Lies of P is an up-and-coming action RPG Soulslike game developed and published by NEOWIZ and its subsidiary Round8 Studio. Ever since the game’s initial announcement in 2021, many have noticed distinct similarities between Lies of P and FromSoftware’s Bloodborne. Especially after seeing the most recent trailers for Lies of P, which showed off in-game visuals and combat, it seems that the comparisons are not unwarranted and the new dark fantasy game is definitely adopting some features from Bloodborne.
Fans of FromSoftware’s Soulsborne games agree that Bloodborne has a unique take on the classic Dark Souls formula while staying similar enough to remain a core part of the franchise. Part of what makes Bloodborne stand out is its drastic change in scenery and narrative compared to other Soulsborne games, as well as its fast-paced combat. From the glimpse of footage from NEOWIZ that fans saw during Gamescom, Lies of P is definitely embracing the Soulslike genre but is most certainly drawing much of its inspiration from Bloodborne.
What is Lies of P?
Lies of P is a dramatic retelling of the classic story of Pinocchio, in which players take control of the titular character and are challenged with finding Pinocchio’s creator, Geppetto. The game takes place in the fictional city of Krat which was inspired by the Belle Epoque Era in Europe, a time of prosperity in France just before the devastation caused by the first World War. Based on the game’s setting, it seems to be adding a dark-fantasy twist to a once flourishing European city that is now decimated and inhabited by deranged machines.
The storytelling in Lies of P needs to be a driving force behind the title, as it is trying to drastically retell a classic story. It seems as though the story is centered around Pinocchio’s relationship with Geppetto and Pinocchio’s infamous habit of lying. The game’s description says that there are multiple different questlines and game endings that are directly affected by the lies that the player chooses to tell, implying much of the game’s story is reliant on player interactions.
Just as in many other Soulslike games, Lies of P will have intricate combat. The game seems to include a plethora of different weapons and combat abilities that the player will be able to utilize against the varying types of enemies. Aside from a variety of different melee weapons, Pinocchio is able to utilize his own puppet body as a weapon by customizing his off-hand with different enhancements that are able to assist in battle, but developers have assured players that the modifications are not limited to only combat.
Comparing Lies of P to Bloodborne
The immediate comparison made between Lies of P and Bloodborne is the visuals and setting. Though most Soulsborne games feature a dark fantasy setting, Bloodborne’s is unique in the sense that it is much more steampunk and tech-focused. Based on Lies of P’s early trailers, it seems that the game is also embracing dark and haunting visuals in its locations as well as its enemies. Just as in Bloodborne, all the areas in Lies of P look to be full of identifiable creatures or machines that have somehow been transformed into dark and mysterious enemies.
The newest trailer for Lies of P also gave more story details and a closer look at NPCs. Though it does seem that Lies of P’s story is more straightforward than Bloodborne’s, many of the characters and the mystery behind them seem reminiscent of Bloodborne. Geppetto, Pinocchio’s creator, was shown and heard in the most recent trailer, and his involvement in the story could be similar to Gehrman, the First Hunter in Bloodborne, serving as a guide or a potential enemy. Just as Bloodborne’s story was full of twists and multiple endings, Lies of P seems to be teasing a similar storyline.
Another one of Bloodborne’s stand-out features is its fast-paced combat. It encourages players to be aggressive and also allows for variety in the form of Bloodborne’s Trick Weapons. Lies of P has already established that its combat is going to be full of variety and seems to be creating even more combat options with Pinocchio’s customizable attachments. The trailers show the player able to quickly switch between tools in their arsenal and aggressively take down enemies with a multitude of different attack combinations similar to how players can change their combat approach in Bloodborne by utilizing the Trick Weapons.
Lies of P releases in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.