As long as yer boy’s lyin’ nose
One of the more intriguing titles on my (and many others) watchlist is Round8 Studio’s Lies of P — this gothic retelling of the famous tale of Pinocchio is currently in development for PC and console platforms, and promises a dark-yet-faithful take on the story of the puppet child and his endeavor to become human.
Publisher Neowiz has taken the bold step of releasing a huge gameplay showcase, which features no less than 40+ minutes of Lies of P in action. The video spotlights the opulent but miserable architecture, grim splendor, and frightening oppression of the city of Krat, the backdrop to our young hero’s quest. Pinocchio must battle violent automatons, engage with what remains of the local community, and harness the power of falsehoods in order to come face to face with their ultimate destiny with humanity.
As you can see from these two videos, Lies of P has chosen to embed itself within the Soulslike genre, with deliberately paced gameplay and challenging, rhythmic combat. Pinnochio has access to a wide array of tools and weaponry with which to defend himself and, being a doll, is capable of replacing and upgrading components of his own body to better stand up to the challenges that lie ahead of him.
And, speaking of lies, Pinnochio must also weaponize truth and dishonesty in order to reach his fate. During his journey, Pinocchio’s moral fiber will be repeatedly tested, with his ability to speak both truthfully and untruthfully reflected in the outcome of his tale, changing the fates of himself and those around him. How effective this mechanic plays out in the final game remains to be seen, but I can’t be but hugely intrigued by almost every element of Lies of P, from its characters and world to its grim adaptation of a classic fable, married to the uncompromising Soulslike genre.
I can’t wait to check out Lies of P for myself. Until then, just remember, What Would Geppetto Do?
Lies of P is currently in development for PlayStation, PC, and Xbox platforms with a launch scheduled for 2023. It will also be available on Xbox Game Pass from day one.
