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More than a year after its release,Lords of the Fallenhas hit a major milestone with its 2.0 version update, and when outlining new co-op features, the trailer made some rather unsubtle allusions to genre titanElden Ring.
The 2023 soulslike is a successor to the 2014 game of the same name, which was one of the first titles that attempted to follow inDark Souls' footsteps.
In the version 2.0 trailer posted to publisherCI Games' YouTube channel, the voice over says, “Lords of the Fallen launched with a seamless co-op mode.Unlike many soulslikes, players could journey together for as long as they choose.”
This is a clear dig atElden Ring’s notoriously clunky co-op that limits sessions to specific areas and is forced to end after a boss is defeated.
Funnily enough, this was only a segue into the real co-op news:Lords of the Fallen2.0 adds shared progression in co-op, as long as each player is “on the same new game playthrough, and have defeated a similar number of the 12 main bosses, within a margin of one.”
Another incredible co-op feature also comes in the form of a Free Friend’s Pass, where only one of two players have to purchase the game to play through it together, in its entirety.
Lords Of The Fallen Shared Co-Op Progression Sets A New Standard For Soulslikes
Shared Progression Should Be The Norm
The soulslike subgenre has yet to escape FromSoftware’s shadow Elden Ringis among thebest games of all time, and is arguably the pinnacle of the genre its developer practically created.
Its co-op mechanics, however, have some noticeable shortcomings, particularly when it comes to the lack of shared progression.
Players essentially have to complete the whole game twice if they want to play it with a partner, and three times if they’re running with a trio.Lords of the Fallen’s verbal swipe atElden Ringis bold, but not unwarranted, asits seamless co-op and new shared progression are major conveniences that should be mainstays for soulslikes.
The commitment to classic soulslike co-op inLords of the Fallenis also notable in the wake of FromSoftware’s departure from it in exchange for more overt multiplayer in the upcomingElden Ring Nightreignspin-off and 2026’sSwitch 2-exclusiveThe Duskbloods.
Adding the Free Friend’s Pass toLords of the Fallen which works exactly likeSplit Fiction’s feature of the same name only exemplifies developer Hexworks' devotion to providing a convenient and compelling co-op experience.
Over A Year Of Support Has Made Lords Of The Fallen A Genre Highlight
Hexworks' Commitment Is Admirable
Lords of the Fallenreviewswere mixed upon its release, but roughly a year-and-a-half of post-launch support from Hexworks has seen steady improvement to a wide array of the game’s features, in addition to the new developments in the 2.0 update.
2.0 itself has brought a variety of tweaks, especially to the feel of combat and movement, according to the trailer.
The soulslike genre is a tough one, since each new game is automatically put up against bona fide classics likeDark Souls,Bloodborne, andElden Ring, butLords of the Fallenis one of the more admirable entries, and there’s been clear and consistent passion from the developers to improve it.Lords of the Fallen2.0 is just the latest step, and its renewed and incredible focus on co-op is a strong argument for giving it a shot if you haven’t already.
Source:CI Games/YouTube
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The Lords of the Fallen is a single-player/co-op Action-RPG set in a high fantasy setting, acting as a soft reboot of the original entry, Lords of the Fallen.
The Lords of the Fallen is a single-player/co-op Action-RPG set in a high fantasy setting, acting as a soft reboot of the original entry, Lords of the Fallen. Set over a thousand years after the first game’s events, The Lords of the Fallen will set players in a massive world -one five times the size of the original - filled with NPC quests, dungeons, bosses, and other surprises that await.
Set over a thousand years after the first game’s events, The Lords of the Fallen will set players in a massive world -one five times the size of the original - filled with NPC quests, dungeons, bosses, and other surprises that await.
The Lords of the Fallen is a single-player/co-op Action-RPG set in a high fantasy setting, acting as a soft reboot of the original entry, Lords of the Fallen. Set over a thousand years after the first game’s events, The Lords of the Fallen will set players in a massive world -one five times the size of the original - filled with NPC quests, dungeons, bosses, and other surprises that await.
