Conceptually, Lies of P is presumably one of many funniest video games I can think about. A Soulsborne-style sport primarily based on Pinocchio? Are you yanking my chain? It does not really feel prefer it’s one thing that ought to work, nor even essentially made within the first place (right here comes that pesky ‘however’…) However! To be trustworthy with you, it is surprisingly good. I would not name it nice, or significantly distinctive, it is simply that there is one thing about it that I do maintain coming again to. I feel it is the sensation of potential.
I do know you are most likely studying this and pondering, “dangle on a minute, did not VG247 give Lies of P 2/5 stars in its evaluation?” You would be proper, however shock horror, I did not write that evaluation – and two persons are able to totally different opinions. Sherif’s wonderful evaluation does convey numerous the issues I’ve with the sport, specifically issues like the sport’s unconvincing degree design and messy fight.
For probably the most half, I feel the fight is fairly serviceable; a lot of the weapons I’ve come throughout up to now really feel assorted sufficient that I need to combine up what I am utilizing, enemies’ assaults are usually clearly signalled (if generally unfairly damaging), and actually that fancy robotic arm that has totally different attachments is rather more enjoyable than Bloodborne’s easy weapons. However, there’s one other however…
Fight is not actually what I discover most fascinating about FromSoftware’s work from Demon’s Souls onwards. It is its extremely effectively thought out worlds, from the methods the areas intersect amongst themselves, to the ambiguous but intriguing methods lore is delivered by means of merchandise descriptions. Lies of P is kind of clearly making an attempt to repeat FromSoftware by doing comparable issues, however the supply leaves me wanting.
It does that traditional online game factor of lore being delivered by means of varied notes yow will discover, none of that are all that compelling, a few of that are a bit foolish. I do suppose the aesthetic of numerous Lies of P’s locales is kind of enjoyable, however the plethora of shortcuts to be discovered makes the areas really feel much less actual; like they had been designed for the comfort of the participant moderately than one thing that would really exist.
FromSoftware has a critically essential factor that Lies of P developer Round8 does not: time. FromSoftware has been iterating on its Soulslike gameplay since 2009, refining and bettering with every launch, and it has been round making robust video games for lots longer than that, too. That capacity to have the identical workforce persistently releasing the identical sorts of initiatives is underappreciated within the video games trade, since you simply have to take one take a look at Elden Ring to see how well worth the payoff is creatively.
With all of that in thoughts, I actually suppose that makes Lies of P all of the extra spectacular. I am not saying we should always give it a gold star only for the act of making an attempt to make a online game, however Soulslike as a style is an extremely tough one to drag off. And there is simply sufficient good in Lies of P to make me need to see what Round8 would possibly do subsequent. In any case, FromSoftware’s earlier works )like King’s Discipline) weren’t precisely universally beloved on the time of launch.
Admittedly, there’s a distinction between one thing like Lies of P and Demon’s Souls. The latter was clearly fairly revolutionary, whereas the previous is taking part in it too protected by making an attempt to imitate the greats that got here earlier than it, as a substitute of actually leaning into the wildness of its setting.
Perhaps a sport or two down the road Round8 will discover its personal voice, and make one thing genuinely particular. I hope it manages to take action, as a result of if it really does get to make a sport primarily based on the property it teases in its post-credits scene, we’re in for an excellent wilder journey.