Of the many games that were given new trailers at The Game Awards 2022, one of the most intriguing ones was The Lords of the Fallen. Fans were given a closer look at the game, including the first glimpse of some gameplay as well as getting to see some of the world and its grim locations. Judging by what was displayed, developer Hexwork's The Lords of the Fallen is really putting the 'Souls' into Soulslike, with a setting and premise that could've easily been taken from a hypothetical FromSoftware trailer unveiling Dark Souls 4.
The future of the Dark Souls series is in doubt. Lots of gamers view it as a trilogy, which was completed with the release of Dark Souls 3, and while FromSoftware has stopped short of fully ruling out a Dark Souls 4, it certainly doesn't appear to be on the horizon anytime soon, if it ever happens. Armored Core 6 has just been announced, and many feel that Elden Ring DLC news is imminent, while some are still clamoring for news of a long-awaited Bloodborne sequel. With FromSoftware's hands full for the foreseeable future then, fans will be looking to the slew of upcoming Soulslikes to fill the Dark Souls void, and of all the ones in development, The Lords of the Fallen could be the one closest in tone and style.
Dark Souls is Often Copied
Many consider the original Lords of the Fallen to be one of the very first true Soulslikes. Released in 2014, it bore a striking resemblance to Dark Souls, with interconnecting maps, checkpoints respawning enemies, and tactical, deliberate real-time combat that utilized a stamina meter. The game had mixed reviews, with some finding its combat to be slow and labored, and others claiming the narrative lacked any engaging characters or memorable events. It had its fans though, and a sequel was quickly announced that same year, but nothing more was heard of it until earlier this year when The Lords of the Fallen emerged.
This new trailer and gameplay footage all but confirm that the game will look to emulate FromSoftware's themes and style much more closely this time around. The Japanese developer is the undisputed master of its craft, to the point where an entire sub-genre was named after its own Dark Souls trilogy. Try as they may though, nobody does monster or world design quite as well as Hidetaka Miyazaki and his team, with titles such as Bloodborne and Elden Ring widely recognized as having some of the finest art design in video game history.
Close inspection of this new trailer reveals several designs that look eerily similar to those found within the Soulsborne games, a fact that immediately becomes apparent as soon as the trailer's narration begins, revealing a cold, desolate voice speaking dialogue that could've come straight out of Dark Souls. From what looks to be a giant human/ animal hybrid reminiscent of some of Bloodborne's late-game bosses, to the assortment of scary-looking humanoid enemies, and a huge priest-style boss using a staff to perform some dangerous-looking spell attacks, it certainly appears that Hexworks has absolutely nailed the tone and style it seems to be going for.
In fact, the game arguably looks even darker than FromSoftware's catalog of titles, and some of the imagery on display in the trailer could easily see the game labeled as more of an action-horror game than an action RPG. Those two genres don't always blend very well, and Bloodborne probably treads this unusual line better than any other, but if The Lords of the Fallen can get the balance right, it may well strike gold.
The Lords of the Fallen Needs to Exorcise Some Ghosts
The trailer confirms that this sequel wants to really stand on its own two feet and perhaps even distance itself from the original 2014 game. The Lords of the Fallen even dropped the number from the title, somewhat confirming that this would be a reboot rather than a direct sequel. The first game had more of a high-fantasy, medieval-type setting, complete with a set, named protagonist, and a fairly straightforward narrative- two things players wouldn't usually find in a Soulslike title.
No HUD is displayed in the trailer, and only limited combat is shown, making it difficult to ascertain whether the action has been sped up this time around, with the cumbersome pace of the first game's combat being one of its main criticisms. It certainly looks action-packed though, and the as-yet-unnamed protagonist is shown wielding several weapons including an axe and shield, as well as a sword wrapped in barbed edges, as he fights various forces of darkness. The landscape is shown to be vast and varied, with cramped, dark caverns and tombs contrasted with huge open vistas, reminiscent of Elden Ring's impressive Lands Between.
The first game followed the same semi-linear design as the Dark Souls trilogy, with one big game world connected via several maps and shortcuts, but stopping short of being truly open-world. Many more games are going down the open-world route now though, and the unprecedented success of Game of the Year winner Elden Ring has proved that if done correctly, the blend of Soulslike gameplay with an open-world design can be truly incredible.
There is no indication of a release date for The Lords of the Fallen yet, but a 2023 release certainly seems like a realistic possibility. Dark Souls fans generally tend to keep one eye on upcoming Soulslikes, and considering most of them fail to hit the ridiculously high standards set by FromSoftware's titles, they would be forgiven for not getting too carried away off the back of some early trailer footage. There are many exciting Soulslikes coming in 2023, but given its obvious similarities, The Lords of the Fallen certainly warrants attention from fans of the genre, many of whom will no doubt be waiting for further updates as the new year begins.
The Lords of the Fallen is currently in development for PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
