Info about Lords of the Fallen:

Official game description:
Version 2.5 - Out Now
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About the Game
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**Lords of the Fallen** introduces an all-new, epic RPG adventure in a vast, interconnected world.  
Aeons after his defeat by the hands of man, the demon God Adyr’s resurrection draws nigh. As a fabled Dark Crusader, journey through the realms of the living and the dead in this expansive RPG experience to overthrow Adyr once and for all. Featuring colossal boss battles, fast challenging combat, and deep, immersive storytelling.
Explore A Vast, Interconnected World
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Journey across two expansive, parallel worlds - the world of the living and the dead - with each harbouring its own pathways, secrets, treasures… and foes.
Master Fast, Challenging Combat
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Choose from 100s of unique weapons, from heavy-hitting flails to rapid-fire crossbows, or forgo metal for magic with devastating attacks of the arcane.
Define Your Legend
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Personalise your character’s appearance before selecting one of nine varied character classes. Whichever starting path you take, develop your own playstyle by upgrading stats and weapons.
Unite in Online Multiplayer
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Experience the campaign alone, or unite with other players in online co-op. You’re free to journey together for as long as you desire, with the option of both casual and full shared progression sessions - where both players save all progress. Alternatively, use your Free Friends Pass to invite anyone to join your game regardless of whether they own a copy themselves.
70+ Post-Launch Updates
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Includes over 70 updates, including the widely acclaimed version 2.0, vastly improving the overall experience with a fully revamped combat system, significant performance enhancements, rigorous difficulty balancing multiple new questlines and modes, and an array of new Quality-of-Life features.

Release date: Oct 13, 2023

Categories: Action RPG, Soulslike Combat, Character Progression, Exploration, Cooperative Multiplayer, Third-Person Shooter, Boss Fights, Dual-world Exploration


- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price: No data
- Playtime Metrics: No data
- Time-to-fun: No data
- Player Archetypes: No data


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Fluid and satisfying combat (weight 0.75): The game features a highly responsive and engaging combat system with a variety of weapons, animations, and mechanics that blend elements from *Dark Souls* and *Sekiro*. Players consistently praise its fluidity, weight, and tactical depth, making it a standout feature.
- Dark Souls-like excellence (weight 0.69): The game successfully captures the essence of *Dark Souls* with interconnected level design, challenging but fair combat, and a dark fantasy atmosphere. It is praised as one of the best Souls-likes, offering a fresh yet familiar experience for veterans and newcomers alike.
- Stunning visuals and atmosphere (weight 0.44): The game boasts impressive Gothic aesthetics, detailed environments, and a dark fantasy atmosphere. Players highlight the art direction, immersive world-building, and how the Umbral realm enhances the game's haunting tone.
- Innovative Umbral world mechanic (weight 0.41): The Umbral realm introduces a unique dual-world exploration system, adding depth to combat, puzzles, and navigation. Players appreciate its originality, risk-reward dynamics, and how it differentiates the game from other Souls-likes.
- Well-designed bosses with unique mechanics (weight 0.35): Bosses are praised for their creativity, challenging yet fair difficulty, and unique move-sets. Many feature lore-rich designs and require strategic approaches, making encounters memorable and rewarding.
- Outstanding level and world design (weight 0.32): The game features meticulously crafted, interconnected levels with shortcuts, hidden paths, and a dual-world system that encourages exploration. Players laud its creativity, immersion, and how it rivals *Dark Souls* in design quality.
- Strong post-launch developer support (weight 0.29): The developers actively listen to player feedback, implementing patches, balance changes, and new content. Updates like 2.0 significantly improved the game, addressing launch issues and enhancing overall quality.
- Engaging enemy and content variety (weight 0.15): The game offers a diverse range of enemies, weapons, and modifiers that keep gameplay fresh. Players appreciate the balanced difficulty, enemy density, and the sheer volume of content, with many reporting 40+ hours of playtime.
- Immersive audio and sound design (weight 0.14): The game features strong sound design, a fitting soundtrack, and satisfying audio effects that enhance immersion. Players note how the music and environmental sounds complement the dark fantasy atmosphere and combat feedback.
- High replayability with multiple endings (weight 0.14): The game encourages replayability through multiple endings, unique classes tied to story choices, and New Game+ modes. Players enjoy the variety of weapons, spells, and builds, as well as the sense of accomplishment from different outcomes.

