Elden Ring's impact on the video game industry has been significant, to say the least. The 2022 Game of the Year winner continues to dominate headlines well over a year since its release, and February's news of its first DLC, titled Shadow of the Erdtree, stoked the flames of anticipation once again. Developer FromSoftware has a reputation for releasing some of its absolute finest content as paid expansions, and there's no reason to believe Elden Ring's DLC will be any different. While fans wait for a release date, they should check out another game on the horizon, one that seems to share many similarities with both Elden Ring and the Dark Souls trilogy: Lords of the Fallen.
Releasing on October 13, Lords of the Fallen is the sequel to developer Deck13 and CI Games' Lords of the Fallen, an action-RPG Soulslike that was originally released in 2014 for the PS4. One of the first Soulslikes on the market, the game borrows several popular mechanics from the Dark Souls games, including the stamina bar, difficult boss fights, and an interconnecting map. Unfortunately though, while not without its fans, the consensus is that the original Lords of the Fallen's combat is far too slow, bordering on boring at times, while the enemy variety is lacking, and the game's map is mostly uninspiring. The lukewarm reception to the game didn't exactly scream 'sequel', yet from as early as winter 2014, developer CI Games displayed its intention to release a follow-up.
Lords of the Fallen Could Fill the Void Left by Elden Ring's Impending DLC
As Soulslike titles have grown in popularity, fans of the genre are always keeping a lookout for the next game that could push them to their limits. After years of development, the proposed sequel re-emerged in 2022 with a trailer, boasting a completely new look, but retaining the same name. Tellingly though, Lords of the Fallen has dropped the numbered sequel, signifying its intent to serve as a reboot of sorts for the series. The desire to distance itself from its predecessor indicates that the developers are aware that a huge overhaul was needed for the series, and this bodes well for the upcoming sequel.
Those fans that are awaiting future hypothetical FromSoftware projects could find similarities in Lords of the Fallen. The grim, dark fantasy setting could've easily come from the minds of Hidetaka Miyazaki's FromSoftware, and the combat system, along with the distinct enemy design, looks equally familiar. The trailer displays a world in turmoil, as the unnamed protagonist, played as the Dark Crusader class, is tasked with defeating the evil Adyr, the Demon God.
Just in case the Soulsborne references weren't quite obvious enough already, an NPC shown in the trailer looks eerily similar to one of FromSoftware's most notoriously difficult bosses, Elden Ring's Malenia, Blade of Miquella, complete with a flowing mane of red hair. Fans will do well not to get too carried away yet though. Many promising Soulslikes have been released over the last few years, but only a handful have been able to emulate the success of the Soulsborne collection.
Recent titles such as Thymesia and SteelRising fell short of expectations, largely due to being unable to strike the right balance between engaging, fluid combat mechanics, challenging gameplay, and atmospheric environments. This formula is the key to creating a successful Soulslike, and it's one that precious few titles have been able to achieve. Lords of the Fallen will be hoping to add its name to that list when it releases later this year.
Elden Ring is available now for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.