When Round8 Studio and NEOWIZ first announced a dark, Victorian-inspired reimagining of the Pinocchio story, the gaming world was skeptical. Yet, upon its release, Lies of P quickly proved to be much more than a simple tribute to the genre’s titans. It is a polished, atmospheric, and mechanically deep Action RPG that stands as one of the most successful “non-FromSoftware” titles to date. From the moment you wake up in the abandoned train station of Krat, the game grips you with a sense of dread and wonder that persists through its beautifully realized world.
Story and Setting: The Tragedy of Krat
The game is set in the fictional 19th-century city of Krat, once a pinnacle of innovation during its Belle Époque era. This prosperity was built on the discovery of Ergo, a mysterious mineral that powered the creation of sentient puppets. These mechanical servants were designed by brilliant minds like Mr. Geppetto and the flamboyant entrepreneur Lorenzini Venigni. However, the dream turned into a nightmare during the “Puppet Frenzy,” a sudden catastrophe where the city’s mechanical inhabitants began a bloody slaughter of the human population.
You play as a unique puppet mechanoid, a creation of Geppetto who possesses a “heart” and the unusual ability to lie. Guided by a mysterious female voice and a note urging you to find your creator, you must navigate through a city consumed by madness. The narrative is surprisingly deep, touching on themes of humanity, memory, and the weight of deception. Unlike many of its peers, the story is more direct, though it still utilizes environmental storytelling and cryptic notes to flesh out the lore of the Ergo and the decaying city.
Deep Combat and Innovation: The Weapon Assembly System
The core of the experience is its challenging Souls-like combat, but Lies of P introduces several systems that allow for unparalleled customization. The most notable is the Weapon Assembly system. Most weapons in the game (excluding special boss rewards) are split into two parts: the blade (or head) and the handle.
The blade determines the weapon’s damage type and base power, while the handle dictates the moveset and how the weapon scales with your stats, such as Motivity (strength) or Technique (dexterity). This allows you to experiment by, for example, attaching a heavy greatsword blade to a fast dagger handle, creating a hybrid that fits your specific playstyle. Furthermore, each part possesses a unique Fable Art, a special move powered by slots that fill as you engage in combat.
In addition to traditional weaponry, the protagonist utilizes a mechanical Legion Arm. This tool can be swapped and upgraded to provide tactical advantages, such as a flamethrower, a grappling hook, or a high-explosive blast. Combat itself emphasizes the Perfect Guard. While dodging is viable, timing your blocks perfectly can mitigate all damage and eventually “break” an enemy’s weapon, significantly reducing their threat level.
A World of Survivors and Secrets
The heart of your journey is the Hotel Krat, a sanctuary where the city’s few survivors have gathered. Here, you interact with characters like Antonia, the hotel’s owner, and Sophia, who assists you in leveling up your attributes using Ergo. The world design is largely linear but masterfully crafted, filled with shortcuts and hidden paths that reward exploration.
Progression is further enhanced by the P-Organ system. By finding a rare material called Quartz, you can unlock nodes on a mechanical skill tree to gain powerful passive abilities, such as a double dodge, increased healing item capacity, or faster recovery after being knocked down. These upgrades feel impactful and allow you to fine-tune your character’s capabilities for the brutal boss fights that lie ahead.
Game Length, Content, and Optimization
A standard playthrough of Lies of P typically takes between 27 to 30 hours, depending on your skill level and how much you explore. While the game lacks the massive optional areas found in titles like Elden Ring, it makes up for it with a tightly paced experience and high replay value through its New Game+ mode.
One of the most impressive aspects of the game is its flawless optimization. On PC, the game runs exceptionally well even on modest hardware, supporting modern features like DLSS and AMD FSR for smooth performance. The visual fidelity is striking, particularly with the “dynamic climate” system where environmental effects like rain persist across connected areas, heightening the immersive, gloomy atmosphere.
What Makes the Game Unique
The most distinct feature of the game is the Lying System. Throughout the journey, you are faced with choices: do you tell a cold, hard truth, or a comforting lie? These decisions are not merely cosmetic; they directly affect your “humanity” level and ultimately determine which of the multiple endings you receive.
The game also features a high-quality soundtrack that plays a role in the gameplay. By finding and playing Records on a gramophone in the hotel, you can listen to hauntingly beautiful tracks like “Feel.” Engaging with these records is another way the protagonist connects with his burgeoning human emotions, bridging the gap between machine and man.
Conclusion
Lies of P is a masterclass in how to iterate on an established genre while maintaining a unique identity. It combines the punishing difficulty and intricate level design of classic Souls-likes with innovative crafting and a compelling, dark fairytale narrative. Whether you are a veteran of the genre or a newcomer attracted by the grim aesthetic, the journey through the blood-soaked streets of Krat is an experience that should not be missed.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is Lies of P difficult?
The difficulty in Lies of P is often described as inconsistent. For many players, the general exploration and standard enemies are relatively easy, with death being a rare occurrence. However, the game features sudden and dramatic difficulty spikes where certain bosses require dozens of attempts to overcome. Your experience will also depend heavily on your character build; playing with a Strength-based “Motivity” build is significantly easier than a Dexterity-based “Technique” build, as heavy weapons can stagger bosses much more effectively.
What is Lies of P about?
Lies of P is a dark, dystopian reimagining of the classic Pinocchio fairytale. You play as a puppet created by Geppetto in the city of Krat, a place filled with deranged puppets and monsters. The narrative revolves around your journey to become a “real boy,” featuring a unique “Lying” system where the choices you make between telling the truth or a lie directly impact the outcome of your adventure.
Is Lies of P a ripoff of Bloodborne?
While the game draws heavy and clear inspiration from Bloodborne—specifically through its aggressive combat meta, Victorian-esque dystopian setting, and the use of a utility weapon in the left hand—it is seen more as a highly polished tribute than a “ripoff.” It introduces several unique mechanics, such as a deep weapon-crafting system and a mechanical skill tree (P-Organ), that allow it to stand out within the genre.
Is Lies of P a soulslike game?
Yes, it is a definitive soulslike. It includes all the hallmarks of the genre: challenging boss fights with multiple phases, a “corpse run” mechanic where you lose currency (Ergo) upon death, a mysterious world told through environmental storytelling, and a focus on precise combat reflexes.
How long does it take to beat Lies of P?
A standard first playthrough takes approximately 30 hours. Because the game is more linear than other titles in the genre and lacks significant optional areas or secret bosses, most players will have seen the majority of the content by the time they finish the story, though a New Game+ mode is available for those who want to keep playing.
Is there a sequel to Lies of P?
There is currently no official confirmation of a sequel. The game is designed as a standalone journey that concludes its specific story arc, though its success makes it a strong candidate for a potential franchise.
When is the Lies of P DLC release date?
There is no official release date for DLC at this time. There has been speculation regarding future content that might introduce multiplayer or PvP modes, which are currently absent from the game, but nothing has been formally announced.
