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Writer's pictureArielle Danan

Geppetto’s Dishonest Truth: Lies of P Review




Intro:


 To lie is to deceive, to be truthful is to live in the world we see even if it hurts. Lies of P creates a world where to lie, is to be human.  In this souls-like RPG Lies of P delivers an undeniable atmosphere, compelling boss battles, a unique weapons crafting system, and thought-out narrative where the players choices dictate how the game will end, and how human Pinocchio will become.  


A True Souls-Like:


 I was nervous to say the least about how this game would unfold. A souls-like is a lot to live up to when given that association it will have gamers comparing, critiquing, and nitpicking to a point of no return. Lies of P takes what we know about souls-likes and delivers it in a way that it balances what we love about souls’ games (the bonfires, bosses, weapons, difficulty etc).  This game wasn’t copying souls’ game but adding to the genre in a way that’s fresh and innovative.    


 Gamers who want to have a as close to souls-like experiance that delivers on quality, and reliably intricate bosses, get that with Lies of P it creates that dynamic blend of attributes in a fresh way that puts the players experience first.  The map style in the beginning of the game creates a similar vibe to the likes of Dark Souls Remastered where everything is linked nicely and organically together, and the NPC’s have a limited but narratively intense dialogue that make about, 80% of the story what it is.


The Mechanics Don’t Lie:


 The mechanics of Lies of P create a balance for the player that is both difficult and manageable. This game is a souls-like with training wheels for those who want to get into souls and souls-likes, but also have guidance as well. The biggest reason why I say this game is a souls-like with training wheels is because when you are given the opportunity to fatally attack an enemy, you are given a red circle/indicator where you need to stand to make the attack. This is really helpful, and a great tool for those who want the difficulty but also want a game that is a little less chaotic.


 The tool and weapons upgrading system in Lies of P is incredible. The variance and control I had over created a weapon of my choice that fit my playstyle was nothing short of amazing.  You can upgrade normal weapons to a plus 10, and great swords up to a plus 5.  And even then you can customize them and mix and match the weapons blade and handles.


 the dodging mechanic of this game has a bit of a learning curve however, it’s a tad finicky to work with controls that feel like they are fighting against you consistently.  What I found interesting was that the didge only works if no other action was done before it, like a sword swing or utilizing the Legion.  The dodge is also weird when maneuvering away from enemies in an angle or when making “strange”, for lack of a better word maneuvers during a boss battle or any battle for that matter.   



The Lies of Geppetto:


  the story of lies of P is undeniably one of the most dynamic, edge of the seat stories I’ve seen out of a souls-like.  Lies of P makes the logical connection that to lie, is to be human. To lie is to grow. Braving the depths of humanity as a puppet, created by the liar himself, Geppetto, raises questions in my mind as to why Pinocchio was even created in the first place. If we go by the original story of Pinocchio, the little wooden boy was made to serve as warning against bad behavior and was met in the end with a fatal hanging.


 In this rendition of the story, we see Geppetto as the antagonist who lies to Pinocchio to get him to kill everyone that got in his way, (this is how I viewed the ending).   There are two other endings the player can achieve unlocking the story further.  The psychology of this game is shown early on when P meets up with Geppetto for the first time. He already presents a questionable aura, and lets the player know that he is neither good nor bad until the very end of the game where his true intentions are shown.  Manipulating P to become human to carry out his own selfish needs.


Boss, Bosses, and more Bosses:


 The bosses of this game are nothing short of amazing. They bring this game to life in a way that makes Lies of P balanced and nurtured with the soul of game that knows wat it wants and how it wants to be delivered to the player. Lies of P’s bosses and rich and vibrant, they add to the story in ways that some Darks Souls bosses don’t even bring to the table.  Their difficulty ranges from easy, to gimmicky to annoying, to a manageable challenge. The only boss that was just difficulty to be difficult was the Black Rabbit Brotherhood part two. That boss was annoying and had too much in it that it lost its balance and sense of self. The first phase was a nightmare to deal with, the second phase was so much easier and had a sense of balance and quickness that the player needs to prepare for to feel like they will have a grip on it.  


  There is such a variance of enemies in this game from mini bosses to main bosses, to generic enemies you meet along the way.  Seeing how to fight different enemies with amulets or specialized weapons make for a unforgettable experience.


An unforgettable Experience:


 This game was was diverse in the gameplay and showcased that it was truly one of the most approachable souls-like games out there.  From the items, consumables, weapons, bosses the whole experience of Lies of P was a Joy to go through and experience.  This game utilized the story of Pinocchio in a way that held true to the story and respected it. From Geppetto calling Pinocchio a good boy, to  Alidoro, to Giangio.  Lies of P flowered a sense of wonder within my brain and took the classic story from Carlo Collodi that is originally dark, took that darkness, and morbidity and brought it back to life, cutting the strings of a Geppetto that showed the greed of his humanity.

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