Info about Lords Of The Fallen™ 2014:

Official game description:
  
Long ago, the human realm was ruled by Adyr, a terrible and malevolent god, who enslaved mankind. But over time, rebellion grew in the hearts of men. Led by three powerful beings - the Judges - man rose up and overthrew Adyr and his monstrous Rhogar army, banishing them to a distant dimension. Humanity was finally free to dictate its own destiny. To dictate a new order...  
Now, millennia later, in a land where no sins are forgiven and redemption does not exist, Adyr threatens to break free from his imprisonment. His Rhogar legions have invaded the human realm to pave a bloody path for their vengeful master’s return. Desperate and under siege, mankind calls upon an unlikely saviour - a convicted sinner rejected by society and cast out of the light... a man known as Harkyn. Branded with the tattoos of his immorality, he must travel to the source of this Darkness and face… the Lords of the Fallen.  
Prepare to plunge into a dark fantasy Action-RPG, set amidst a grim world on the brink of annihilation. Harness powerful magic. Master a complex and satisfying melee combat system. Seek redemption through the fires of battle... and stand against a God.
Explore a Vast, Dark Fantasy World
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From crumbling tower tops to ancient burial grounds, delve into a world facing mass destruction. Navigate labyrinthine paths and uncover hidden passages in pursuit of great treasures, but be warned: loot isn’t all that awaits the curious...
Conquer a Complex, Combat System
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With every encounter presenting its own unique challenge, only those who master the deep and rewarding Soulslike combat will taste victory. Bolster your steel with devastating magic attacks, and earn XP with every kill to upgrade your preferred spells and attributes.
Confront the Lords of the Rhogar Army
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While every Rhogar is guaranteed to test your mettle, by far the greatest threat amongst Adyr’s army is posed by his mighty generals, the towering Lords of the Fallen. These calamitous boss battles will test even the most skillful of warriors - one false move and the fate of the world could be sealed.
Wield Legendary Weapons and Epic Armour
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Customise your combat style with a multitude of weapons and armours. Armour arrives in three forms: light for nimble players, medium for all-rounders, and heavy for those unafraid to absorb a blow. As for weapons, a vast array of hammers, staves, axes, swords, daggers, and claws are at your disposal in the battle against the Rhogar army. And then, there are those rare and powerful items of legend that only the most dedicated warriors will ever find…
Key Features:
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*   Embark on an epic quest that spans both human and demonic realms  
*   Engage in devastating boss battles against the mighty Lords of the Rhogar army  
*   Explore a vast dark-fantasy world, replete with hidden paths and long-lost treasures  
*   Make gameplay-affecting choices throughout, but act wisely as they may seal your fate  
*   Wield a vast array of legendary weapons and formidable armours  
*   Choose from nine character classes, each fully customizable by earning XP to upgrade preferred skills and spells

Release date: Oct 28, 2014

Categories: Soulslike Combat, Action RPG, Character Progression, Exploration, Multiple Endings, Boss Fights, Dark Fantasy

Feature scans:
- Wiki: score 50; verdict: External Data Dependency; summary: The primary user complaints revolve around the necessity to use external wikis to understand quests, game mechanics, and hidden secrets. Additionally, there is significant frustration with the lack of a map and unclear UI, which hinders navigation and increases stress. The need for external data to progress in the game is a major barrier to user experience.
- Steam Deck: score 55; verdict: Tinkering Required; summary: The analysis of user feedback for the Steam Deck experience of the game reveals several critical issues. Stability problems, including frequent crashes and game-freezing incidents, are highly prevalent. Battery drain is another significant concern, with users reporting that the game consumes battery life rapidly. Control and responsiveness issues are also noted, affecting the overall gameplay experience. Additionally, performance and optimization problems, such as frame drops and high CPU usage, are frequently mentioned. These issues collectively impact the user experience negatively, indicating that the game requires significant improvements to enhance stability, battery efficiency, controls, and overall performance on the Steam Deck.

