Lords of the Fallen (2023)

Pros

• I didn't skimp and activated every modifier on offer: minimal fixed vestiges (respawn point/rest point), randomized enemies, increased enemy density (levels at launch), randomized items, and ironman mode (single life). And let me say, I...
• I found my footing and set off with an open mind and a much more enjoyable experience... LoTF has an amazing sense of scale I don't often see utilized in many games. Not only is there an awesome representation of elevation, it's not sole...
• I had a wonderful time exploring the world, especially as it pertained to different NPCs and their side quests... The lands of Mournstead felt surprisingly vast, and you make your way through a variety of locales that feel cohesive and c...
• I think the way the game handled poise and parrying was very well done when compared to a game that has no other real contenders. Parries felt hefty and in some instances felt like the only means to meaningfully progress in certain insta...
• I thought it was a very enjoyable souls-like post-2.0. 85/100

Cons

• It's more like Lords of the Fallen 2023. Which is fine, because it's the devs' first game and obviously had a low budget
• I spent the first two hours wondering if I should refund. After that, I spent the next three hours wondering if I'd wasted my money... Hands down, this has to be one of the weakest starts I've experienced in any soulslike. Why every game...
• Anyone who has played this game will not be shocked by what I found offputting: the Umbral realm. In theory, it's such a cool concept. In practice? Not nearly as effective... it's somewhat criminal to craft a world like this only to cove...
• I liked LotF 2023 as much overall as I did DS3 (though that's because the DLC areas brought my overall liking of DS3 down.) The endings, all three, are really underwhelming - just the tiny cutscene of you triggering them and then a few l...
• The animations (e.g. the way your weapon swings make you lurch forward) feel bad, the enemy variety was pretty low, and the whole umbral layer felt like an overused gimmick. The best parts were the boss fights which mostly looked pretty...