The Shocking Truth Behind P's Controversial Cloning of Bloodborne's Elusive Boss

Highlights

Lies of P draws fair comparisons to Bloodborne in its design and gameplay, with the demo receiving early approval from fans.

The Watchman boss in Lies of P bears a resemblance to Bloodborne's Darkbeast Paarl, hinting at the potential presence of other similar bosses.

Rather than copying or improving bosses from Bloodborne that were not thrilling to face, Lies of P has the chance to modify and upgrade the Shadows of Yharnam boss battle.

Lies of P draws significant comparisons to Bloodborne, which is fair considering how Neowiz has chosen to design its Pinocchio Soulslike. This is a major advantage for Lies of P, and the extensive playable demo has provided fans with enough evidence to support its quality, earning it an early stamp of approval that many Soulslikes struggle to receive. While not every aspect of Lies of P can be traced back to Bloodborne, the demo's final boss, the Scrapped Watchman, suggests that other clones of Bloodborne bosses may be present in the game.

Players who are familiar with Bloodborne's Darkbeast Paarl will be reminded of the tall, electrified creature when encountering the Scrapped Watchman in Lies of P. Although the approach to tackling these bosses is unique in each game, they share similarities, with "clone" referring to this resemblance. This does not have a negative impact on Lies of P, but it does raise the possibility that other bosses in the game may also resemble those from Bloodborne. If so, there is one particular boss, or rather a trio, that Lies of P should either avoid cloning or strive to improve.

Bloodborne’s Shadows of Yharnam are Unique, But Not for the Best Reason

Bloodborne offers a wide variety of unique bosses, from the challenging pursuit of Micolash to the intense battle against Amygdala. Lies of P can draw inspiration from these bosses, but it should strive for originality rather than replicating them completely.

While not every boss in Lies of P resembles those in Bloodborne, the Scrapped Watchman's resemblance to Darkbeast Paarl suggests that other resemblances may appear. However, this could be detrimental if Lies of P takes inspiration from bosses that were not enjoyable to encounter. For example, it would be wise to avoid replicating bosses like Micolash, but even the three Shadows of Yharnam in Bloodborne's Forbidden Woods could be even worse.

The Shadows pose no significant challenge; rather, the difficulty of this boss encounter stems from the presence of three adversaries that players must simultaneously contend with. Each Shadow employs a distinct attack, adding to the complexity. Although players can adopt strategies like kiting to isolate one Shadow, the fight remains vexing due to the enormous serpent area-of-effect damage and the reliance on favorable pathing RNG for each opponent. To level the playing field and avoid being outnumbered, players are encouraged to engage in cooperative gameplay or utilize summons. However, it might be wise for Lies of P to avoid this battle altogether.

Lies of P Can Make Bloodborne’s Shadows Fight Even Better

The inclusion of a Shadows of Yharnam boss in P may seem concerning initially, but it would actually be quite logical for three members of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood to come together for a unified boss battle. We have already faced off against the formidable Mad Donkey, a humanoid adversary, so it is entirely possible for a future encounter to involve three similar foes, each employing a distinct weapon or ability.

While Lies of P could have avoided the monotony of a difficult multi-boss encounter, there is a genuine opportunity for the game to improve the Shadows fight. Lies of P differs from Bloodborne by allowing players to block and parry in a more traditional manner, which could significantly enhance a trio boss battle compared to Bloodborne's focus on dodging and gun parrying mechanics. Lies of P could explore using this boss approach to encourage summoning, but it should also offer better alternatives to prevent the fight from feeling like a mere copy. Instead, Lies of P should strive to interpret and enhance the boss fight in its own unique way.

Lies of P launches on September 19 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.