- Hardware Profile: No data
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $2.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: The evidence consistently points to the game being considered a good value when purchased at a discounted price. Multiple reviews mention specific price points during sales that are deemed fair, such as R$36.39, R$4.99, and under $2. These prices are significantly lower than the current base game price of $29.99, indicating that the community finds the game more appealing and fairly priced within a lower range.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 15.0h
  - Story completion: 15.0h
  - Session length: 5.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: The evidence provides multiple accounts of the time it takes to complete the game. Several reviews mention that the game takes around 15-20 hours to complete, which aligns with the typical playtime metrics. One review specifically states that it took around 15 hours to complete the story, which supports the story completion time. The evidence also suggests that the game can be completed in a weekend, indicating that session lengths can be quite long. However, there is limited specific evidence regarding endgame content, leading to a lower confidence score for that metric.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially presents a steep learning curve and can feel punishing early on, but once players master the combat mechanics and acquire better gear, the experience becomes more enjoyable and satisfying.
  - Stance: Fun after initial learning curve
  - Anchor: Mastering combat mechanics and acquiring good armor and weapons.
  - Time to anchor: 2h 0m
  - Friction: Steep learning curve; Repetitive enemy types; Lack of depth in character customization; Punishing early game checkpoints
  - Unlock drivers: Mastering combat mechanics; Acquiring good armor and weapons
  - Conditions: Patience to learn combat mechanics; Willingness to persist through early difficulties
- Player Archetypes:
  - Casual Explorer (sale)
    - Motivation: Enjoyment of visuals and casual gameplay
    - Playstyle: Explores the game world, enjoys visuals and story, and plays casually without focusing on extreme difficulty.
    - Experience: newcomer
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: casual player; newcomer
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Elden Ring
  - Bargain Hunter (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Finding good deals and value for money
    - Playstyle: Looks for games on sale or at a low price, enjoys trying new games within a favorite genre.
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: fan of the Souls series; bargain hunter
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Elden Ring
  - Lore Enthusiast (sale)
    - Motivation: Interest in game lore and history
    - Playstyle: Enjoys exploring game lore and history, appreciates the game's connection to other titles in the series.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: fan of the Souls series; lore enthusiast
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Elden Ring
  - Critical Veteran (no buy)
    - Motivation: High standards for gameplay mechanics
    - Playstyle: Critically evaluates game mechanics, compares to other Souls-like games, and does not recommend due to gameplay issues.
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: no buy
    - Labels: veteran player; critical player
    - Reference games: Dark Souls; Elden Ring


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:
- Impressive and enduring graphics (weight 0.49): The game's graphics are consistently praised for their beauty, unique style, and ability to hold up well over time. Players highlight the detailed design, lighting, and atmospheric visuals that contribute to an immersive experience.
- Enjoyable and fun gameplay (weight 0.32): Many players find the game enjoyable and fun overall. They appreciate the gameplay, weapons, and exploration, making it a good game despite some flaws.
- Souls-like gameplay (weight 0.22): The game is often compared to the Dark Souls series, offering a similar gameplay experience. It is considered a good entry point for those new to the Souls-like genre.
- Detailed and immersive environments (weight 0.19): The environments are praised for their detail and Gothic-inspired design. High-resolution textures and atmospheric visuals contribute to the game's immersive experience.
- Unique and stylish armor designs (weight 0.16): The armor designs are frequently praised for their uniqueness and style. Players appreciate the aesthetic and variety of the armor sets.
- Challenging and enjoyable boss fights (weight 0.13): Boss fights are highlighted as challenging and enjoyable. Players appreciate the difficulty and the unique design of the bosses.
- Good soundtrack and sound design (weight 0.12): The soundtrack and sound design are praised for their quality, contributing to the overall atmosphere and enjoyment of the game.
- Multiple endings (weight 0.06): The game offers multiple endings based on player decisions, adding replay value and enhancing the overall experience.

Common complaints:
- Clunky and slow combat (weight 0.35): Many players find the combat mechanics to be clumsy, heavy, and slow. This includes issues with imprecise controls, slow animations, and a general lack of fluidity in combat actions.
- Uninspired and boring bosses (weight 0.28): Boss fights are often criticized for being uninteresting, repetitive, and easy. Many players find the boss design to be uninspired and not challenging enough.
- Excessive camera shake (weight 0.25): The camera shake is a significant issue for many players, causing discomfort and detracting from the gameplay experience. Some players report it as excessive and unreasonable, leading to motion sickness.
- Weak and unremarkable story (weight 0.18): The storyline is often criticized for being shallow, weak, and forgettable. Players find the plot to be generic, unremarkable, and not compelling.
- Slow movement and gameplay (weight 0.16): Players frequently mention that the game feels slow, including slow player movement, slow dodge mechanics, and slow combat animations. This sluggishness can make the gameplay feel tedious.
- Limited enemy variety (weight 0.15): There is a lack of variety in enemy design, with many enemies being repetitive and poorly designed. This can make the gameplay feel monotonous.
- Difficult and unbalanced gameplay (weight 0.11): Gameplay is often described as difficult, unbalanced, and frustrating. Some players find it confusing and repetitive, leading to a mediocre experience.
- Poor level design (weight 0.09): Level design is frequently criticized for being convoluted, repetitive, and uninspired. Some players find it maze-like and forgettable.
- Poor voice acting and animations (weight 0.07): The voice acting is often described as awful and sloppy, with poor facial expressions and animations. This detracts from the overall storytelling experience.
- Useless spells (weight 0.07): Spells are often criticized for being useless and not very interesting. Players find them boring and not well implemented.
- Hitbox issues (weight 0.06): There are frequent complaints about hitbox issues, with players finding them unclear and janky. This leads to poor hit detection and frustration.

