Lies of P Reviews
Lies of P has strong enough foundations in its edgy tone and tweaked weapons to provide an enjoyable experience for those in need of a FromSoft fix.
Lies of P might not branch out particularly far from its soulslike inspiration, but it plays the part extremely well.
Lies of P is a competent Soulslike if you can shrug off its flaws.
A competent facsimile of Bloodborne, but one so completely lacking in new ideas that it can only ever come across as a pale imitation.
Lies of P might not rewrite the book, but it does an excellent job of making its own additions to a well-worn script.
Lies of P's greatest strength is how it rewards and empowers you at every turn to venture further through this twisted tale of puppetry and monstrous humanity, despite its oppressive world and formidable enemies. I struggled to pull myself away from Lies of P, even when it had me fuming. It delicately balances the fun of a Soulslike with the challenge the genre demands and only falters a few times. That it maintains that balance within the confines of a fairytale most know best because of Disney, flipping it on its head to tell something more in line with Carlo Collodi's original The Adventures of Pinocchio, is another achievement of Lies of P. But above all that, Lies of P uses the familiar, the highlights, and the lessons learned from the authors of the Soulslike subgenre to create something unique, fascinating, and exhilarating. Neowiz aimed for the stars, much like the ones its Pinocchio wishes upon, and hits them with machine-like accuracy.
Lies of P’s contributions to the genre are slow burns. There’s just enough intrigue at the beginning to lure you into the world, and thankfully, it pays off. The game surprised and engulfed me with its grim tale, in which greed and obsession for power turned a city against itself. Despite a clear obligation to pay homage to its pioneers, it carves its own reality — one in which you decide which illusions to believe in.
For the most part, however, Lies of P is content to adorn existing mechanics and ideas with its own story and aesthetic. This may be a derivative approach, but it nails the core Souls-like experience, with each of its various mechanics seamlessly coalescing to create a thrilling action game that's challenging, varied, and dripping with atmosphere. It's easy to be reductive when a game wears its influences on its sleeve as boldly as Lies of P does, but plenty of other games have tried and failed to recreate the same magic. It's not an easy endeavor, and while it doesn't shake up the formula or reinvent the wheel, Lies of P is still one of the genre's most accomplished and enjoyable entries--and that's the truth.
So, if you’re the type of person who thinks that “fun” is the only relevant criteria for what makes a good game, then have at it. I sincerely think you’ll find a lot to like, and that’s rad. However, if you’re someone who yearns to see growth and advancement within the medium, then this is going to just befuddle you. I think Neowiz shows off a great deal of talent with Lies of P. I just hope what they come up with next is something actually original.
Being the best soulslike ever created, Lies of P is an absolute masterpiece that excels in the totality of what is proposed. With a captivating and intelligent reinterpretation of the fable of Pinocchio, with magnificent and demanding combats where the design of the bosses and levels are splendid, with a sublime and oppressive atmosphere that falls in love with each step and with a monumental soundtrack that exponizes every sensation, no video game had ever captured the essence of FromSoftware with such feat and personality, thus becoming one of the best titles of 2023.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Even though at times feels too derivative, we had a blast playing Lies of P. It's so well done and all the changes are so good (although minor), that we would be lying if we didn't recommend it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Smooth combat, seamless exploration and a set of well-executed mechanics makes Lies of P an excellent Soulslike. When you add in the gorgeous visuals, desolate world design, stark sound design and engrossing story, it raises the experience above a lot of its contemporaries. All in all, although Lies of P is essentially Bloodborne featuring Timothée Chalamet, it does more than enough to mark itself out as a unique title worth your time – and I'm not lying.
Lies of P was an interesting adventure. I really liked the blend of the classic tales of Pinocchio twisted into this strange and interesting world of puppets, rebellion, classism, and secrets. Being able to mix and match weapons and Legion Arms were delightful twists on my expectations of soulsborne combat mechanics. It's a shame the smaller enemies don't have more personality, and I also wish Pinocchio had more character to make playing him more enjoyable. That said, Lies of P is more than just a wooden facsimile of a soulsborne game. It gets the foundational stuff right and tweaks it just enough in combat and exploration to make things more interesting. For that much, it’s a tale worth exploring all the way to the end, wherever your lies may take you.
There’s some enjoyment to be found in Lies of P. Its action is competent, but lacks the polish and stir of its contemporaries. Its atmosphere can be engrossing, but it’s a hodgepodge of themes and aesthetics you’ve seen before that never rises above the familiar. I was never impressed by it, and I never stopped questioning the point of the entire endeavour throughout my time with it.
Lies of P is a gift for soulslike lovers. Outstanding visuals, an intricate and interesting story and a reactive and frenetic combat. If you like the genre, this game won't disappoint. Dive in, it's worth it.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Lies of P is one of the biggest surprises of 2023. Moody, gothic, bloody, and fast-paced, Neowiz first action RPG is a little gem, and even if it's not on par with FromSoftware best works, it's still one of the best soulslike games of the last few years. "Pinocchio meets Bloodborne" is a concept about as weird as it's compelling, and luckily Neowiz delivered with an interesting story, smooth combat and terrific musics. It's a little unpolished around the edges, and it lacks optional bosses and secret areas, but it's still a strong starting point for a new series.
Review in Italian | Read full review
Out of all the games that have attempted to master a Soulslike, Lies of P stands in a league of its own and should be experienced by anyone who is a fan of the subgenre.
Lies of P is a staggering achievement for Neowiz, and one of the very best "non-FromSoft" Soulslikes I've ever played.
Lies of P is a masterclass in utilising passion and inspiration to create something distinct. While its execution isn’t perfect, the enthralling grimdark world of Krat and the overall excellent gameplay make for a fun experience many Souls-like fans are sure to enjoy.