Dark fairy tales, brutal combat, and a city that wants you dead. Lies of P reimagines Pinocchio against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Époque, twisting the classic tale into a full-blown Souls-like. Developed and published by NEOWIZ, it’s a game that nails the atmosphere and nails you to the wall—sometimes for the wrong reasons. At Player Opinion, we cut through its beautifully grim streets, danced with its best (and worst) bosses, and weighed whether its mechanical flaws outweigh its charm.
Lies of P Game Review
Gameplay Experience: 17/25
Lies of P’s combat walks a fine line between satisfying and frustrating. The basics are all here—light and heavy attacks, stamina management, and dodge rolls—but dodging feels underpowered until you invest heavily in P-Organ upgrades. Even then, it drains far more stamina than it should, making parrying the clear “intended” mechanic. Unfortunately, the parry window is razor-thin, rewarding precision but punishing anyone without lightning-fast reflexes or perfectly memorized patterns. Boss fights swing between well-balanced duels and bouts of pattern-driven RNG, where a single bad move set can undo an otherwise flawless run. While the core loop remains engaging and skill-based, the uneven balance often had us leaning on difficulty adjustments to keep momentum, enjoy the atmosphere, and actually see what the rest of the game had to offer.
Presentation & Immersion: 18/25
Lies of P captures the Belle Époque aesthetic with striking detail, weaving ornate architecture, dimly lit streets, and elaborate and sometimes odd costumes into a moody atmosphere. The world design invites exploration, offering distinct locations that feel carefully crafted rather than recycled. Enemy and boss designs often blend elegance with grotesque touches, reinforcing the dark fairy-tale tone. The story, while not emotionally gripping for us, is well-written and enhanced by a clever Pinocchio twist that veterans will spot early but still appreciate. NPC interactions feel familiar for the Soul-like genre, but quality-of-life touches—like marking unfinished conversations on the fast travel map—help maintain immersion without needless backtracking. Strong visual presentation and polished audio elevate the experience, even when gameplay balance stumbles.
Design & Technical: 20/25
The game delivers a mechanically solid experience, with tight hit detection, responsive controls, and a weapon upgrade system that stays well-balanced throughout the run. The P-Organ skill tree adds flexibility, though it also gates essential mechanics—like improved dodging (mentioned above)—behind progression, which feels unnecessarily and restrictive early on. Weapon variety is decent, but we found our fully upgraded Azure Dragon Crescent Glaive so effective that experimenting felt optional rather than encouraged. Performance was stable, with only minor technical hiccups, and the game’s settings are robust enough to tailor the experience to your preference. While the core design borrows heavily from other Souls-likes, it executes most elements cleanly, making for a technically polished, if somewhat safe, entry in the genre.
The Skinny About Lies of P
Final Considerations: 20/25
Lies of P (Steam Link) is a strong Souls-like that offers a satisfying journey—if you’re willing to work within its quirks. The adjustable difficulty is a brilliant inclusion, letting players bypass frustrating roadblocks without losing momentum. We rarely felt the urge to grind bosses for mastery; instead, we’d give them a few solid tries, lower the difficulty, and move on to see more of what the game offered. That kept things moving but meant less personal triumph compared to Dark Souls 3, Elden Ring, or Another Crab’s Treasure. The Pinocchio twist, solid level design, and striking atmosphere linger after the credits, though replay value is modest unless chasing NG+ endings or new builds. For veterans, it’s a worthwhile detour; for newcomers, caution suggested. Overall recommended—and a good game.
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