I really liked the mechanics of the first game.

It felt like most non-fromsoft clones in terms of the map, though. No one else manages the feel of opening up the map like they do. Elden Ring is much more focused on the open world, so it approaches the use of space differently, but the way you can look back over some areas and see what you just spent hours battling through gives a similar feel of intentionality to the map design.

Lords of the Fallen not giving that feel is part of why I didn’t spend as much time with it as the combat quality would imply.