Lords of the Fallen - action-RPG reboot from Hexworks

[Ravielsk]

Maybe they'll have their redemption arc now tho, the final content patch made some waves. Even Asmongold, who kept shitting on the game those last 6 months, was impressed and will give it another try. Let's hope for the best because without the bugs and glitches and performance woes and some bizarre balancing issues the game is a genuinely great soulslike.

"Redemption" is a bit too much of a strong word. "Salvage" would be more fitting. From what I can tell the game feels somewhat better than it did at launch. It feels a bit faster and in general I have to fight the controls ever so slightly less. The inclusions they made for the game are nice but from what I can tell its all very surface level.

The game still runs like trash on my rtx 4070 with constant stutter even with paired down settings. Pop in is absurdly bad, as in there is texture pop in happening in the middle of the Pieta cutscene. I still have to install mods to get rid of the sharpening and and other puke filters. The rebind feature is basic as fuck since it does not let me bind a sprint to holding down "O"(B on xbox) without having to rebind dodge to something else. Platforming is still 100% cancer and Pilgrims Perch is still an insane choice for the games introduction level.

The game has some bright spots but overall its still a 7/10 at best. For the 30 eurpoors I paid for it its reasonably good value, for the full 70€ its a scam of a game. Hence the "salvage arc", its still not great but at least its not a piece of shit now.

 

[Elttharion]

This badly needed a demo or a benchmark tool. I would like to play it but I am not sure how it will run on my machine. I guess I could pirate it to test the game but I am not really a fan of pirating games I intendo to buy down the line. A lot of people I know were scared due to the performance problems, I am not sure if they have been fixed.

 

[Ravielsk]

This badly needed a demo or a benchmark tool. I would like to play it but I am not sure how it will run on my machine. I guess I could pirate it to test the game but I am not really a fan of pirating games I intendo to buy down the line. A lot of people I know were scared due to the performance problems, I am not sure if they have been fixed.

They haven't. The game is still running very poorly even with performance mods installed and on my machine it regularly stutters due to (I hope) shader compilation. If you have anything less than a rtx 4070 you will have a bad time with it.
Or you will have to run through DLSS/FSR at 480p to get any kind of sensible performance.

 

[cvv]

The game still runs like trash on my rtx 4070 with constant stutter even with paired down settings. Pop in is absurdly bad

Stutter on 4070? That can only be shaders. IIRC game stuttered a bit on my first install (and then every driver update) but just for a few minutes. I guess it's dumb to let people play while shaders are compiling because then people are pissed. Instead they should've done it like any other game - a splash screen and 10 mins watching a progress bar. Just leave the game be for a few minutes after you first install it or upgrade drivers and you'll be fine.

I've never experienced any pop-in, not even on launch, so no idea what's causing that.

 

[Ravielsk]

I've never experienced any pop-in, not even on launch, so no idea what's causing that.

It could very well be my DDR4 RAM but even if that were the case that is still on the devs stupidly expecting everyone to have the highest speed RAM purely because they cannot be bothered to preload assets before a cutscene.

 

[mediocrepoet]

Between this and Wo Long having such a mixed reaction

Mixed reactions should always be taken with a pinch of salt.

People tend to treat Steam ratings like the typical 1-10/10 review scores but it's a completely different beast. 60% on Steam feels like 6/10 but what it actually means is the majority has actually liked the game and recommends it.

It shouldn't even need to be said around here. There are Codex classics that I could see being given a mostly negative or even overwhelmingly negative on Steam but all the positive reviews would be from people on here and other like minded individuals.

Just like when you see negative reviews and some guys are crying because their 20 year old toaster can't run Cyberpunk on ultra settings or the graphics aren't up to snuff or it's too hard, etc, etc.

 

[Spike]

Between this and Wo Long having such a mixed reaction

Mixed reactions should always be taken with a pinch of salt.

People tend to treat Steam ratings like the typical 1-10/10 review scores but it's a completely different beast. 60% on Steam feels like 6/10 but what it actually means is the majority has actually liked the game and recommends it.

It shouldn't even need to be said around here. There are Codex classics that I could see being given a mostly negative or even overwhelmingly negative on Steam but all the positive reviews would be from people on here and other like minded individuals.

