Highlights
Laxasia is an incredible boss in Lies of P, standing out with her presentation and unique quirk that plays off the perfect guard mechanic.
Nameless Puppet presents a daunting final boss encounter that skillfully integrates elements from both Bloodborne and Dark Souls 3, culminating in a rapid-paced second phase.
The Black Rabbit Brotherhood Redux introduces a tactically engaging boss battle against multiple foes, with a unique twist awaiting in its climactic final phase.
The boss battles in any Souls-like game are often the highlight, and Neowiz's recent Lies of P is no exception. The game features an impressive array of giant enemies to challenge players. With over two dozen boss encounters, each with a health bar, following the Souls-like formula, it begs the question of how they compare to each other.
It's worth mentioning that there are a few mini-boss encounters in Lies of P that could be considered "major" or "powerful" enemies, but they are somewhat repetitive and shouldn't be included when counting the major bosses. Aside from those, the rest of the bosses in the game are excellent examples of the Souls-like formula, with even the lower-tier bosses rivaling the designs of FromSoftware.
S-Tier
Laxasia - Neowiz's impressive entry into the game, Laxasia resembles a response to Malenia in Lies of P. With multiple phases and swift combos, she stands out not for her similarity to other Souls-like bosses, but for her captivating presentation and the intense showdown she represents in Arche Abbey. Each phase of the battle introduces an intriguing twist that utilizes the perfect guard mechanic. In the first phase, players can defeat Laxasia by breaking her weapon, while the second phase offers an opportunity to reflect light balls in a Ganondorf-style manner by executing precise parries.
Nameless Puppet - The ultimate boss and often regarded as the hidden ending boss, Nameless Puppet combines the best traits of Bloodborne's Lady Maria and Dark Souls 3's Pontiff Sulyvahn. The fight begins with a slow pace and generous parry windows, allowing players to ease into the challenging encounter that awaits them. However, it is the second phase that presents the true danger, as Nameless Puppet's attacks become imbued with blood and come at a much faster rate. If any boss in Lies of P leans more towards the Sekiro inspiration rather than Bloodborne, it is undoubtedly the relentless and fast-paced Nameless Puppet.
Black Rabbit Brotherhood Redux - Likely to be a polarizing choice among fans of Lies of P, the resurgence of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood in Relic of Trismegistus is a clever take on the traditional multi-enemy boss battle, with an added layer of strategic elements. Taking note of the infamous "Gank Fights" seen in the Souls-like genre, the Black Rabbit Brotherhood wisely orchestrates their attacks in a sequential manner.
However, one must be cautious not to get too close to the remaining members, as they may unexpectedly join the fray ahead of their assigned turn. Moreover, even from a distance, they occasionally employ ranged attacks and throwables to ensure that players remain constantly aware of their presence. The culmination of the battle arrives when the primary antagonist of the initial encounter, known as the Eldest of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood, makes a dramatic return to support the last surviving member. Naturally, this twist adds yet another strategic layer, whereby evenly weakening the initial trio rather than exclusively focusing on one allows for a more manageable one-on-one confrontation with the Eldest once he joins the fight.
Romeo, the Puppet King - Representing a pivotal moment that almost feels like the climax, Romeo, the Puppet King serves as an exceptional culmination of the sections in Lies of P centered around the Puppet Frenzy, before transitioning seamlessly into the gripping narrative of the Alchemists. Nevertheless, this formidable boss fight goes beyond being merely a visually impressive spectacle or a captivating thumbnail image. Upon defeating the initial phase, Romeo sheds his sultan-inspired disguise to unveil his true form as a humanoid puppet. From this point onward, the skirmish escalates in intensity, introducing a captivating array of combos that synergize flawlessly with Lies of P's impeccable guard mechanics, akin to the exhilarating battles found in Sekiro.