Gameplay feedback:
- Stamina-based combat system (weight 0.23): The combat system is heavily focused on stamina management, making it slow-paced and strategic. Players need to carefully time their attacks and manage their stamina to succeed in battles.
- Character builds and progression (weight 0.18): The game offers a variety of character builds and progression systems, including different classes, armor, and weapons. Players can customize their characters and level up through an RPG-style progression system.
- Enemy variety and design (weight 0.17): The game has a mix of feedback regarding enemy variety. Some players appreciate the enemy and armor design, while others criticize the lack of diversity and repetitive enemy encounters.
- Boss fights and design (weight 0.14): Boss fights are a significant aspect of the game, with some players finding them challenging and engaging, while others criticize them as slow, frustrating, or uninteresting. Boss battles can last up to 25 minutes and often have gimmicks.
- Open world and exploration (weight 0.14): The game features open-world exploration with secrets and various areas to discover. The interconnected map design and catacombs level design are highlighted as notable aspects of the game's exploration.
- Action RPG genre (weight 0.09): The game is categorized as an action RPG, featuring third-person gameplay and various RPG elements such as character progression, leveling systems, and multiple endings based on player choices.
- Shield mechanics for enemies (weight 0.07): Enemies often use shields, which can make them difficult to defeat. Some players find the shield mechanics frustrating as enemies can become nearly invulnerable.
- Game length and content (weight 0.05): The game's length is estimated to be around 8-20 hours, with some players finding it to be a decent length for the content provided. The game includes various armors, weapons, and specializations to enhance the gameplay experience.

Performance notes:
- Optimization issues (weight 0.1): Players experience a mix of good and poor optimization, with some noting excellent performance on high-end hardware while others report optimization issues.
- Smooth performance on various hardware (weight 0.09): The game runs smoothly on a range of hardware, from lower-end to high-end systems, though some areas may experience slowdowns.
- Frequent game crashes (weight 0.08): Many players report frequent game crashes, including crashes to desktop and crashes at launch.
- Occasional bugs and glitches (weight 0.08): There are reports of occasional bugs and visual glitches affecting the gameplay experience.
- Steam Deck performance (weight 0.06): The game runs well on Steam Deck, though some players report battery drain issues.
- Controls and responsiveness issues (weight 0.06): Some players experience stiff controls, unresponsive controls, and delays in character actions.
- Impressive graphics (weight 0.05): The game's graphics are praised for not showing their age and being visually impressive.
- Technical state concerns (weight 0.05): The technical state of the game is considered poor by some players, with various performance and stability issues.
- Frame pacing issues (weight 0.04): Some players experience frame drops and frame pacing issues, affecting the smoothness of gameplay.
- Low FPS issues (weight 0.04): Some players experience low FPS, even on the lowest settings, which can hinder gameplay.
- High system requirements (weight 0.04): The game has heavy system requirements and can be demanding on the CPU.
- Installation and performance issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of installation folder conflicts and performance-intensive effects like snow.
- Hit detection and enemy issues (weight 0.03): There are reports of hit detection issues and enemy teleportation problems.
- Denuvo causing performance issues (weight 0.02): Denuvo is reported to cause increased CPU load and freezes, affecting performance.
- Long loading times (weight 0.02): Players experience recurring and long loading times, which can be disruptive.
- Sound effects not playing (weight 0.02): Some players report issues with sound effects not playing correctly.

