Launching during the aftermath ofDark Souls’transformation into a global phenomenon in 2011,Lords of the Fallenlooked to replicate the success ofHidetaka Miyazaki’s infamously punishing fantasy series by entering the same space. Yet, while CI Games' attempt at capitalizing on the popularity of the Souls-genre was heralded by some, it didn’t manage to generate the same buzz as its inspirations.
Cut to 2021 and it seems the publisher behind the challenging action game is ready to showcase what new studio Hexworks has been doing with the franchise,offering an update onLords of the Fallen 2alongside a fresh logo on Twitter. It seems the game will be looking to build exponentially on its predecessor, with CI Games claiming the title will be its “largest project to date.”
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According to the publisher, the game will come with a slight change in direction, withLords of the Fallen 2slated to move towards a “dark fantasy” setting. It’ll also completely revamp the original game’s combat, with the team promising a “fully revised and challenging” system befitting of the franchise’s influences. Seeing asthe previous game was criticized by some for being a less punishingDark Soulsclone, a focus on rebuilding combat from the ground up is sure to be a draw to those put off byLords of the Fallen’soverly-familiar take on the formula.
As for the logo shared by the developer, it doesn’t reveal much about the game aside from hinting at its darker tone. Overall, it seems CI Games has taken some time to reflect on what did and didn’t work with its first title, returning now with a revised direction. As it stands,Lords of the Fallen 2will launch for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series Xas well as PC, although the release date is still currently unknown.
For those who didn’t play the original game,Lords of the Fallensaw players assume the role of Harkyn: a prisoner in a fantasy world of gods and monsters. Released to help fight back against the minions of a fallen god, Harkyn joins his former-mentor Kaslo as they venture out on a perilous quest to save the world. UnlikeDark Souls,it featured a more approachable take on the iconic RPG’s punishing combat. It also reworked the series' trademark bonfire mechanic for a new system, with players accumulating multipliers on experience the longer they went without banking it at one of the game’s checkpoints. It’ll be interesting to see if the game continues to tinker with the Souls-genre in its upcoming sequel.
Lords of the Fallen2is slated to release on PC, PlayStation 5, and Xbox Series X.
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