A-Tier
The initial battle against the Eldest of the Black Rabbit Brotherhood bears resemblance to the second encounter, but it still feels like a rough draft that will undergo revisions in the future. Despite this, the Eldest brings several advantages to the typical "Gank Fight" scenario. The multiple bosses are still willing to take turns battling the player one-on-one, but what sets this fight apart is how the other Brotherhood members gradually join in as the Eldest's health dwindles. Consequently, the intensity is somewhat reduced, as the maximum number of enemies present in the arena at any given time rarely exceeds two.
Parade Master - The first boss in any Souls-like game must strike a delicate balance. They need to teach players the mechanics crucial for success, while also providing a challenge that sets the stage for the trials to come. Parade Master accomplishes this task admirably. In the first phase, players are introduced to his telegraphed punches and jump attack, providing clear cues for when to dodge or counter. The second phase reveals a breakable boss weapon, further adding to the teaching moments. While Parade Master may not have unique features compared to other bosses in Lies of P, he fulfills his purpose of preparing players for what lies ahead.
Champion Victor - Sometimes, the "Rule of Cool" takes precedence, and Champion Victor is a prime example of this in Lies of P. His coolness factor outweighs his overall fun factor. Fortunately, he also offers a well-balanced fight. Taking inspiration from wrestling, Victor employs a mix of paced punches, kicks, and grapples to overwhelm players. Notably, Victor is one of the few bosses in the late game with two phases, adding a sense of cohesion and accomplishment. Additionally, he introduces the sneaky stagger attack, a tactic employed by later bosses to catch players off-guard after successfully staggering them but before a chance for a Fatal Attack presents itself.
B-Tier
: The Scrapped Watchman - Arriving shortly after the Parade Master, the Scrapped Watchman poses a greater challenge as it resides further along in the Lies of P game. This encounter provides the Scrapped Watchman with two distinctive opportunities at Krat City Hall. Firstly, it serves as the initial boss to introduce the Specter mechanic of Lies of P. Additionally, it amplifies the speed and aggression exhibited by the preceding boss. While a few telegraphed attacks necessitate memorization, most of the onslaught follows a consistent rhythm that can be evaded through precise guards or adept dodging.When it comes to design complexity and move patterns, the Puppet of the Future can be rather uninteresting to battle. However, this particular boss class, found three times throughout the game, offers valuable rewards for those willing to invest the time to defeat them. Each Puppet of the Future drops one of Lies of P's 28 Quartz, which can be used to upgrade the P-Organ and unlock new skills for The Puppet. This makes them a crucial target in any playthrough. Despite the simplistic moveset, the Puppet of the Future manages to outshine other bosses, thanks to these rewarding encounters.
King's Flame, Fuoco - Positioned right after the conclusion of the Lies of P demo, King's Flame, Fuoco is an early boss that presents some unique challenges. Fuoco utilizes a swinging hammer-like fist as his primary attack, which can be difficult to properly deflect due to the entire arm serving as a hitbox, not just the end. In the second phase, Fuoco spews a torrent of fire that engulfs the entire floor, rapidly depleting player health bars. However, players can find respite by taking cover behind the pillars that Fuoco can also demolish. This early encounter offers strategic possibilities and escalates the stakes, ensuring an engaging fight.
Corrupted Parade Master - The Souls-like formula often includes multiple iterations of bosses, and Lies of P successfully incorporates this with the Black Rabbit Brotherhood. The Corrupted Parade Master, being a revisit of a previously encountered boss, may not introduce enough novelty to stand out significantly. Nonetheless, it appears at a crucial moment in the narrative and brings a certain twist to the overall combat experience, preventing it from feeling like a mere recycled version of its predecessor.
Fallen Archbishop Andreus stands out among major bosses in its incorporation of two health bars and a design that fully embraces the Alchemist's horrifying carcass monsters. The potential for Fallen Archbishop Andreus to become a top-tier Souls-like boss is evident. However, a common complaint among players since the release of Lies of P is the difficulty in maneuvering the camera, particularly during boss battles and when trapped in a tight space.
