Visuals
The visuals are decent but nothing special. Some zones in the Axiom realm look great, but when switching to Umbral, many areas become visually dull and repetitive. While the dark fantasy style is appealing, the graphics themselves feel outdated. The best-looking areas are rare, and most of the visual appeal comes from strong art direction rather than technical fidelity.
Gameplay
Lords of the Fallen is on the easier side for a Soulslike. Combat still feels clunky even after the 2.0 update. The lock-on system is frustrating, and the dodge mechanic is unreliable—especially when locked onto enemies. Enemy variety is weak, and there are far too many regular enemies, particularly dogs and archers, which often make exploring feel like a chore.
Weapons can be used both one- and two-handed, which offers some variety in movesets without pushing players toward a specific style. Parrying doesn’t feel rewarding, as the damage from follow-up critical hits is low. There’s also a strange mechanic involving planting checkpoints (vestiges) in flowerbeds, but only one can be active at a time, making it feel more like an unnecessary restriction than a meaningful feature.
Bosses
Most bosses are underwhelming, with limited movesets and poor pacing. Some are reused as regular enemies later, which hurts their impact. That said, a few late-game bosses do stand out and offer a more challenging and rewarding experience. These moments are too rare but show what the game is capable of at its best.
Exploration
The world is large and has plenty to explore, but rewards are often disappointing. Many areas feel like mazes, and enemy placement is frequently frustrating. The mechanic of switching between the regular world (Axiom) and the hidden realm (Umbral) is initially interesting but quickly becomes annoying. You can enter Umbral at will but need specific points to return to Axiom, and since the game forces you to spend most of your time in Umbral anyway, it ends up feeling like a burden.
Trap items that mimic pickups and deal massive damage—especially in Umbral—are another frustrating mechanic. Occasionally, the lamp used to peek into Umbral reveals hidden enemies or paths, and these are the few moments where the two-world concept shines.
Story
The story is simple but well delivered. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it fits the tone of the world well and helps support the atmosphere. While it doesn’t leave a lasting impact, it’s consistent and competently presented.
Sound and Atmosphere
Atmosphere is one of the game’s strengths. The world is dark and oppressive in the right way, and the sound design supports that well. The voice acting is solid across the board, and while the soundtrack isn’t especially memorable, it does its job in setting the tone.
Verdict
6 out of 10
Lords of the Fallen has a few standout moments, mostly in its late-game bosses and strong atmosphere. Unfortunately, clunky combat, overwhelming enemy density, frustrating mechanics, and a repetitive two-realm system drag the experience down. It’s a better game than it was at launch, but still not a particularly good one. If you’ve already played all the great Soulslikes and are desperate for something new, it might be worth trying—especially now that it’s on Game Pass. Otherwise, it’s hard to recommend.
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