Lies of P was one of 2023's biggest surprises. There has been no shortage of Soulslike games in the colossal wake of FromSoftware's rise to prominence over the years, and while many have been solid outings, few have managed to approach the heights of FromSoft's ingenious and unsettling modern-day output. Lies of P might not be as culturally impactful as something like Dark Souls, but it's closer to that standard than any game before it.
Loosely based on the tale of Pinocchio, Lies of P thrusts players into a world under siege by rogue puppets and other enigmatic creatures, couching itself within a revised, soft-steampunk vision of the Belle Époque era, with a healthy dose of incomprehensible magic thrown in for good measure. It is certainly a game that attempts to emulate FromSoftware's bread-and-butter game design tropes—the game's NPCs even adopt the same aloof attitudes as those in Dark Souls, Bloodborne, and Elden Ring—but to call it a mere carbon-copy of that studio's output would be greatly reductive. Indeed, Lies of P is a powerful and effective game in its own right, and with its developer-publisher Neowiz now working on a survival horror game, maybe the Lies of P magic will rear its head once more.
Lies of P is a collaboration between Neowiz and Round8.
Lies of P's Sequel Swapping Protagonists Has an Awkward Choice to Make
Lies of P's sequel may face the challenge of preserving its identity if it potentially shifts focus to a new protagonist and storyline.
Neowiz's Upcoming Game Could Be the 'Lies of P' of Survival Horror
Lies of P Stole a Spot for Itself in the Soulslike Genre
Lies of P isn't shy about its FromSoftware influences, but it's no mere imitation. Setting aside the unique setting and brilliant art design, which are certainly worthy of praise, Lies of P's combat sandbox is far more inventive and original than many other Soulslikes, which typically attempt to do little more than ape the design pillars of their progenitors. The game's parry system, for instance, sets it apart from the likes of Bloodborne and even Sekiro: Shadows Die Twice, as parries are used to work toward an opening, rather than queue up a one-hit-kill. This is just one of many examples of what Lies of P does differently than other Soulslikes.
Another would be its build-crafting and gear system. With a few exceptions, nearly every weapon in the game can be split into two components: the blade and the handle. These components can then be mixed and matched to create dozens of unique weapons with distinct attributes. Coupled with other mechanics, like the versatile and creative Legion Arms, Lies of P offers an action-RPG and combat experience that is rooted in FromSoftware heritage, but meaningfully iterative at the same time.
All of this is to say that Neowiz's survival horror title could do the same thing with its genre conventions. For better or worse, modern survival horror has settled into something of a formula, exemplified by the likes of Resident Evil, Dead Space, Alan Wake, and the recent Silent Hill 2 remake. By focusing on nailing the fundamentals while introducing refreshing and ingenious ideas, Neowiz can once again make its mark in a new space through this upcoming title.
Not much is known about Neowiz's burgeoning survival horror game other than that it takes place in a sci-fi setting.
How Neowiz Can Make Lightning Strike Twice With Its Survival Horror Game
Only time will tell what this mysterious survival horror game will look like, but if Neowiz approaches it with the same design philosophy as Lies of P, then it could see a similar sort of success. Assuming this survival horror game uses titles like Resident Evil as inspiration, one can imagine a game with rock-solid shooting mechanics and atmospheric world design, but injected with unexpected mechanics and features ala Lies of P's weapon-crafting. Done correctly, Neowiz could establish itself as a nascent master of multiple prominent game genres.
Lies of P
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 82 /100 Critics Rec: 88%
WHERE TO PLAY
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.
You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.
You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat - a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city's elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
- Engine
- Unreal Engine 4
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike
- How Long To Beat
- 20 Hours
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- File Size Xbox Series
- 35 GB (November 2023)
- OpenCritic Rating
- Strong
