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Lords of the Fallen
Lords of the Fallen will be coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC in October. At Gamescom 2014, I spent some some hands-on time with Lords of the Fallen to see what makes this action-RPG tick.
The combat is clearly inspired by the Souls series, but there are some additions and differences. There are “crowd-control” abilities tied to gauntlet weapons that launch projectiles, there are three set classes (Warrior, Cleric, and Rogue) that all come with specific spells and abilities. On New Game+, you’re able to combine the spells/skills of two classes, and on new game++, you’re able to use the sets of all three classes. It’s possible to allocate your stat points as you please to create all manner of playstyles. The combat is responsive and slick, and the game has plenty of dark fantasy eye candy to admire.
The demo had three level 30ish characters to pick from, I settled on a traditional slow but strong Warrior. The character didn’t have a lot in the speed department (fatrolling!) but could dish out and take plenty of damage. I had a few spells to augment my melee focus, such as a damage boost and a decoy that could grab an enemy’s attention, perfect for setting up Souls-style backstabs.
I quickly worked through the handful of enemies on the way to checkpoint and the boss room where the Guardian waited for me. This bulky combatant is drawn to an assortment of flames around the room - If you put one out with a few attacks, the Guardian is compelled to come over and rekindle the flames, giving you a relatively safe window to land some attacks.
There’s an alternate path to the boss room as well. You’ll have to take on a few more enemies, but it will let you approach the Guardian from behind for a free hit or two.
In a stark contrast to the Souls games, the menu is incredibly friendly to navigate and item descriptions are packed with useful, clear information instead of Kalameet’s dietary preferences. It’s easy to change stats around in order to try out new builds or items.
I had a great time playing Lords of the Fallen, not surprising given my love for the Souls series. My hands-on experience left me craving more, so I’ll absolutely be giving it a try when it comes out on October 28.
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