The Shocking Truth Behind P's Lies and I, Robot

Upon the announcement of Lies Of P in 2021, many drew comparisons to FromSoftware's beloved games, particularly Bloodborne, due to its dark urban setting and intense, shieldless combat reminiscent of Yharnam. As the release of Round8 Studio's latest title draws near, these similarities only become more apparent. With the release of the game's demo, players can now delve deeper into the lore of Lies Of P. Playing as the humanoid puppet Pinocchio, players are tasked with reuniting with their creator Geppetto and finding a way to become human, all while navigating the war-torn city of Krat. While a puppet uprising may be a unique premise, it also shares similarities with the 2004 science fiction action movie I, Robot.

The Grand Covenant Oversees All Puppet Behavior

In the Hotel Krat demo, players can delve deeper into the world's current events and the puppet uprising that has gripped the city. The cause of the uprising remains a mystery, but it seems to be in violation of The Grand Covenant, a set of governing rules aimed at preventing such an occurrence. Polendina, a puppet servant of Antonia, explains that The Grand Covenant mandates that puppets must obey their human creators, cannot harm them, must protect and serve humans and the city of Krat, and are forbidden from lying - the latter of which becomes a pivotal aspect in the story of Lies Of P.

Considering the attacks on Krat's citizens by most of the city's puppets, there seems to be a flaw or a directive from a higher authority that enabled the machines to act against their programming. The violation of the first three rules is evident in the violent actions of the rogue puppets, while the breach of the rule against lying is more subtle. Pinocchio, being a unique creation of Geppetto, has the ability to deceive, unlike other puppets. This capability is showcased in the game through the moral choices that players make, which could have an impact on multiple characters and the storyline.

I, Robot's Three Laws Of Robotics Are Very Similar To Lies Of P's Governing Laws

I, Robot features robots that are bound by the Three Laws of Robotics, a set of rules developed by renowned science fiction writer Isaac Asimov, whose works served as inspiration for the Will Smith-led film. These laws bear a striking resemblance to Lies Of P's Grand Covenant. The first law dictates that a robot cannot cause harm to, or permit harm to come to, a human, whether directly or indirectly. The second law requires robots to comply with human orders, unless doing so would violate the first law. The third and final law permits a robot to preserve its own existence, as long as doing so would not contradict the first two laws.

In both Lies of P and I, Robot, the use of governing rules is integral to constructing and disrupting the boundaries of their respective worlds. These rules start off broad and gradually become more specific, leading to intricate scenarios that form the foundation of the narrative. The I, Robot film features the character Sonny, a robot capable of circumventing the Three Laws of Robotics. While it remains uncertain whether Pinocchio will follow in Sonny's footsteps, the puppet's ability to disregard The Grand Covenant will undoubtedly play a significant role in the forthcoming game. Lies of P is set to release on September 19, 2023, for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X|S.