Lies of P: Overture Review

Loosely based on the story of Pinocchio, Lies of P is a Souls-like released in 2023. Facing an uprising of robots known as puppets and the horrifying petrification disease, you play as the titular puppet navigating the fictional city of Krat. It’s an uncompromising adventure and, like many other Souls-likes, you’ll encounter bosses who are punishing unless you learn to exploit their weaknesses and attack patterns. When I first played Lies of P to reach the DLC—which begins at stage nine—I vividly remember my punishing encounter with King’s Flame Fuoco, the boss at the end of chapter 3 in the Venigni Works. Having beaten the first two bosses quickly, I wasn’t expecting the onslaught that was about to follow.

It took me many attempts to beat him. I read guides, used the specters, AI-controlled allies who assist in boss fights, and still had no luck. Eventually, I won, and after an appropriate send-off I understood why fans of the genre love these moments. The sense of pride and accomplishment that takes over, at least for me, made all the frustration worth it, even if it took an unreasonably long time. Once Overture was released, I was grateful that there was now an option to lower the difficulty. To some, this may sully the genre; however, even with this assistance, bosses remain challenging and still demand patience, practice, and perseverance.

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‍Overture is a five-chapter prequel to the main story and begins in Krat Zoo, a location destroyed before the events of Lies of P. While the story and zones are linear, there’s still a fair amount of exploration and hidden secrets for those who wander off the main questline. One change that stood out immediately was the increase in mid-level bosses, this time without specters to help you. This forces players to learn combos, timing, and enemies’ weaknesses. Even with the difficulty turned down, these fights still present a sizable challenge, though upgraded weapons and abilities make a noticeable difference. If you arrive here straight from the main game, opening up after chapter nine as I did, some of the early mid-bosses will test you.

If I were to lay one major criticism at Lies of P’s feet (or nose), it’s the camera angles, especially in boss fights. Being third-person, there have been countless moments where I’ve been stuck with an awkward camera angle mid-fight. Often this traps me in a corner, unable to see what’s blocking me or how to escape. Many new bosses are extremely aggressive, so if you get stuck like this, your attempt is essentially over before it begins. This issue persists in Overture, with some battles becoming frustrating purely due to where the camera shifts during intense moments. It’s possible to work around, but dying because you couldn’t see what you were stuck on just adds to the frustration.

Like any DLC, Overture brings more than just new levels and bosses. There are new animal-based enemies that are both horrifying to look at and even harder to fight. Thanks to some of these new foes, I have enough nightmare fuel to last a long while. I can’t say I ever wanted to see a cross between what I think was an elephant and several crocodile heads. Worse still was actually fighting it, but the challenge was welcome, adding variety compared to the main campaign. It’s clear someone had a great time designing these monstrous creations.

Thankfully, new enemies mean new weapons and Legion Arms. Legion Arms are special weapons that replace your left arm and can be crucial against tougher foes. I particularly like Cataclysm, a shotgun-style arm, though I spent most of the main story using Falcon Eyes, a cannon, so this is no surprise. Visually, Icarus is one of the best-looking Legion Arms, and its ability to unleash flying blades is just as impressive. There are also new main weapons, including a gun blade and a bow, both of which can change your playstyle. Early on, I found myself using the bow to weaken tougher enemies before finishing them off with my sword.

What I’ve enjoyed most, camera issues aside, are the fights. The blocking mechanic, which lets you regain lost health by striking back, encourages close-quarters combat with most enemies. What seems simplistic at first becomes more nuanced as you learn combos and strategies for each boss. I love being able to craft my own weapons from the blades and handles I find, and the boss weapons, still obtainable in Overture via a new vendor called Klaus, remind me of the extravagant arms often seen in anime. I also appreciate that the areas remain fairly linear while still offering enough side paths to encourage exploration.

Lies of P is challenging whether you lower the difficulty or not. While I’ve never played the actual Souls games that inspired it, it did not feel as intimidating as I expected. Helpful pointers for new players now make a difference, although they also made me realise I’d played almost the entire game wearing the Starter Liner, a basic armour set from the very beginning. That revelation explained a lot of my earlier struggles. The Overture DLC builds elegantly onto the story told in Lies of P, adding more lore to the haunting world of Krat. With a sequel already confirmed, I’m looking forward to facing its challenges when it arrives.