Within the realm of ARPGs likePath of Exile,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem,Grim Dawn, and theDiabloseries, there are certain features that players come to expect. Custom characterization, lore and worldbuilding, engaging real-time combat, and in-depth progression systems are all things that came to define the genre. While there might be many aspects that get repeated, copied, and rehashed, the best games take a familiar formula and provide their own spin on the tried and tested elements to create something at once original and adapted. It’s easy to compare games in the same genre likeDiabloandWolcen: Lords of Mayhemto find things that they have in common, but it’s often where they deviate from each other that players can find the true strengths of each title.
Released at the start of 2020,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemclearly took a page out of the book ofother ARPGs likePath of Exileor some of the games in theDiabloseries. Although aspects of the game were praised, likeWolcen: Lords of Mayhem’sgraphics and freedom of customization when creating characters, it did lose some points with buggy gameplay and some less than original features that felt derivative and secondhand. Despite these drawbacks,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemhas still found a solid fanbase and does have plenty of positives to make it worth recommending, particularly to players who are still waiting patiently for the next installment in theDiabloseries to release.
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Introducing The World Of Wolcen: Lords of Mayhem
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemmay have had a slightly problematic launch, but the game had good bones to work with, and now that some time has elapsed since it was first released, a lot of the issues that gamers had with it have been smoothed out. Since the start of 2021,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemhas had a whole bunch of changes and updates that have improved the game beyond compare and made it well worth a playthrough if gamers haven’t got round to it yet. Now that it is in a good space, the developers have promised continued support forWolcen: Lords of Mayhemwith additional content patches – an incentive for more players to jump in.
Drafted at a young age into a military academy with two childhood friends, the player becomes one of the Children of Heimlock – a nickname bestowed on the trio after the special treatment they received from the grand inquisitor of the Republic that saved the player’s character as a child. After honing their skills, the player and their friends are let loose within the ranks of the army called the Purifiers and are tasked with defending the Republic against demonic forces. Withstory-driven missions throughoutWolcen: Lords of Mayhem’s plagued Republic, players must navigate the various regions and defeat a multitude of supernatural enemies to progress through the game.
Wolcen: Lords of Mayhempitches itself as an epic adventure, with dynamic and responsive action that elevates its combat beyond what players might expect from a standard ARPG. There is a vast variety of weapons for players to choose from, which helps to provide multiple approaches to combat with differing styles and tools to use. Like a lot of RPGs, battles are a tactical affair, with a combination of hack and slash action, weapon-based combos, planning, and customizable skills thrown together to create the gameplay system. The game’s Passive Skill Tree also offers plenty of options for varied character progression, and with lots of combinations to try out, players can fully shape their character in true RPG fashion.
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Comparing Wolcen: Lords Of Mayhem To The Diablo Series
In addition to some more surface-level points of comparison betweenWolcen: Lords of Mayhemand games in theDiabloseries, there are a few deeper aspects that draw the two together. But whileWolcen: Lords of Mayhemis clearly inspired by some of theDiablogames, it also does well to distinguish itself from these series staples in a couple of instances, which only serve to improve it. Interestingly, whileWolcen: Lords of Mayhemmay have used theDiablogames as a blueprint for some of its mechanics and features,Diablo 4may very well look to the progress thatWolcenhas made since launch for some ideas of its own, showcasing the often reciprocal relationship of video game franchises.
BothWolcen: Lords of Mayhemand theDiablogames have similar sorts of enemies for players to take on – demonic foes, ghouls, and various undead antagonists – the artstyle ofWolcen: Lords of Mayhemis distinct enough fromDiablothat it doesn’t feel derivative. WhileDiablohas clear gothic overtonesand is very much known for this type of aesthetic,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhembelongs to a more high fantasy school of design. The game’s flashy graphics and focus on design deliver a visually distinct and impressive game with lots of atmospheric environments and terrifyingly grotesque enemies.
Unlike many other ARPGs,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemdoesn’t have a traditional class systemas some players might come to expect. The version that the game has in place offers much more flexibility to players and gives them a choice of weapon types before starting the game. The choices follow classic fantasy RPG tropes, like a selection of Ranged, Magic, and Melee options. However, once the game is underway, players can switch up their playstyle at any point by investing in new skills and testing out new weapons if they want a chance to experience a completely different approach to combat. Not locking a player into a class that they must then pursue throughout the rest of a game, like the classes inDiablowhich were even gender locked in the first two titles, opens upWolcen: Lords of Mayhemso much more.
Wolcen: Lords of MayhemI’s combat may be satisfyingly visceral and engaging, but it’s far from complex. Some of the titles in theDiabloseries can lean towards the more hardcore side of the spectrum, and this can put some players off who are looking for a challenging experience without it being too stressful. TheDiablogames might be more suited to ARPG veterans, whereasWolcen: Lords of Mayhemfeels a little more accessible to gamers wanting something in the same sphere without high levels of grinding. For anyone looking to get into the genre,perhaps before the launch ofDiablo 4,Wolcen: Lords of Mayhemcould be the perfect place to start.
