Summary
Given that part of the genre’s primary inspiration is in the name, it makes perfect sense that Souslikes such asLords of the Fallenowe a debt of gratitude to FromSoftware’sDark Souls.Lords of the Fallenin particular can trace several of its elements and mechanics back to the Soulslike genre’s erstwhile torchbearer, despite even FromSoftware itself having greatly evolved the nature of its action-RPGs since originating its formula in theSoulsseries. For all thatLords of the Fallencribs fromDark Souls, though, it flips players' expectations by featuring a swamp that is uncharacteristically absent of any poison-causing effects.
It almost goes without saying that if a Soulslike features a swamp area, it’s bound to be filled with water that gradually builds up poison damage. Series mastermind Hidetaka Miyazaki’s fondness for placing poison swamps insideFromSoftware titlesis well-tread territory at this point, having been the subject of several noteworthy memes. ThatLords of the Fallenfeatures a swamp area but allows players to traverse it without the dread-inducing fear of poison status effects is a surprising twist, especially when one considers how much the game is directly inspired byDark Souls.
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The Pros and Cons of Lords of the Fallen’s Atypical Swamp Area
On one hand, the inclusion of a swamp area in a Soulslike that’s free of poison effects is a welcome boon to players who love exploring every inch of the map to uncover secrets, shortcuts, and hidden bits of lore.Lords of the Fallen’s dual worldsare ripe with opportunities for exploration, and most of this exploration is typically very worthwhile. Like the originalDark Souls,Lords of the Fallen’s map connects and folds in on itself in surprising ways, making the land of Axiom feel like a real place. That the world rendered in the game is so aesthetically pleasing to look at is the icing on the cake.
Including a swamp area was practically a foregone conclusion (especially when one considers thatevery single FromSoftware gamefeatures some kind of bog or swamp biome), and that players can traverseLords of the Fallen’s free of worry is a massive relief to those who typically avoid Miyazaki’s characteristically poisonous swamps like their lives depend on it. Additionally,Lords of the Fallentends to throw large mobs of enemies at the player with regularity, and trying to balance several enemies at once in an encounter where the player is continually building poison damage sounds like a recipe for player frustration.
On the other hand,Lords of the Fallenis clearly an homage to the originalDark Souls, with so much of the game’s DNA clearly derived from the game arguably responsible for birthingthe Soulslike genre. To feature a swamp that isn’t poisonous could almost be considered an affront to the traditions of FromSoftware games that the title should arguably be honoring. Further, the Soulslike genre is practically synonymous with difficulty as well as with imposing locations that are as deadly as they are beautiful.Lords of the Fallen’s inclusion of a swamp that lacks an added element of danger is potentially a missed opportunity.
Ultimately, it’s important forLords of the Fallento establish its own identity as a Soulslike, especially considering the history of the title’s development and the legacy it is currently rewriting.The originalLords of the Fallenarrived at a time when the Soulslike genre was in its infancy and was, admittedly, both very derivative ofDark Soulsand a far cry from the level of quality inherent in the title. The recently released reboot, however, is a fresh start for the franchise and a great Soulslike that feels like a modern follow-up to FromSoftware’s 2011 classic. With or without a poison swamp,Lords of the Fallenis proving that studios other than FromSoftware are finally coming to grips with the Soulslike formula.
Lords of the Fallenis available now on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series X/S.
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