risk to players' survivability. In Axiom, players can respawn immediately in Umbral upon death and retrieve lost XP. However, dying in the Umbral realm forces players to restart from the last checkpoint.

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Both titles heavily emphasize the importance of frequent movement between the material and spectral realms to solve traversal puzzles and progress on the main path. An example of this mechanic in both games involves the utilization of water. In the material realm, the heroes may encounter a large water-filled chasm that acts as an obstacle. However, by shifting to the spectral realm where water does not exist, players are able to effortlessly cross what was once a hazardous environment. This dual-world traversal mechanic, which was a distinctive feature of Legacy of Kain, significantly contributes to Lords of the Fallen's unique identity as a Soulslike game.

As part of the sale of its Western development teams to Embracer Group, Square Enix included Crystal Dynamics, the current holders of the Legacy of Kain intellectual property. Interestingly, shortly after Embracer Group acquired Crystal Dynamics, the developer sent out a survey to fans inquiring about their interest in a remake of Legacy of Kain, fueling speculation about the beloved PS1 action-adventure game. Despite facing legal obstacles during its original development, the game received high praise. If Lords of the Fallen achieves success, it may serve as a catalyst for Crystal Dynamics to explore the possibility of revitalizing the Legacy of Kain franchise.

Lords of the Fallen is set to release on October 13 for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.