This review contains spoilers

Cogito Ergo Sum

I played this game, albeit a few months late from its release. Although, from what I’ve heard, there was still some work needed to refine certain edges and optimize everything, so in the end, I can’t complain since I had the best experience right from the start. Let me give a spoiler warning right away so I can speak freely.

With Lies of P, it was practically love at first sight. From the initial screens, this game captivated me with its meticulously crafted environments and evocative atmospheres. So much so that throughout my entire playthrough, I kept thinking, “Wow, I don’t want this to end!” I truly immersed myself in the world and the story presented in Lies of P. Only in the final section, the Alchemists’ Island, did I feel a bit of heaviness—a segment that might have been slightly drawn out and could have been trimmed a bit.

The game is more linear compared to other Souls-like titles, for better or worse. Personally, I would have preferred more choices, especially in the order of progression. Perhaps the option to tackle more challenging areas right from the start. I believe that was the initial idea of the developers based on how they set things up. It almost seems like they reconsidered during development and made changes. I’m referring to the fact that Geppetto essentially acts as the quest-giver, and the Krat Hotel serves as the central hub.

The gameplay is one of its strong points in my opinion. The difficulty is well-balanced—overall not too high for a Souls-like game. Only three bosses really gave me a significant number of attempts. But what I loved was the sense of progression in terms of abilities. As you continue the adventure, you genuinely feel yourself improving. After defeating a boss that initially challenged me, I often thought, “I can’t wait to face it again in future runs and take it down more easily.” Additionally, I enjoyed the weapon crafting mechanic—it adds a lot of possibilities and encourages experimentation. Although, at some point, I settled into my preferred setup. In my first run, I didn’t get to test the Legion Arm much. I unlocked all of them, but I rarely used them. I couldn’t quite integrate them into my playstyle, which is a bit disappointing, but I’ll explore them more in future runs.

The graphics are generally good. Playing with all settings maxed out is a visual delight—both in terms of textures and effects. However, I’m puzzled by how poorly the models and textures of human corpses scattered on the ground were done. Seriously, they look quite unappealing and lack definition. And i can't understand the reason.
In any case, it’s a game that captured me and made me passionate about its events and characters. So much so that right from the start, I began theorizing and evolving those theories as more details emerged. I understood many things, but some remained elusive. Indeed, I’m certain that playing through it multiple times would be beneficial, especially for revisiting various documents and dialogues with the added context of a deeper understanding of the story’s direction. As far as I’m concerned, it’s a solid recommendation. For a significant portion of the game, I was there, fueled by enthusiasm, ready to give it a solid 9 out of 10. However, upon reflection, I realize that would be a bit excessive. Nevertheless, the material is all there, and the foundations are strong enough to support a sequel that addresses the issues and fully hits the mark.

Reviewed on Apr 26, 2024


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