Recommendations:
- Recommended for Souls-like fans (weight 0.28): The game is highly recommended for fans of the Souls-like genre, including those who enjoy Dark Souls and are looking for a similar or slightly easier experience.
- Buy on sale (weight 0.18): Many reviews suggest purchasing the game during a sale due to its better value for money at a discounted price.
- Worth playing for specific audiences (weight 0.09): The game is considered worth playing for those who enjoy slower-paced combat, dark themes, and for players with low-spec PCs.
- Consider alternatives (weight 0.07): Some reviews recommend playing other games like Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or The Surge series instead, suggesting they might offer a better experience.
- Good for beginners and casual players (weight 0.05): The game is seen as a good entry point for beginners in the Souls-like genre and for casual players looking to get more serious.
- Mixed recommendations based on price (weight 0.04): Some reviews recommend the game based on its historical significance or for passing the time, but others caution about its mediocrity at full price.
- Not for hardcore players (weight 0.04): The game is not recommended for hardcore Dark Souls players or those looking for a very challenging experience.
- Research before buying (weight 0.02): A few reviews suggest doing some research before purchasing the game to ensure it meets expectations.

Other player notes:
No miscpoints

Emotions:
- Frustration (weight 0.34): Players are frustrated with various aspects of the game, including clunky combat mechanics, excessive camera shake, and repetitive enemy types. Technical issues such as glitches, crashes, and poor optimization also contribute to this frustration, along with difficult navigation, unbalanced gameplay, and grinding requirements.
- Disappointment (weight 0.21): Disappointment stems from the game's lack of depth and uninspired design, with many players comparing it unfavorably to other Souls-like games. Issues such as repetitive enemies, poor story and dialogue, and mediocre gameplay mechanics contribute to this sentiment.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.17): Players find satisfaction in the game's weighty combat system, accessible mechanics, and enjoyable moments despite its flaws. The game's graphics, atmosphere, and overall quality are also appreciated, providing a solid attempt at the Souls-like genre.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.09): Enjoyment comes from the game's engaging gameplay, variety in combat and character customization, and the overall fun experience despite its flaws. Players appreciate the game's mechanics, story, and unique setting.
- Joy (weight 0.03): Joy is expressed through the love for the game's mechanics and overall positive experience. Players find joy in the combat mechanics and visual style, contributing to an overall positive experience.
- Anger (weight 0.02): Anger arises from technical issues such as glitches causing loss of progress, poor combat mechanics, and uninteresting mobs. Players are also angered by the game's poor audio quality, low-quality graphics, and difficult save system.
- Appreciation (weight 0.02): Appreciation is shown for the game's unique aspects, improvements over early FromSoftware games, and the effort put into its atmosphere and combat mechanics. Players appreciate the game's art style, story, and world designs.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia is felt through comparisons to Dark Souls and reflections on the game's impact and uniqueness at its release time. Players reminisce about the game being an introduction to the Souls-like genre and the desire to find the same feeling as the first version.
- Mixed feelings (weight 0.02): Mixed feelings arise from the game's strengths and weaknesses, with players enjoying some aspects despite many flaws. Comparisons to Dark Souls and the game's positive and negative aspects contribute to this sentiment.
- Surprise (weight 0.01): Surprise comes from the game's quality given its reputation, with players being pleasantly surprised by the game's quality and detail, and comparisons to other games like Lies of P.
- Excitement (weight 0.01): Excitement is generated by the game's unique ending based on choices, finding high-level equipment, and the overall recommendation of the game. Players are excited about the game's design and combat mechanics.
- Boredom (weight 0.01): Boredom stems from plain and uninteresting gameplay, bland enemies, and a slow, boring storyline. Players find the fights slow and unengaging.
- Positive (weight 0.01): Positive feelings come from the game being a good alternative to the Souls series, with fluid and dynamic combat mechanics, immersive graphics, and smart level design. Players appreciate the game's epic bosses, dark visuals, and lore.
- Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Enthusiasm is shown for the game's design, combat mechanics, and overall value. Players are enthusiastic about the game's visuals, map design, and weapon variety, providing a detailed and positive analysis.
- Discomfort (weight 0.01): Discomfort arises from camera shake and head bobbing effects, as well as camera movement issues that affect the gameplay experience.
- Amusement (weight 0.01): Amusement comes from humorous descriptions of the game's mechanics and character movements. Players find the character's heavy movement and combat clunkiness amusing, adding a light-hearted perspective to the game.
- Annoyance (weight 0.01): Annoyance is caused by clunky mechanics and slow, unresponsive controls. Players are annoyed by the slow and clunky mechanics that hinder the gameplay experience.
- Helpfulness (weight 0.01): Helpfulness is shown through providing tips and strategies for different character classes. Players offer detailed advice to assist others in navigating the game's challenges.
- Confusion (weight 0): Confusion arises from a lack of hints and objectives, leaving players unsure of what to do next. The absence of clear guidance contributes to this sentiment.
- Encouragement (weight 0): Encouragement comes from the game's forgiving nature for new players, making it accessible and less intimidating. Players appreciate the game's approachability and supportive mechanics.}