A new gameplay trailer and demo for Lies of P premiered during Gamescom Opening Night Live 2022, with the showcase shedding new light on the gothic action RPG. Inspired by the tale of Pinocchio, the indie soulslike will see the animated puppet traverse a dark city on a quest to become a real boy. Due to its gothic aesthetic and fast-paced soulslike combat, many fans have inevitably compared Lies of P and FromSoftware's Bloodborne. The title's newest gameplay demonstration strengthens these comparisons while also presenting some entirely original mechanics.
Due to the success of FromSoftware's soulslike games, similar action RPGS have become extremely popular in recent years. Demon's Souls originated the format and the Dark Souls trilogy perfected it, and FromSoftware has released a number of more unique offshoots like Bloodborne and Sekiro: Shadows Dei Twice. The soulslike genre is built upon pillars of punishing difficulty and in-depth worldbuilding, with most indie developers putting their own unique spin on the concept. Some soulslike titles like Nioh have even found success comparable to FromSoftware, though most indie titles fail to capture the magic of the genre. This year FromSoftware released the open-world soulslike Elden Ring to critical acclaim, while the indie soulslike action RPG Thymesia was considered a disappointment.
Based on a new gameplay trailer from thegameawards and a 12-minute gameplay demo from IGN, both posted to YouTube, Lies of P seems to stick pretty closely to the souslike genre's strengths. After choosing an item set, referred to as a Combat Memory, the player sets out across an ominous city while engaging in combat reminiscent of Bloodborne. The game includes many familiar FromSoftware staples, like a health regeneration item called a Pulse Cell and a safe respawn spot called a Stargazer. Those who fall in battle have a chance to reclaim their dropped Ergo currency, and Lies of P also features Legion Arms with unique abilities similar to prosthetics in Sekiro. The Gamescom trailer shows off a number of grand locations and massive bosses, also typical of FromSoftware titles.
Lies of P Makes Some Adjustments To The Soulslike Formula
While Lies of P closely follows soulsborne games like Bloodborne and Dark Souls, the indie title does make some notable changes to the formula. One of the game's most original mechanics is the Perfect Guard, which lets players destroy enemy weapons with a well-timed block. Enemies with destroyed weapons have reduced attack range and damage, making the Perfect Guard an effective way to disassemble an overwhelming foe. Lies of P also seems to boast a large arsenal of weapons for players to wield, ranging from swords to mallets, and each possesses a Fable Art ability that can deal overwhelming damage to foes.
With its grim atmosphere and fast-paced combat system, Lies of P takes clear inspiration from Bloodborne and the rest of the FromSoftware catalog. These similarities aren't necessarily a detriment, though, since the indie title clearly gives players new enemies to face and original environments to explore. Lies of P makes Pinocchio a soulslike, and the result appears to be both faithful and innovative within the genre.
Sources: thegameawards/YouTube, IGN/YouTube