So, you know that game, Lords of the Fallen? Yeah, when it hit the scene back in October 2023, let’s just say it didn’t exactly blow people away. I remember thinking, “Oh boy, this needs work.” Turns out, I wasn’t alone in that observation. People had plenty to grumble about, especially when it came to the initial launch version. But here’s where it gets interesting: the folks at Hexworks, you know, the developers, they didn’t throw in the towel. Nope, they stuck around way longer than anyone thought they would. Which is kinda admirable, if you ask me.
Fast forward a bit, version 1.7 dropped last December. It was supposed to be this big game-changer update, which, honestly, it kinda was. Made a ton of improvements. But guess what? Hexworks was like, “Nah, we’re not done yet.” And boom, another big update just rolled out of nowhere.
The latest patch, and this is hilarious to me, is such a major deal that Hexworks is calling it version 2.0 of their Souls-like RPG. Crazy, right? It’s not just little tweaks here and there. It’s like a complete renovation of core mechanics. The cherry on top? They added some cool stuff for newbies that I’ve honestly never seen before in similar games. Mind blown.
So, CI Games did this thing, following in the footsteps of folks like Hazelight Studios — you know, the minds behind It Takes Two. They introduced this Friend’s Pass concept. Pretty straightforward — you can invite a pal who doesn’t even own the game to play online co-op. I mean, brilliant, right? Anyone can download, create a character, and go through the jazz of a full tutorial they just revamped. Once you’re through, you’re in! You can get invitations from buddies who own the game.
But there’s a bit of a catch with progression. It’s a bit of a head-scratcher. Hexworks made some smart moves in 2.0 to keep things manageable. Sure, character stuff and loot carry over between play sessions, but — and here’s the kicker — world progression? That stays with the host. Yet, in the same storyline playthrough, each player keeps their own story beats, defeated bosses, and those Beacons. You know, like Bonfires. Plus, Vigor and loot do their own thing for everyone, and the good news? You can revive each other. Phew!
And there’s more. Seriously. The 2.0 update has quite a list of gameplay adjustments. They went and added a dedicated jump button. Yes, a jump button! The combat’s gotten a big overhaul — think refined lock-on, nicer weapon handling, faster movement with zippier evasions, and oh, new sounds for combat moves. Got this nifty new Umbral Lamp feature now too. No idea how they do all this, but it shows you where to mosey next. Fancy, huh?
Some other neat changes came along with this big update. The UI got a tidy-up, and there are upgrades to the overall interface. And the quality of life updates? Loads of them. Like faster Vigor collection, something automated now, and more little enhancements to keep the flow smooth.
Not to be missed, there’s a celebration sale, ’cause why not? Lords of the Fallen is marked down across all platforms by a neat 72% at most. But heads up, the sales don’t last forever — depends on your platform. Some are wrapping up by April 23, while others are hanging on till May 1. So, if you’ve been on the fence, maybe nows the time.
I’d say, at least grab that Friend’s Pass from Steam or wherever you game. Dive into the tutorial and see what’s up. Keep in mind, the patch might not be live everywhere just yet, but expectations are it’ll be available by Monday, April 21. Exciting times for gamers!
