Skip to main content
GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ GamesRadar+ The Games, Movies, TV & Comics You Love
Sign in
  • View Profile
  • Sign out
flag of UK
UK
flag of US
US
flag of Canada
Canada
flag of Australia
Australia
  • Games
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Hardware
  • Video
  • News
  • Reviews
  • Guides
  • Deals
  • More
    • PS5
    • Xbox Series X
    • Nintendo Switch
    • Nintendo Switch 2
    • PC
    • Platforms
    • Tabletop Gaming
    • Comics
    • Toys & Collectibles
    • SFX
    • Newsarama
    • Retro Gamer
    • Newsletters
    • About us
    • Features
Total Film
Gaming Magazines
Gaming Magazines
Why subscribe?
  • Subscribe from just £3
  • Takes you closer to the games, movies and TV you love
  • Try a single issue or save on a subscription
  • Issues delivered straight to your door or device
From$12
View
Trending
  • Summer Game Fest
  • New games for 2025
  • Upcoming Switch 2 games
  • Switch 2 stock
Recommended reading
Lords of the Fallen screenshot showing two players side by side
Action RPGs It took 18 months and over 50 updates, but Lords of the Fallen finally added the one feature I wanted from this Soulslike RPG at launch: "full shared progression co-op"
Aran holds a huge sword aloft, mouth open in a battle cry in the promotional key art for Blades of Fire used as the header on storefronts
Action RPGs After 3 hours, I'm impressed by how Blades of Fire smelts Dark Souls and Monster Hunter together to forge high-impact action into twisted new shapes
A boxy green cubey enemy attacks Remi in Hell is Us
Action Games With "multi-map spanning secrets" and "phantasmagorical" horrors, Hell is Us wages a brutal civil war that already has me on edge
A screenshot shows a hairy monster lunging at a player in Mistfall Hunter while an orange border indicates it is part of summer preview 2025
Action RPGs I didn't know how badly I needed a PvPvE Dark Souls in my life until Mistfall Hunter threw one in my lap
Hark the Ghoul appearing in Future Games Show
Games Hark the Ghoul is a low poly Soulslike-style explore-em-up that throws in a few immersive sim ideas to sweeten the deal
Vranygrai demo screenshot
Action Games After playing 20 minutes of this Witcher 3 meets God of War-inspired RPG, my love of druids and Slavic mythology has been reignited tenfold
Phantom Blade 0
Action Games Even if it isn't a Soulslike, Phantom Blade Zero still wants to channel that "pre-Elden Ring" FromSoftware level design with secrets and layers
  1. Games
  2. Action Rpg
  3. Lords of the Fallen

Lords of the Fallen is Dark Souls with sweet next-gen visuals

Features
By Lorenzo Veloria published 22 April 2014

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

Prepare to die...some more

Prepare to die...some more

My first glance of Lords of the Fallen at Bandai Namco's Gamers Day event had me immediately thinking that the game looked like a prettier, next-gen version of Dark Souls. After seeing an extended gameplay demo, I came to see that it's more than just a visual similarity. Lords of the Fallen uses the deliberate combat and try-then-fail-then-try-again concepts Dark Souls players will definitely be used to. Boss battles put you up against challenging, powerful foes and even the common minion can give you quite a bit of trouble if you aren't careful.

In my demo, the developers played through an early section of the game that had the hero navigating the narrow corridors of monster-infested catacombs. As the player was walking through the torch-lit hallways, you get the feeling that something is going to jump out and beat the crap out of you. Thing is, if you're not careful, that's exactly what happens. Enemies generally attack one at a time or in small groups, leaving you to discover which of your magic skills and weapon abilities will penetrate each enemy's tough defenses.

The combat is fast and intricate. Blocking, dodging, and timing your attacks is critical to coming out of a fight alive. Players can choose the typical warrior, rogue, and mage classes that come with the standard class-based weapon sets like sword and shield, dual blades, and magic staffs. But the predefined hero Harken can also launch various magic attacks through his mystical gauntlet. Lords of the Fallen is an intriguing new action RPG. With a story-centric, single-player campaign and flashy, arcade-y combo heavy combat, the game may just stand out despite the obvious Dark Souls influences.

Check out the following slides for more information and images

Page 1 of 5
Page 1 of 5
You play as Harken, a sinful antihero with magic abilities and badass weapon skills.

You play as Harken, a sinful antihero with magic abilities and badass weapon skills.

Page 2 of 5
Page 2 of 5
Looting chests and enemy drops will get you powerful weapons and stylish armor.

Looting chests and enemy drops will get you powerful weapons and stylish armor.

Page 3 of 5
Page 3 of 5
You'll upgrade Harken through multiple skill trees, depending on which class you choose.

You'll upgrade Harken through multiple skill trees, depending on which class you choose.

Page 4 of 5
Page 4 of 5
Enemies are tough and will attack you with no mercy

Enemies are tough and will attack you with no mercy

Page 5 of 5
Page 5 of 5
CATEGORIES
PC Gaming Wii-u PS4 Xbox Xbox One Platforms Nintendo PlayStation
Lorenzo Veloria
Lorenzo Veloria
Social Links Navigation

Many years ago, Lorenzo Veloria was a Senior Editor here at GamesRadar+ helping to shape content strategy. Since then, Lorenzo has shifted his attention to Future Plc's broader video game portfolio, working as a Senior Brand Marketing Manager to oversee the development of advertising pitches and marketing strategies for the department. He might not have all that much time to write about games anymore, but he's still focused on making sure the latest and greatest end up in front of your eyes one way or another.