Common complaints:
- Unbalanced and repetitive enemies (weight 0.97): Enemies lack variety, with repetitive designs and poor balancing. Many enemies are reused as bosses or mini-bosses later in the game, reducing their impact and making encounters feel tedious or unfair.
- Poor level and quest design (weight 0.97): The game's level design is criticized for being maze-like, confusing, and poorly signposted, leading to missed encounters, quests, and bosses. Questlines are often gated or locked out due to poor design choices, making progression frustrating.
- Disappointing boss fights (weight 0.91): Bosses are often criticized for being too easy, poorly designed, or lacking memorable mechanics. Many bosses rely on gimmicks, excessive health, or unfair mechanics, leading to frustration rather than satisfaction.
- Technical and performance issues (weight 0.36): Frequent crashes, save file corruption, FPS drops, and poor optimization plague the game, particularly during co-op or boss fights. These issues significantly detract from the overall experience.
- Unbalanced and broken PvP (weight 0.2): PvP is widely criticized for being unbalanced, with poor netcode, lag, and matchmaking issues. High-level players dominate low-level players, and invasions are often frustrating or unfair.
- Poor animation and combat feel (weight 0.19): Animations are clunky, and combat lacks polish compared to FromSoftware titles. Hitboxes, lock-on systems, and feedback are often criticized for being unsatisfying or imprecise.
- Repetitive and bland weapon design (weight 0.18): Weapons lack uniqueness, with repetitive movesets and poor feedback. Many weapons feel identical, reducing player engagement and variety in combat.
- Lack of innovation compared to Souls games (weight 0.16): The game is seen as a cheap imitation of Dark Souls, lacking depth, worldbuilding, and unique mechanics. Critics argue it fails to innovate or match the quality of its inspiration.
- Broken shared progression (weight 0.1): Shared progression in co-op is poorly implemented, with inconsistent achievements, lag, and unclear mechanics. Players report frustration with its barebones and buggy design.

Gameplay feedback:
- Dual-World Umbral Mechanic (weight 0.57): The Umbral mechanic allows players to switch between the Axiom (physical) and Umbral (shadow) realms, enabling unique exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat strategies. This core feature integrates platforming, revival mechanics, and hidden paths.
- Seamless Co-Op Multiplayer (weight 0.38): The game supports cooperative play with shared progression, optional PvP invasions, and a 'Friend’s Pass' system for easy connection. Co-op is designed to be seamless, with revives and shared checkpoints, though some limitations exist.
- Weapon and Build Variety (weight 0.34): Players can customize their playstyle with diverse weapons, spells, and armor sets, enabling hybrid builds (e.g., melee-mage). Over 200 weapons and modding options enhance replayability.
- Magic and Ranged Combat (weight 0.21): The game includes a dynamic magic system with auto-recharging spells, ranged weapons, and status effects. Light/heavy attacks and hybrid builds (e.g., Radiant Paladin) add depth.
- Parry and Blocking Mechanics (weight 0.17): Combat emphasizes timing-based parries, perfect blocks, and rally-healing (temporary HP regain on blocks). These mechanics add strategic depth to duels and boss fights.
- Exploration and Discovery Focus (weight 0.16): Exploration is rewarded with hidden paths, secrets, and environmental puzzles. The Umbral Lamp and dual-world mechanic encourage thorough map traversal, though guides may be needed.
- Armor and Fashion Customization (weight 0.15): Players can customize armor colors using a dye system ('tincts') and mix unique outfits. Visual design extends to weapons and shields, enhancing personalization.
- New Game+ and Replayability (weight 0.12): New Game+ modes offer adjusted difficulty, modifiers, and enemy placement, though some features may be bugged. Multiple playthroughs are encouraged by build variety and NG+ challenges.
- Veteran Mode and Difficulty Modifiers (weight 0.09): Veteran mode and optional modifiers (e.g., Mob Density) cater to players seeking higher challenge. Difficulty is balanced for newcomers but scales for experienced players.

