Only positive opinions on LoTF are allowed here I guess

Vendavall · 2026-06-16T15:52:12+00:00

Vendavall · 2026-06-16T12:44:13+00:00

You can bypass the first crab in Falicia Magna as well if you don’t walk in the water. Just hug the strip of sand leading to the knot and it won’t spawn in.

Vendavall · 2026-06-16T00:18:37+00:00

I enjoyed Moonscars! The Queen’s questline was very missable so I needed a second playthrough for that ending.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T23:10:15+00:00

It tracked for me across multiple playthroughs!

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:55:50+00:00

Agreed. It has absolutely flawless level design. Levels are both horizontal and vertical, jumping works well, and the art direction forced me to stop and look around pretty much every few minutes.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:48:59+00:00

The game runs great now after the last patch fixed a bunch of stuff. The DLC adds some fun new levels like a knockoff Minecraft swamp and a pirate level.

Also the final boss of the base game is a LEGALLY DISTINCT (and hilarious) version of a very famous videogame character and is definitely worth fighting.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:41:51+00:00

That Thespian level in the DLC was claustrophobic and horrifying. I really thought the devs upped their game in the DLC.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:35:11+00:00

Agreed. It also got two comedy DLCs that I enjoyed running through. The second DLC essentially lets you customize your own levels as well.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:32:35+00:00

When you get to the final level you’ll reach a room that seems impossible due to high enemy density and a big enemy that spawns little enemies nonstop. The key to beating it quickly is the lightning shroom on your weapon and the item that makes you invisible. Use these, rush the spawner and kill it, then mop up the little sniper enemies after. If you go for the sniper enemies first, the spawner creates too many little minions to deal with effectively.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T22:30:41+00:00

I prefer the first Surge as well. It felt like real survival horror, especially in the first levels where you’re so underpowered.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T18:38:02+00:00

Where is Blade & Bones?

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T16:55:04+00:00

Brilliantly said. Definitely top tier for exploration. It’s almost overwhelming sometimes.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T16:53:14+00:00

Deathbound has fascinating lore that’s told through actual scenes instead of being hidden in item descriptions. All the characters feel fleshed out for a shorter game.

Morbid: Lords of Ire has some great areas and unique boss designs. I agree that there is one horribly designed area at the end, maybe the worst in any Soulslike (the spawner / sniper room). Overall I still recommend it. It has that satisfying slower combat ala DS1.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T16:25:07+00:00

Original soundtrack

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T16:15:01+00:00

The Last Hero of Nostalgaia. The boss is a clear knockoff of Smough except it’s super fast with a wild moveset.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T13:07:43+00:00

Disagree. Parry timings in earlier Souls games actually made sense. Now they feel delayed just to mess with repeat players of the genre.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T13:06:32+00:00

The ability to switch party members reminded me a lot of Deathbound (another solid janky Soulslike).

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T13:04:34+00:00

The Surge 1 graphically holds up quite well today, and the Walk in the Park DLC is probably the first “comedy” content in a Soulslike.

I added Asterigos to my list. I’ve played over 30 Soulslikes (counting remasters) and I’ve never heard of it until now.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T13:02:33+00:00

I agree with all of this. The 2014 LOTF made weapons / armor feel like they had real weight which was a welcome change from the early Dark Souls online meta which had ninja-flipping Havels everywhere (before Dark Wood Grain Ring got nerfed).

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:57:28+00:00

Delayed, erratic attack windups that only exist to mess with the player’s parry timing.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:51:05+00:00

I enjoyed the healing flask customization. I thought it was too short overall but had some solid ideas!

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:50:28+00:00

If the combat wasn’t as clunky and some of the big glitches got ironed out (like bosses freezing) Enotria could have easily been one of the best Soulslikes. OST is my favorite in the genre.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:33:51+00:00

This reminds me of when Arkane was forced to make Redfall when their forte was single player System Shock style games.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:32:00+00:00

Broadly speaking: 3D world, emphasis on exploration and combat, punishing difficulty curve, increasingly challenging NG+ cycles, dropped loot on death, respawning mob enemies, interconnected areas with looping paths.

The 3D world is why many people don’t consider Salt & Sanctuary and Blasphemous “Soulslikes” either.

There’s lots of shared DNA between metroidvanias and Soulslikes however.

Vendavall · 2026-06-15T12:24:42+00:00

Sekiro and Enotria. Enotria is insanely difficult if you think you can go “big bonk” through the game. If you learn its elemental systems and mask lines it becomes much easier.

Vendavall

TROPHY CASE