Lies of P | Review Thread (83/100 OpenCritic)

Game Title: Lies of P

Platforms:

• PlayStation 5 (Sep 19, 2023)
• PC (Sep 19, 2023)
• Xbox Series X/S (Sep 19, 2023)
• Xbox One (Sep 19, 2023)
• PlayStation 4 (Sep 19, 2023)

Trailers:

• Lies of P - gamescom 2023 Trailer | How Many Lies?
• Lies of P - Demo Accolades Trailer
• Lies of P - Gameplay Showcase

Developer: NEOWIZ

OpenCritic - 83 average - 87% recommended - 53 reviews

Attack of the Fanboy - Christian Bognar - 4.5 / 5

Out of all the games that have attempted to master a Soulslike, Lies of P stands in a league of its own and should be experienced by anyone who is a fan of the subgenre.

But Why Tho? - Kate Sanchez - 8.5 / 10

While some elements of the puppet aesthetics aren’t necessarily original, and those who have played Bloodborne will see similarities, Lies of P is a gorgeously grim experience that offers difficulty and magic through immersive and dynamic gameplay with enough content baked in to make replayability a must.

CGMagazine - Jordan Biordi - 9 / 10

Lies of P exceeds its SoulsBorne inspirations and is easily one of the best games of the year.

COGconnected - Mark Steighner - 90 / 100

Calling Lies of P derivative is both obvious and misses the point. It’s is a love letter to FromSoftware, but one that quite often matches or even exceeds its inspiration. Lies of P doesn’t quite attain the elegance of Dark Souls, Elden Ring, or Bloodborne’s best level designs, but its art, graphics, and combat are possibly the best of any Soulslike not developed by Miyazaki and company. Lies of P is addictive, challenging, and rewarding, and a must-play for fans of action RPGs.

Eurogamer - Caelyn Ellis - 3 / 5

Lies of P has strong enough foundations in its edgy tone and tweaked weapons to provide an enjoyable experience for those in need of a FromSoft fix.

Fextralife - Fexelea - 8.6 / 10

Lies of P is a phenomenal reimagining of a classic tale that manages to engage the audience with its unique setting, while keeping them on the edge of their seat with its innovative twists to solid Souls-like combat. With minor shortcomings and perhaps an over-reliance on its inspiration, it is regardless an IP Souls fans won’t want to miss out on, and is arguably one of the best Souls-likes titles to date.

Game Rant - Dalton Cooper - 4 / 5

Co-op support like in other Soulslike games would have put Lies of P over the top, but even without it, the game will still greatly appeal to Soulslike fans. It has a lot going for it, and from a technical standpoint, it’s basically perfect. It runs smooth as butter, looks fantastic, and has no glitches that we discovered. And while the writing can be clunky at times, the ending is legitimately wild and worth suffering through the worst bosses to reach. It’s true that Lies of P gives in to some of the worst Soulslike instincts at times, but it can be extremely fun when the combat clicks. Just expect a significant time investment and a lot of frustration before that happens.

God is a Geek - Mick Fraser - 10 / 10

Lies of P is a staggering achievement for Neowiz, and one of the very best “non-FromSoft” Soulslikes I’ve ever played.

IGN - Travis Northup - 8 / 10

Lies of P might not branch out particularly far from its soulslike inspiration, but it plays the part extremely well.

IGN Italy - Alessandro Digioia - Italian - 8.4 / 10

Lies of P is one of the biggest surprises of 2023. Moody, gothic, bloody, and fast-paced, Neowiz first action RPG is a little gem, and even if it’s not on par with FromSoftware best works, it’s still one of the best soulslike games of the last few years. “Pinocchio meets Bloodborne” is a concept about as weird as it’s compelling, and luckily Neowiz delivered with an interesting story, smooth combat and terrific musics. It’s a little unpolished around the edges, and it lacks optional bosses and secret areas, but it’s still a strong starting point for a new series.

IGN Spain - Mario Seijas - Spanish - 8 / 10

Lies of P is a gift for soulslike lovers. Outstanding visuals, an intricate and interesting story and a reactive and frenetic combat. If you like the genre, this game won’t disappoint. Dive in, it’s worth it.

PC Gamer - Lincoln Carpenter - 74 / 100

Lies of P is a competent Soulslike if you can shrug off its flaws.

PCGamesN - Lauren Bergin - 7 / 10

While at first glance Lies of P might seem like ‘Bloodborne at home,’ Round8 Studio’s clockwork adventure writes its own unique story, filled to bursting with expansive Steampunk environments and defined by its well-balanced combat. In some cases, though, it gets a little too clever for its own good, tying itself up in opaque systems.

PSX Brasil - Marco Aurélio Couto - Portuguese - 85 / 100

Lies of P combines elements of Soulsborne games, adds some ideas of its own and puts it all into a beautifully set version of a dark world, inspired by one of the best-known stories in classic literature. Some of its combat mechanics may take a little longer to get used to, but that doesn’t take away from Lies of P’s merits in being one of the best Soulslikes released recently.

Push Square - Liam Croft - 8 / 10

Lies of P feels like the result of a developer having already taken multiple stabs at the Souls-like genre, so it’s impressive that Round8 Studio has accomplished so much on its first attempt. By fully embracing its dark take on the Pinocchio story, it sets itself apart from anything else available. Elevating it above other games are quality combat and extensive, satisfying customisation, turning Lies of P into a first-class experience for FromSoftware fanatics.

Saudi Gamer - Arabic - 8 / 10

Lies of P has managed to provide the proper Souls-like experience, in a mysterious world full of danger, and a hard-but-fun gameplay with much variety. It might not be the perfect Souls-like game, but it is indeed a great one.

The Games Machine - Marco Bortoluzzi - Italian - 9 / 10

Lies of P makes absolutely no secret of being inspired by From Software’s games, but the end result is a videogame that feels great to play, offers many memorable boss fights, and provides interesting gameplay options in the form of being able to assemble your own weapon. Definitely a convincing effort from the Bless Unleashed developers, and a soulslike that fans of the genre should not skip.

VG247 - Sherif Saed - 2 / 5

There’s some enjoyment to be found in Lies of P. Its action is competent, but lacks the polish and stir of its contemporaries. Its atmosphere can be engrossing, but it’s a hodgepodge of themes and aesthetics you’ve seen before that never rises above the familiar. I was never impressed by it, and I never stopped questioning the point of the entire endeavour throughout my time with it.

WellPlayed - James Wood - 9 / 10

Lies of P melds its strange choice of source material with a sublime set of combat and customisation tools to craft a unique take on the Soulslike that stands shoulder to shoulder with its genre inspirations.

XboxEra - Jesse Norris - 9.5 / 10

Lies of P is an incredible game, and the best Souls-like I have ever played that wasn’t made by From Software. It stands to toe-to-toe with Dark Souls III, one of my favorite games of all time. They have figured out exactly what makes this genre so damned good. Thrilling combat, top-notch level design, gorgeous scenery, incredible music and more make this one a no-brainer to try out Day One on Game Pass.