Despite some nagging performance issues depending on which platform players happen to be experiencing the title on, Lords of the Fallen's launch seems to have struck a chord with fans of Soulslikes as yet another worthwhile entry into the genre. Lords of the Fallen is releasing hot on the heels of September's Lies of P at a time when the Soulslike genre is at the forefront of fans' minds, with Lies of P being one of the best examples of a genre entry not developed by FromSoftware. Truthfully, though, the fact that the conversation surrounding both games only exists within the context of FromSoftware's legacy highlights a major problem with the genre.
Although both the King's Field games and Demon's Souls can technically be considered the first titles to embrace mechanics that are synonymous with Soulslikes, the genre can effectively trace its beginning back to the release of 2011's Dark Souls and the ensuing hype machine surrounding that title. The initial cult success and subsequent mainstream crossover of Dark Souls meant that it was only a matter of time before imitators arrived, and now that players are starting to see studios other than FromSoftware develop incredible Soulslikes, these comparisons still persist despite years of innovation. It's time for the genre to step out of FromSoftware's shadow.
Both Lords of the Fallen and Lies of P Walk a Fine Line Between Imitation and Derivation
The excellence of both Lies of P and Lords of the Fallen is made all the more significant thanks to the fact that each game is essentially the first original project from two brand new, untested studios. Prior to Lies of P, developer Neowiz had only previously worked on porting a popular MMO, and Hexworks' taking of the reigns from original developer Deck 13 on Lords of the Fallen is a similar scenario of a newer studio being given creative freedom to craft a compelling Soulslike. That both games turned out as great as they did is a testament to the talents of each studio, but it's also clear for players to draw very obvious connections between each title and games in FromSoftware's library.
Prior to its release, most of the conversation surrounding Lies of P was that it was shaping up to be the Bloodborne sequel that FromSoftware fans are still clamoring for. Playing the game only cemented that fact, with its combat inviting additional comparisons to yet another incredible title in FromSoftware's back catalog – Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice. Similarly, Lords of the Fallen is very much a spiritual successor and modern attempt at many of the mechanics and elements of the original Dark Souls, with the genre's origins serving as its most obvious inspiration. While both games are quality titles, these comparisons ultimately diminish their ability to stand on their own merits.
If FromSoftware Can Move On From Its Legacy, Other Developers Can Follow Suit
It seems like it's impossible to go more than a month without a game releasing that advertises itself as being "Souls-influenced" or outright Soulslike. Interestingly, FromSoftware itself seems to have moved beyond the limitations presented by adhering to tenets of game design more than 10 years old, with its most recent titles definitively breaking away from the Dark Souls formula. Elden Ring is less "open-world Dark Souls" than it is FromSoftware's take on Breath of the Wild, and both Sekiro and Armored Core 6 prove the studio is more than a one-trick pony.
With FromSoftware willing to step outside its own wheelhouse to innovate and move the genre forward, it follows that other developers need to be as willing to take creative risks. Without raising the bar of quality to new heights, the genre flirts with stagnation. The core mechanics of Soulslikes – methodical combat, punishing boss encounters, esoteric lore – are here to stay, but there's little reason for new entries to look to the past rather than charting a course for a bold future.
Lords of the Fallen is available now on PS5, PC, and Xbox Series X/S.