Lords of the Fallen Version 2.0 Isn't Just A Patch; It's A Redemption

Lords of the Fallen didn't make a big splash when it first came out. Even though it had some great ideas, many players were let down by how badly it worked in combat, how many enemies there were (especially in the spectral realm), and how unpolished it was overall. 

Combat in the game felt floaty and inaccurate, the variety of enemies was lackluster, and exploration often turned into a stressful race instead of a planned adventure. Deaths on cliffs caused by attack animations that could not be stopped made things even more annoying. A lot of people just didn't enjoy Lords of the Fallen.

But CI Games did the opposite of what most studios do: they shelved launches that didn't do well in favor of new projects. Since Lords of the Fallen came out, they've been steadily patching, improving, and adding to it. The latest update is the biggest change to the game so far, Version 2.0.

As a free update, the 2.0 patch brings the once-controversial Soulslike back to life. It shows what dedicated support after launch, feedback from the community, and a bit of humility can do. Lords of the Fallen has been compared to games with "redeeming stories," such as No Man's Sky and Cyberpunk 2077. It may join those games in the group of games that completely changed their reputations.

Full shared progression co-op is the big new feature of the 2.0 update. This isn't often seen in Souls-like games. Now, players can work together with a friend to finish the game and share items, progress, and character growth. 

For people who haven't bought the game yet, CI Games has added a Free Friend Pass that lets them play through the entire campaign with a friend who already owns it (after completing the tutorial). It's a generous move that has never been seen before. It makes it easier for people to join and emphasizes the new focus on cooperative gameplay.

Along with co-op, the update makes big changes to how you fight and move. Lock-on systems have been improved, attacks are more responsive, evasion is smoother, and audio cues for actions like blocking and parrying have been improved to make combat feel more real. Even the "soul flay" mechanic, which used to be slow, is now faster and more useful in battle.

The way you move has also been changed. The running and turning animations have been improved, making the game feel more solid and less airy. Earlier feedback suggests that these changes improve the overall gameplay experience.

The 2.0 patch adds more than just battle and teamwork. CI Games has released lamp guidance, a new feature that will help players find their way around the world, which can be hard to understand at times. It shows how to get to the next "Vestige," which is similar to a bonfire in this game. This makes progress easier to understand without taking away from exploration.

A dedicated jump button has finally been added. This feature has been requested for a long time and is already saving many lives during platforming sections. The character creator has also been completely redone. It now has more realistic face, body, and texture options, which give players more control over how their avatars look.

The game's user interface has been updated and streamlined, making it easier to move around and interact with menus. The completely reworked tutorial and in-game guidebook are best for new players because they provide clearer instructions and a smoother onboarding experience than what was available at launch.

Many of the problems with the first version were fixed in updates released after it came out and before 2.0. At first, CI Games said they wouldn't change the number of enemies or the way leashes work, but after hearing from the community, they made changes to some of the most annoying aspects. Because of this, the game feels easier to handle and less punishing when it comes to the sheer number of enemies, especially in the spectral realm.

They've also added summonable NPCs, similar to those in other games like Souls, and difficulty settings that let players customize their experience. You can change these things, like how much damage enemies do and how much health they have, to make the challenge fit your needs.

For those who want to try New Game Plus, another area where players used to have problems, many changes have been made to make the experience smoother and more rewarding. These cumulative patches have fixed issues with combat, progression balance, and movement responsiveness.

Many developers might have given up on Lords of the Fallen at that point, but CI Games chose to keep working on it and make it better instead. The Version 2.0 update is the result of months of work and design based on user feedback. It turned a frustrating game into a compelling Souls-like that you'll want to play again.

Even more amazing is that players don't have to pay anything for this change. Whether you've played the game before or this is your first time, you're entering what most people think is the best version of the game ever. 

The number of players is already going up, thanks to the Friend Pass and the game's current $20 discount on Steam. The game is also available on Game Pass, making it even easier for those interested in trying it for the first time.

Lords of the Fallen 2.0 is not just a patch; it's a redemption. It shows that CI Games paid attention, learned, and responded. They've changed the game's history by listening to player feedback, improving core systems, and adding lots of co-op options.

Huge updates for games that people love are easy to celebrate. But it's even more important to praise developers who keep working on their games after they've had a rough start. This turns rough stones into polished gems. That's what CI Games did, and now players are finally paying attention.

Now is a great time to give Lords of the Fallen another chance if you didn't play it when it first came out. You can play by yourself or with a friend. There's a much better game waiting for you now.