Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen has fun combat and a good spin on Dark Souls' skill system, but its hero is overpowered.

Satisfying combat and a darkly beautiful, interconnected kingdom make Lords of the Fallen more than just a clone.

I just wish it wasn't so happy to sit in another game's shadow, and made more of the few fresh mechanisms that might distinguish it and move the genre forwards. Instead, it hews so closely to a proven template that it's basically a pretty good action-adventure by default. Yet as the game clock ticked towards 20 hours and beyond, I could never quite shake the feeling that I'd still rather be failing in Dark Souls than succeeding in Lords of the Fallen.

A competent action RPG with real challenge that lets you get a little too powerful—that is, if your PC is powerful enough to run it without crashing.

Lords of the Fallen is a successful twist on an established formula

More inspiration than perspiration, Lords of the Fallen nonetheless presents a rich fantasy world to explore. Just don't mention Dark Souls.

A combat-rich ride with excellent mechanics and interesting customization

There is apparently a 5GB patch incoming for Lords of the Fallen, which may make a difference, but at this point I'd advise steering well clear unless you're rocking an absolutely monster rig. Even then, is it worth it? From the not-inconsiderable amount I've played of LotF it feels like a game that lacks the finesse and precision of its inspiration, lacking any kind of multiplayer element and offering only a Diablo-esque quantity of loot to keep you coming back. Presuming that the game is patched to a workable state RPS will return to take another look in a week or so's time – but until then, you'd be better-served replaying the Souls games.

Despite the dull plot, basic character design, and occasional buggy boss fights, the overall mood of Lords of the Fallen is fantastic – even if you're forced to play it alone. The punishing difficulty may not please everyone, but fans of the Souls series should definitely consider taking a swing at the Rhogar. Those looking for a quick and easy adventure should duck and roll elsewhere, though, as this game will test your patience, skills, and dedication.

Despite some of its shortfalls, Lords of the Fallen is still an exceptionally remarkable game.