P Hands-On Preview: Will It Outshine Bloodborne?

Lies of P is a unique blend of Pinocchio and Bloodborne, which may sound strange but is undeniably intriguing. The game boasts a moody, gothic atmosphere and intense, bloody gameplay reminiscent of FromSoftware's acclaimed title. Despite the eight-year void left by Bloodborne, Neowiz seems to be making significant progress in filling that gap with this upcoming release. Game Rant had the opportunity to try out the opening stages of Lies of P, providing fans with a glimpse of what to expect in terms of bosses and mechanics. While there are undeniable similarities between Lies of P and Bloodborne, this is not necessarily a negative aspect, given the current trend toward Dark Souls-inspired Soulslikes.

Neowiz's adaptation of Pinocchio takes a dark turn from the lighthearted Disney version. Instead of a happy ending where Pinocchio becomes a real boy, the game portrays a more solemn Pinocchio who is both physically and emotionally stiff. The supporting cast is similarly serious as they prioritize survival over singing. The game's tone is noticeably different from a Disney movie, as

demonstrates.

The player is introduced to a haunting version of the Pinocchio story as they awaken the wooden puppet in an abandoned train station in Krat, a desolate city filled with the corpses of humans and the violence of puppet attacks. Despite the difficult subject matter, the game's art direction manages to find beauty within the Belle Epoque architecture and thick atmosphere. The main objective is to locate Mr. Geppetto, who appears to be at the center of the puppet siege, while also exploring the potential branching narrative elements that revolve around Pinocchio's lies. During one instance, the player is given the option to lie or tell the truth, but the consequences of their actions are left to be explored further in the full game.

The gameplay of Lies of P was thoroughly examined during this preview, revealing its striking similarity to the popular game Bloodborne. Neowiz has introduced new elements like Pinocchio's Legion Arm, but the high-risk, high-reward play styles of Bloodborne remain prevalent. Similar to Bloodborne, Lies of P emphasizes aggression over retreating, rewarding those who keep up the fight while punishing those who don't.

Conservative play styles in Lies of P are not rewarded, as unrelenting enemies and level design make it difficult for players to turtle up behind the block button and wait for opportunities to strike. Even when attacks are blocked, they still do damage, meaning players must quickly respond on the offensive to regain lost health. The game encourages a "fight or die" mentality, and playing it safe can be more of a hassle. Lies of P offers a variety of playstyles through the Path of the Cricket, Path of the Bastard, and Path of the Sweeper, each with their own unique weapon and attribute scaling. Moonstones found throughout the world upgrade weapons, while Ergo essence from defeated enemies boost base stats. Fans of Bloodborne will appreciate how Lies of P leans more into the Bloodborne branch of Soulslikes.

In the past eight years since Bloodborne's release on PS4, no game has quite satisfied the same itch... until now. While many studios have developed fantastic Soulslike games that draw inspiration from Dark Souls and Sekiro, few have tried to compete at the same level as Bloodborne. Lies of P aims to change that and appears to be succeeding with a unique and intriguing concept. The game's setting, atmosphere, and narrative all contribute to making it a compelling alternative for those who missed out on the PS4 exclusive. However, there are noticeable shortcomings that we hope will improve as the game progresses.

The enemy variety in the preview felt lackluster compared to the novel concept of a Pinocchio video game with evil puppets on a rampage in Krat. Although the enemies, mostly night watchmen and train conductors, varied in size, they didn't pose much of a challenge and started to blend together as we progressed through the two areas we played. While the city of Krat looked stunning, it lacked the necessary variety to keep players engaged. Furthermore, two of the three main bosses we encountered were underwhelming conceptually and resembled larger versions of previous enemies. Despite providing a challenge, these bosses need more compelling stories and designs to truly captivate players.

The upcoming release of Lies of P has fans eagerly anticipating the full game. With a unique premise, art style, and aesthetic, players are sure to be drawn into the dark retelling of a classic children's story. The gameplay has also been praised, with some even comparing it to FromSoftware's highly acclaimed Bloodborne. For those who may never have the chance to play Bloodborne on the PS4, Lies of P could be the next best option.

Lies of P launches September 19, 2023, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S. Game Rant was provided a PC code for the purposes of this preview.