Regrettably, this issue is most pronounced during the second phase of the Fallen Archbishop Andreus fight, where the swinging humanoid aspect of the battle becomes challenging to consistently attack or even see. Fortunately, the second phase offers the opportunity to focus on fighting the face on the boss' back from phase one, resulting in a captivating encounter. This, however, uncovers a single drawback that exposes the limitations of the game's systems.
C-Tier
: Puppet-Devouring Green Monster - A superior reimagination of a previous boss compared to the Corrupted Parade Master, Puppet-Devouring Green Monster showcases innovative mechanics and an original first phase. Nonetheless, the second phase featuring the Scrapped Watchman's recycled tactics diminishes the Green Monster's stature, distinguishing it from the original version of this boss. This is mainly due to the Green Monster's integration of enhanced attacks derived from the Scrapped Watchman, including tentacle swipes that can be challenging to discern amidst the frenzied battle, despite the otherwise well-telegraphed slams.When it comes to the Stalkers in Lies of P, there isn't much purpose in distinguishing each individual one, as many of them are optional encounters. These enemies possess a higher level of agility and speed compared to standard puppet or carcass-type foes. Despite having health bars, they lack distinct characteristics that would set them apart from one another. Essentially, they primarily serve as a platform to showcase the game's top-notch weapons, rather than offering unique combat attributes beyond a pseudo-PVP experience.
The Door Guardian in Lies of P is known for its gimmicky fights that fail to impress. It suffers from poor conveyance and one of the worst status effects in the game, shock. To defeat Door Guardian, players simply need to focus on damaging its unarmored leg until it falls vulnerable to a Fatal Attack. This attack can deal a significant amount of damage to the enemy's health bar.
Unfortunately, the shock status effect makes it impossible to recover stamina and attack while in effect. Door Guardian inflicts shock every time it lands an attack that is not perfectly guarded. This adds to the frustration of the fight, as players must commit to dealing minimal damage for an extended period of time to have the opportunity for a Fatal Attack.
Walker of Illusions - One of the minor bosses encountered later in Lies of P, the Walker of Illusions seems to serve little purpose in the overall narrative and fails to deliver an engaging battle, especially when placed right before the formidable Corrupted Parade Master. Unlike other challenging bosses such as Laxasia or Nameless Puppet, who require mastering the rhythm of perfect guards, the Walker's unpredictable cleaver movements, paired with the camera angle, make it nearly impossible to anticipate her attacks. While this emphasizes the need for dodging instead of guarding, it deviates from the combat mechanics of Lies of P and feels out of place within the game.
Mad Clown Puppet - Initially an intriguing boss fight concept, the Mad Clown Puppet loses its appeal as Lies of P inundates the encounter with an excessive number of additional obstacles. The arena presents numerous scenarios to battle the Mad Clown Puppet, including simultaneous encounters with other firebomb-throwing and flamethrower-wielding puppets, fighting at the bottom of the street, or even in the garden near the Opera House.
These range from risky to tedious, especially since players will have to retry the fight often due to the difficulty of the Mad Clown Puppet. The frustrating arena design, combined with a belly thrust that lacks clear indication and a long-range punch that maintains its hitbox even when stationary, gives the impression that fewer complexities should have been added instead of more.
Simon Manus - Depending on the ending chosen by players in Lies of P, they may face Simon Manus as the final boss. This places a significant amount of narrative and gameplay weight on Simon's shoulders. Unfortunately, Simon showcases the flaws seen in previous bosses, such as camera issues and attacks that do not adequately indicate their timing or hitbox.
Simon's hammer attacks consist of modular parts that can be combined in various ways, giving him an extended combo. This unpredictability makes it difficult for opponents to anticipate when a counter opportunity will arise. The second phase becomes even more challenging as Simon introduces ranged combat, coupled with instant-kill disruption status. These off-screen attacks can instantly reset the run. Lies of P is now available on PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.