Just like when you see negative reviews and some guys are crying because their 20 year old toaster can't run Cyberpunk on ultra settings or the graphics aren't up to snuff or it's too hard, etc, etc.

True, but I mean mixed reviews even in bastions of taste like here.

 

[cvv]

True, but I mean mixed reviews even in bastions of taste like here.

The best way to deal with mixed reviews is to buy the game, play for two hours and see for yourself. Never know if you join the 60% of fans or 40% of haters.

 

[Spike]

True, but I mean mixed reviews even in bastions of taste like here.

The best way to deal with mixed reviews is to buy the game, play for two hours and see for yourself. Never know if you join the 60% of fans or 40% of haters.

Agreed, and I was absolutely going to purchase the game. Just waiting for sale because I almost always do unless it's From or Itsuno or something.

EDIT: I either wait for a sale or for the "Complete" edition to come out with all DLC/expansions like with Team Ninjer games.

 

[mediocrepoet]

The new update trailer for this looks kind of cool. I might take another punt at the thing when it goes on a deep enough sale.

 

[toro]

Lords of the Fallen is "The Outer Worlds" of the soulslike genre

After the last patch the positive rating went from 62% to 60% but according to big dick codexers the game was perfect on release

 

[Ravielsk]

Lords of the Fallen is "The Outer Worlds" of the soulslike genre

After the last patch the positive rating went from 62% to 60% but according to big dick codexers the game was perfect on release

According to the steam forums the game has a game breaking crash when reaching castle bramis and the new storage chest is bugged. Plus the multiplayer rewards are literary the biggest grindfest I have ever seen in a game like this. It takes 100 coins to get a tint for your armor and 400-500 to get a armor piece. Downing a boss rewards you 15 coins(some elite enemies randomly drop 1).

The devs flexing with "final milestones" and focusing on "future games" might not be the best move when you still have shit like this in your game.

 

[toro]

The devs flexing with "final milestones" and focusing on "future games" might not be the best move when you still have shit like this in your game.

The devs are complete retards.

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[kaisergeddon]

Some of the absolute best level design in the entire genre, made only better by the addition of the Umbral world. Feels like an actual dungeon crawler the majority of the time. If you're an exploration lover such as myself, there's really no reason why you shouldn't try this game out someday at least on a deep sale. Then you add actual meaningful RPG mechanics and character progression, interesting atmosphere/art design, and a plethora of varied equipment on top of it all. Makes me wonder what exactly it is people prioritize in their expectations of the genre. I feel like fans of DS 1 - and particularly 2 - would enjoy what this has to offer, whereas DS 3 fans would be the major detractors.

This is hugely affirming for me. I'm one of those contrarians who loves DS2 but doesn't care for DS3 as much, I'll definitely check this one out when it goes on sale again.

 

[cvv]

I'm one of those contrarians who loves DS2 but doesn't care for DS3 as much

Most people on Codex do, this here is a connoisseur community, DS3 is mostly loved by shallow normies.

 

[Spike]

I'm one of those contrarians who loves DS2 but doesn't care for DS3 as much

Most people on Codex do, this here is a connoisseur community, DS3 is mostly loved by shallow normies.

y not both

 

[Ravielsk]

Alright so after additional 15 hours I have taken down the Spurned Progeny I think I am vaguely starting to see what the people praising are talking about. Calrath is a pretty neat level with some actually unique visuals(the walls lined with hands) and level design that goes a step beyond "hall way but sometimes you lantern/jump". It just highlights what a utterly trash area pilgrims perch really is and how it highlights all the worst points about the game.

That said the game is still mostly mid to trash. The balancing is absolutely atrocious on almost all fronts. The game gives the enemies damage output that on the low end needs 3 hits to drain all 600 points of my HP making estus charges essentially a lives system where I can take 5 hits before I can just call it quits because after that every subsequent hit is a borderline insta-death. The enemy placement has exactly one trick up its sleeve and that is to simply spambush me with ranged enemies at every turn. Basically what I am saying is that not element of this game fits into another, they are all at odds with each other.

