Lies of P is an action role-playing game from Neowiz and Round8 Studio, reimagining Pinocchio in a dark Belle Époque city. The complete run took roughly thirty-four hours, covering every chapter, all fifteen main bosses, the credits and the Overture DLC in full.
The weapon assembly system is the standout idea, with most blades combining with most handles and the stat scaling living entirely on the handle. The combat loop clicks once learned, with perfect guards nullifying damage and enough perfect guards breaking an enemy weapon outright.
The quality-of-life choices help, with lost erggo drops placed outside boss fog walls and the P-organ upgrade tree adding depth. The music is praised throughout, with the collectable records tying directly into the humanity mechanic and Feel standing out as a favourite.
The allied-NPC boss fights are highlights, from the Two-faced Overseer to the DLC duel with Leia Florence. The Anguished Guardian of the Ruins is the favourite boss, a giant fight that never battles the camera.
The multi-phase boss design is the recurring complaint, with long combo strings and a full health-bar reset at each phase. Lumachio is the worst of it, healing twice over the course of the fight.
The camera struggles on big enemies, at times making the foe completely invisible. Weapon collisions with walls are a constant irritant, and the vanishing text boxes are too quick to read.
Overall, the weapon crafting, the music and the story make this a phenomenal game. The multi-phase bosses and the camera are the caveats.