Performance notes:
- Severe performance and optimization issues (weight 0.33): Players reported widespread frame drops, stuttering, and inconsistent framerates, particularly in detailed areas or during co-op boss fights. Many issues were linked to UE5 optimization, AMD GPUs, and lack of SSD support, significantly impacting gameplay.
- Visual and rendering bugs (weight 0.26): Players encountered blurry cutscenes, texture glitches, Level of Detail (LoD) issues, and rendering inconsistencies (e.g., floors unloading, armor resolution mismatches). Lighting/shading bugs were particularly noticeable on low-end hardware.
- Frequent crashes and save corruption (weight 0.22): The game suffered from frequent crashes, especially on Linux, during multiplayer, or with specific hardware (e.g., RTX 3060 TI). Crashes often led to save file corruption or loss of progress, with some players experiencing freezes every 30 minutes.
- Post-launch performance improvements (weight 0.15): Patches and updates significantly improved performance, reducing crashes, stutters, and FPS drops. Many players noted smooth gameplay post-update, with minimal bugs or technical issues after driver optimizations.
- Hardware-dependent performance variability (weight 0.14): Performance varied drastically by hardware, with high-end systems (e.g., RTX 4090) achieving 4K/120+ FPS, while mid-range or older GPUs (e.g., GTX 1650) struggled with frame drops. Some CPUs (e.g., 9950X3D) caused crashes due to UE5 compatibility issues.
- Stable performance in specific scenarios (weight 0.1): Certain conditions (e.g., cinematic mode, high-end hardware) delivered stable performance, with some players achieving 120+ FPS without drops. Post-update, many reported smooth 6+ hour sessions with minimal issues.
- Multiplayer connectivity and netcode flaws (weight 0.1): Online play suffered from lag, desync, disconnections, and poor netcode (e.g., lack of player position interpolation). Matchmaking times were long due to low player counts, and co-op crashes were common, disrupting gameplay.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Souls-like fans (weight 0.46): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Souls-like genre, dark fantasy, and co-op gameplay. Many reviews suggest it as a must-play for those who enjoy slower-paced or exploration-focused Souls-like experiences.
- Not ideal for newcomers (weight 0.35): The game is often described as unsuitable for newcomers to the Souls-like genre due to its difficulty, mechanics, or potential frustration. Some reviews suggest it as a starting point, but this is less common.
- Strong post-update improvements (weight 0.29): The game is frequently recommended after major updates (e.g., 2.0), which addressed many issues. Players are encouraged to give the game a second chance post-fixes.
- Best experienced in co-op (weight 0.17): Many players highlight that the game is significantly more enjoyable in co-op mode, with some recommending it specifically for multiplayer experiences. However, technical issues may hinder seamless co-op play.
- Worth buying on sale (weight 0.14): The consensus is that the game offers good value, especially when purchased on sale or at a discounted price. Full-price purchases are less frequently recommended due to bugs and polish issues.
- Unique atmosphere and immersion (weight 0.12): The game is praised for its dark fantasy atmosphere, immersive world design, and exploration. Fans of environmental storytelling and fashion customization are particularly recommended to try it.
- Friend's Pass adds value (weight 0.11): The inclusion of a Friend's Pass is highlighted as a strong selling point, allowing players to try the game before purchasing or enjoy co-op with friends despite technical issues.
- Accessible but flawed Souls-like (weight 0.1): The game is noted as one of the most accessible Souls-like titles, with improvements over predecessors. However, it still suffers from design flaws and technical issues that detract from the experience.
- Optional invasions requested (weight 0.07): Many players express frustration with the invasion system, suggesting it should be optional or rebalanced. Some recommend adding private lobbies or dedicated PVP arenas.
- Potential for strong sequel (weight 0.05): Many reviews express optimism for a sequel, citing improvements made in this game and the potential for further refinements. Some players indicate they will purchase the sequel based on their experience.

Other player notes:
- Free multiplayer friends pass (weight 0.03): The game offers a free-to-play 'friends pass' for multiplayer, enabling seamless co-op with paying players without requiring mods. This feature enhances accessibility for non-paying users.
- Nostalgic gameplay experience (weight 0.02): Players frequently mention a strong sense of nostalgia, comparing the game's feel to classic or beloved titles. This emotional connection resonates with long-time fans of the genre.
- Compared to Dark Souls (weight 0.02): The game is often likened to *Dark Souls*, with players using analogies like 'Pepsi vs. Coca Cola' to describe its similarities in mechanics or atmosphere. This suggests a shared identity with the Soulslike genre.
- Sarcastic review commentary (weight 0.01): Some reviews include sarcastic remarks directed at negative reviewers, indicating potential polarization or frustration within the community. This feedback lacks constructive gameplay insights.