See more PC Gaming Features
Read more
Lords of the Fallen screenshot showing two players side by side
It took 18 months and over 50 updates, but Lords of the Fallen finally added the one feature I wanted from this Soulslike RPG at launch: "full shared progression co-op"
Aran holds a huge sword aloft, mouth open in a battle cry in the promotional key art for Blades of Fire used as the header on storefronts
After 3 hours, I'm impressed by how Blades of Fire smelts Dark Souls and Monster Hunter together to forge high-impact action into twisted new shapes
A boxy green cubey enemy attacks Remi in Hell is Us
With "multi-map spanning secrets" and "phantasmagorical" horrors, Hell is Us wages a brutal civil war that already has me on edge
A screenshot shows a hairy monster lunging at a player in Mistfall Hunter while an orange border indicates it is part of summer preview 2025
I didn't know how badly I needed a PvPvE Dark Souls in my life until Mistfall Hunter threw one in my lap
Hark the Ghoul appearing in Future Games Show
Hark the Ghoul is a low poly Soulslike-style explore-em-up that throws in a few immersive sim ideas to sweeten the deal
Vranygrai demo screenshot
After playing 20 minutes of this Witcher 3 meets God of War-inspired RPG, my love of druids and Slavic mythology has been reignited tenfold
Latest in Action Rpg
Claptrap in Lionsgate
A Claptrap volume slider is just the start, Borderlands 4 boss Randy Pitchford says there are "so many things we are holding back from everyone until launch. So. Many. Things"
Diablo 2
25 years later, Diablo 2 director still hasn't gotten over how much the stamina bar sucks: "It's like a newbie tax almost"
Diablo 4 Berserk cosmetics
Hey Blizzard, the best part of Diablo 4 Season 9 isn't even in the patch notes: a new wardrobe quality-of-life feature that changes the true endgame – fashion
Elden Ring: Nightreign launch trailer
Elden Ring Nightreign players are using an extremely rare Legendary sword to juice their stats to the moon, stacking thousands of HP and even one-hitting final bosses
Elden Ring Nightreign two bug bosses
FromSoftware ruins my entire week by announcing Elden Ring Nightreign's next Everdark boss fight is the bug duo that frankly already sucks
Claptrap in Lionsgate
Borderlands 4 includes a feature the series should have had from the beginning: a Claptrap-only volume slider that means you never have to hear a word he says
Latest in Features
María Gabriela de Faría as The Engineer
James Gunn's Superman may be setting up The Authority movie with its enigmatic villain The Engineer
Sam sits in a bike looking across at a city in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
70 hours in, Death Stranding 2 is one of few open world games that justifies having such a huge map
Nintendo Switch 2
I can't use the Switch 2's handheld mode, so I'm hoping a Lite is on the horizon
Guy Gardner, Hawkgirl, and Mister Miracle as the Justice Gang in Superman
The Justice Gang explained - The non-Justice League in James Gunn's Superman may be influenced by team of classic DC supervillains
Team Fortress 2 characters looking at a map
I have 464 games on my Steam wishlist, 23 games in my Steam Summer Sale shopping cart, and I can feel my already overstuffed library giving me the side-eye
Heavy Metal Death Can demo screenshot
I got a nicotine rush and set zombies on fire in this PS1-style survival horror demo, and it's basically Resident Evil on a submarine
  1. Sam fires at the ghost mech squid boss in Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
    1
    Death Stranding 2: On the Beach review: "This tarpunk delivery epic is more Metal Gear Solid than ever, for better and worse"
  2. 2
    Rematch review: "As with Rocket League, the just-one-more-game pull is magnetic"
  3. 3
    Tron: Catalyst review: "Disc slinging is a thrill in this gorgeous rendition of the series, but I'm let down by a time-loop story that falls flat"
  4. 4
    FBC: Firebreak review: "A disappointingly bland multiplayer FPS that's missing far too much of what made Control special"
  5. 5
    Dune: Awakening review: "Both extremely compelling and extraordinarily boring, sometimes at the same time – yet still a true Dune love letter"
  1. A T-rex in Jurassic World Rebirth
    1
    Jurassic World Rebirth Review: "An unscary sequel that needed a little more time in amber"
  2. 2
    M3GAN 2.0 review: "A bold sequel with a slightly underwhelming conclusion"
  3. 3
    28 Years Later Review: "Enough terror, splatter and suspense to satisfy”
  4. 4
    Predator: Killer of Killers review: "Great characters, thrilling action, and gorgeous Arcane-esque animation"
  5. 5
    From the World of John Wick: Ballerina review: "Brilliant action, even if the plot gives you a sense of déjà vu"
  1. Lee Jung-jae as Gi-hun in Squid Game season 3
    1
    Squid Game season 3 review: "A staggeringly excellent final season wraps up one of the greatest Netflix shows ever"
  2. 2
    Ironheart review: "A relic of Marvel's content-at-all-costs era"
  3. 3
    Star Trek: Strange New Worlds season 3 review: "The show's most assured run of episodes to date"
  4. 4
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 8 spoiler review: 'The Reality War' is "a mix of the good, the bad, and the truly baffling"
  5. 5
    Doctor Who season 2, episode 7 spoiler review: 'Wish World' is "an exciting and ambitious" start to the season finale, with hints of WandaVision

GamesRadar+ is part of Future US Inc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Visit our corporate site.

  • About Us
  • Contact Future's experts
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Advertise with us
  • Review guidelines
  • Write for us
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Careers

© Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Please login or signup to comment

Please wait...