Summary
- Lies of P revitalizes Soulslike combat with precision and strategic aggression, featuring unique weapon assembly mechanics.
- The sequel should focus on maintaining Lies of P's dual nature storytelling, enhancing skill progression, and expanding boss design.
- Environmental storytelling and nuanced skill choices are key to elevating player experience in the Oz-inspired sequel.
FromSoftware-inspired titles often stumble when they simply imitate mechanics without thoughtful iteration, but Lies of P managed to carve its own path forward by enhancing familiar Soulslike dynamics through creative double-downs. As attention now turns toward Neowiz’s follow-up, which will likely shift from Pinocchio lore to The Wizard of Oz, players eagerly anticipate which elements from Lies of P could be taken forward. Foremost among these is Lies of P’s robust combat system.
Unlike many Soulslikes, Lies of P brings forth precise timing and strategic aggression in combat, which makes it all very happening. Not to forget the combat’s weapon assembly mechanic that brings distinct blade and handle combinations to the table. Retaining and expanding this modular approach in the sequel, perhaps by incorporating unique magical properties inspired by Oz's whimsical yet dark universe, would help elevate and double down on combat further. There are, however, other mechanics that the sequel should hopefully take from the first game.
Lies of P's DLC May Be Better Off Biding its Time
Developer Neowiz confirmed that Lies of P's long-awaited DLC is set to launch in Q1 2025, though it might be better of biding its time for a bit.
The Lie and Truth Bandersnatch-Inspired Story Progression
The Oz-inspired Lies of P sequel must have some way of mimicking the outcome variation that players got with P’s ability to lie or tell the truth. This is one of the things that made Lies of P so fun to play in the first place, and therefore, there has to be a way to reflect the variety that comes with those key themes of deception, illusion, and morality. Although this is an element worth doubling down on, something as little as an illusion of choice to affect player abilities, the protagonist’s exploration, or even physical appearances, could be a tangible solution.
Expanding on this, the sequel should enhance environmental storytelling. Lies of P utilizes subtle details like music within its grim yet intricate environments to communicate nuances. Emphasizing Oz’s dual nature, both charming and sinister, through layered visual and auditory storytelling with perhaps some interesting NPCs would create what dialogues alone cannot convey.
Streamlined but Meaningful Skill Progression
When branching out with environmental details, another area that’d be ripe for improvement is skill progression. Lies of P was relatively more streamlined than its genre peers in that regard, and it wasn’t through incremental numerical enhancements. Instead, upgrades like Perfect Guard window extension or dramatically boosting Legion Arm energy capacity felt essential.
Making the player feel rewarded by each skill choice, therefore, is a subtle subconscious nuance here. That deliberate restraint should stay but with greater interconnectivity between skills, which could this time circle Oz archetypes including but not limited to intellect, heart, and courage.
Maintaining and Elevating Boss Encounter Design
Finally, the sequel must uphold Lies of P’s boss design standards. Boss battles in the original installment were thrilling, and while there could be more variety, each boss still offered enough to remain memorable long after. The Oz setting provides ample inspiration for equally imaginative, Wicked Witch-like bosses. The other element that could help double down on boss design this time is surreal, dream-like environments instead of just arenas.
Secondly, a lot of Soulslike veterans post finishing the game believed that the bosses weren’t exactly as sophisticated as FromSoft bosses, so players will have their eyes fixated on what the sequel comes up with. Naturally, players will be expecting more variety, better bosses, and better environments in the sequel. The secret sauce for the sequel, therefore, should be made out of Lies of P's boss encounters, combat system, skill and story progression, and by doubling down on environmental designs.
Lies of P
-
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
- Genre(s)
- Soulslike