Wanna know why people complained about easy bosses? Because the bosses have actual encounter design and do not just drop multi dogs/archers/warp zombies into the arena to simply overwhelm you. They are just normal fights with a minority of cheap tricks which makes them comparatively much easier than the rest of the game where such dirty tricks are the rule not the exception.

 

[cvv]

Alright so after additional 15 hours I think I am vaguely starting to see what the people praising are talking about.

That said the game is still mostly mid to trash.

 

[DemonKing]

Coming to Gamepass:

https://www.ign.com/articles/micros...host-warrior-contracts-2-to-game-pass-in-2024

Hope they've fixed all those Xbox performance issues!

 

[Rean]

I've put this game on hold, but still have it installed.
How is coop these days, I see they keep having multiplayer-related updates in their changelogs?
Is it truly seamlessly integrated, as in; can I play throughout the entire thing alongside someone else with them having true progression alongside me or will they be gimped throughout the whole thing?

 

[Jinn]

Is it truly seamlessly integrated, as in; can I play throughout the entire thing alongside someone else with them having true progression alongside me or will they be gimped throughout the whole thing?

Seamlessly, no. As in, the progress you make in the story isn't shared and there are items and equipment only you can pick up if you're hosting the game. Theoretically though, someone could play alongside you from beginning to end while leveling up as long as you're okay sharing equipment you find with them as you go. They gain the same amount of vigor as you do and can level up in your game world. So pretty much the typical "play through an area with each player" type co-op you'd find in Dark Souls, except with a few more co-op QoL enhancements here and there.

 

[Skinwalker]

- retarded quest design (you will fail some of the quests without a walkthrough - guide needed for: Byron, Stormund, Tortured Prisoner)

It's funny how some galaxy-brained devs took FromSoft's autistic/lazy quest "design" and assumed that it's something to be imitated, rather than fixed.

 

[Ivan]

Giving this a spin on GP and having a pleasant time.

It pulls that shit DS1 does in that one of the vendors teases you with a super expensive Key, so there's some nice non-linearity baked in early.
I really like when the game takes advantage of the dark world motif. My favorite moment of the game thus far makes use of it. I thought it was a pretty genius move to make a makeshift platform to get the Skyrest Bridge Key.
Bosses have been solid, nothing too difficult/nor too easy
-also, no Katana ? at least thus far.

so far: 2/4

 

[Ivan]

I've rolled credits and here are some overall thoughts:

I really dig the idea and implementation of the light/dark world. My favorite singular moment of the game makes use of this: it's when you need to use the lamp to create a makeshift platform and you need to let it go to fall on a platform that exists in the light world.

Exploration is fantastic. I loved how much more there was to each little area. Just when I thought I had exhausted all there was to see, a key would reveal another layer leading to a whole new place.

Encounter design does devolve later on, such to the point that I was skipping encounters just so I could get to the end. You really do feel the limited enemy roster as well, particularly those encountered in the dark world. The dark butterfly gets old pretty fast.

Weapon progression felt too safe/boring. I was hoping to acquire some unique items to upgrade boss weapons, or unique weapon upgrades to give unique flavor to weapons like in Dark Souls 2.

Boss fights: I didn't find any to be hair pulling-ly difficult. Many were pushovers that I finished on my first attempt.

Feel: My favorite feeling Souls game is DS2, I like the weight behind the movement and the way your character maintains their momentum when doing running attacks. This one does feel loose and a bit janky. There were plenty of times when the lock on would crap out, or even getting stuck in geometry, the lock on turning off causing me to dodge roll off a lethal edge.

Sequel hopes: I loved getting lost in this game and I'm sure the sequel will maintain the excellent sense of exploration. I'd definitely love to see more weapon variety, more weapon types, more weapon upgrade paths, a proper quest system (journal), cleaner map/warping UI (half the time I had to scratch my head as to which panel led where).

 

[cvv]

I was hoping to acquire some unique items to upgrade boss weapons, or unique weapon upgrades to give unique flavor to weapons like in Dark Souls 2.

There are few - not many, maybe three or four - special gimmicks with boss weapons. They're kindda secret but p. cool, you can read about those on wikis if you feel like.