Lies of P is one of several interesting-looking Soulslikes set to release this year. The game is a dark retelling of the famous story of Pinocchio, and puts the player in control of the titular puppet as he navigates the twisted city of Krat. Developer Neowiz has combined a dark near-modern setting with some promising-looking gameplay mechanics, which has seen Lies of P become one of the most highly anticipated Soulslikes of the year. After SteelRising and Thymesia joined in the genre in 2022, Lies of P should look to learn from their successes and failures prior to its own launch.
Developed by Overborder Studio, Thymesia is a Soulslike in almost every sense of the word. Fast-paced combat and a narrative buried beneath cryptic item descriptions and character interactions give off serious Bloodborne vibes. The game is short but fun, with flashes of brilliance sprinkled throughout. SteelRising has more of a structured narrative, and sees the player take control of an automaton who is able to exercise her own free will, as she roams the streets of Paris during the French Revolution, battling other robots along the way.
Lies of P Can Learn From Recent Soulslikes
While the number of Soulslikes is increasing year on year, they don't all get it right. Some find themselves missing the mark by a considerable margin, thanks usually to uninspired combat or a mundane aesthetic. However, some manage to not only capture the essence of what makes a good Soulslike, but carve out their own identities too, such as the Nioh games. Lies of P, despite a tone and setting similar to Bloodborne, hopes to achieve a unique identity too, meaning it will probably need to work even harder to avoid being branded as just another clone.
In terms of the inspiration behind it, Thymesia wears its heart on its sleeve. The game's strength is undoubtedly the combat, which is exhilaratingly fast. The absence of a stamina meter also makes for a different dynamic, since players aren't necessarily punished for making aggressive choices. While Thymesia's bosses are hit-or-miss, the best ones successfully replicate some of FromSoftware's memorable boss battles, offering the player a significant challenge to overcome. The game's level design and general setting are uninspired for the most part though, and the lack of overall content is a little disappointing.
In contrast, SteelRising offers players a unique setting, with the war-torn streets of 17th-Century Paris brought to life in incredible detail. Developer Spiders clearly went to great lengths in order to ensure the historical accuracy of the game's aesthetic, and this paid off. The story ambitiously tries to weave famous historical figures into its narrative in an alternative version of historical events. Despite the game's combat being largely unoriginal, the setting ensures it is still easily distinguishable from others in the genre.
Combining the combat of Thymesia, with a unique setting such SteelRising's, should result in a Soulslike experience that ticks most of the required boxes. There are many exciting Soulslikes coming in 2023, from the sequel to Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order, to The Lords of the Fallen. Each of them hopes to capitalize on the success of Game of the Year winner Elden Ring, which has put a spotlight on the genre like never before. By focusing on setting and mechanics, Lies of P could find itself as one of the best Soulslikes of the year and serve as the latest reminder of what makes the genre great.
Lies of P is set to release in 2023 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.