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.28): Players experience significant frustration due to pervasive technical issues, including game-breaking bugs, frequent crashes, performance problems, and netcode instability. Additionally, confusing or poorly designed level layouts, unclear quest mechanics, and repetitive or unbalanced enemy encounters exacerbate the negative experience, making progression feel unfair or tedious.
- Disappointment (weight 0.13): The game fails to meet expectations due to a lack of innovation, poor execution of mechanics, and unpolished design. Players highlight issues such as repetitive enemy and boss encounters, shallow storytelling, unbalanced PvP, and technical shortcomings like bugs and performance issues. Many feel the game's potential was wasted, leaving it feeling unfinished or derivative compared to similar titles.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.1): Players express satisfaction with the game's combat, co-op experience, and post-launch improvements. The rewarding progression, engaging boss fights, and unique mechanics like the Umbral realm contribute to a positive experience. Many appreciate the developer's responsiveness to feedback and the overall value for money, especially after updates addressed initial flaws.
- Excitement (weight 0.1): The game generates excitement through its innovative mechanics, such as the Umbral lantern and dual-world exploration, as well as its engaging combat and atmospheric world design. Players are also eager for the sequel, citing improvements in gameplay, co-op features, and the potential for expanded content and refinement in future installments.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Players derive enjoyment from the game's challenging yet fair combat, immersive atmosphere, and unique mechanics like the dual-reality system. The engaging lore, co-op experience, and satisfying progression contribute to a fun and absorbing gameplay loop, despite some technical or design flaws.
- Appreciation (weight 0.06): Players appreciate the game's unique mechanics, such as the Umbral realm and interconnected world design, as well as the developer's dedication to post-launch support and community engagement. The artistic direction, world-building, and improvements made based on player feedback are also frequently highlighted as strengths.
- Admiration (weight 0.03): The game earns admiration for its high level of detail, atmospheric world design, and innovative mechanics inspired by the Souls-like genre. Players praise the developer's responsiveness to feedback and the overall execution of the game's dark fantasy aesthetic and engaging gameplay.
- Hope (weight 0.02): Players express hope for the game's future, particularly for the sequel, anticipating improvements in mechanics, storytelling, and technical performance. Many believe the developers can address current flaws and build on the game's strengths to deliver a more polished and engaging experience in future releases.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): The game surprises players by exceeding low expectations, particularly through its innovative mechanics, engaging combat, and atmospheric world design. Many who approached the game skeptically found it to be a pleasant and immersive experience, especially after updates improved its stability and content.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Players find amusement in the game's quirks, such as humorous design choices, niche details, or personal anecdotes about gameplay experiences. Some compare the game to pop culture references or enjoy its flaws in a lighthearted way, adding a layer of entertainment beyond the core gameplay.
- Anticipation (weight 0.01): Players eagerly anticipate the sequel, expressing excitement for future content and improvements. The announcement of *Lords of the Fallen 2* and the potential for refined mechanics, expanded lore, and technical enhancements generate significant interest and speculation.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Players feel anger toward perceived malicious design choices, such as unfair enemy mechanics, reused bosses, or exploitative monetization practices. Technical issues like instant-death mechanics, overpowered late-game enemies, and a lack of post-launch content also contribute to frustration and resentment.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Players show enthusiasm for the game's unique mechanics, such as the Umbral lantern and dynamic combat, as well as its replayability and innovation. Many highlight the satisfying gameplay loop, co-op features, and the developer's efforts to refine the experience through updates.
- Love (weight 0.01): Players develop a strong affection for the game's macabre universe, artistic direction, and engaging gameplay. Despite its flaws, many describe it as one of their favorite modern Souls-like experiences, praising its atmosphere, lore, and the emotional connection it fosters.
- Relief (weight 0.01): Players feel relief after overcoming initial technical or design hurdles, such as finding workarounds for bugs or experiencing significant improvements through updates. Many express gratitude that the game has become more enjoyable and worth playing after developer interventions.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Players experience joy through the game's co-op features, engaging combat, and immersive world design. Discovering secrets, overcoming challenging boss fights, and sharing the experience with friends contribute to a sense of happiness and fulfillment.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.01): The game evokes nostalgia for classic Souls-like experiences, with its level design, bonfire mechanics, and challenging gameplay reminiscent of beloved titles like *Dark Souls*. Players appreciate the throwback elements that capture the spirit of earlier games in the genre.
- Awe (weight 0.01): Players are awestruck by the game's gothic atmosphere, immersive world design, and stunning visuals. The attention to detail in the environment, boss designs, and overall aesthetic creates a sense of wonder and admiration for the game's artistic direction.
- Recommendation (weight 0.01): Players recommend the game to others based on their positive experiences, particularly after updates addressed initial flaws. Many highlight the engaging combat, co-op features, and overall value for money as reasons to try the game, despite its imperfections.
- Disgust (weight 0): Players express disgust toward poorly designed or executed elements, such as reused boss mechanics, uninspired storytelling, or technical shortcomings. These flaws detract from the overall experience, leaving players with a negative impression of the game's quality and execution.}