Lies of P: Complete Edition review – Great game, great port

There are many Soulslikes available, and Lies of P is undoubtedly one of the best of them. Developed and published by Neowiz, it takes the classic tale of Pinocchio and turns it on its head, putting players in control of the mischievous puppet as he searches for his creator, Geppetto. But this isn’t a walk in the park. Awakening to a mysterious voice in the city of Krat, something terrible has happened, and so to complete your task you’re going to have to battle your way past an army of puppets driven mad by bloodlust.

Needless to say, Lies of P certainly has a unique setting in the Soulslike genre, which truly makes it stand out. And while the structure of the game is very similar to that of the Dark Souls games, with you making your way through a variety of fairly linear locations while unlocking ingenious shortcuts along the way, it does have some unique gameplay elements, too. It’s got a weapon system that allows you to assemble your own instruments of warfare, for example, with you able to combine a wide range of blades and hilts. Not only will your handiwork determine the weapons stats, but also the skills available to you.

Another unique gameplay feature that stands out in Lies of P include the ability to make use of a wide range of mechanical arms, with each one providing a specific benefit. One is a grappling hook, allowing you to pull enemies and other objects towards you. eventually you can use it to pull yourself to enemies, too. Add in a narrative that is shaped by the your decision to tell the truth or lie at various points in the game, and Lies of P certainly put its own spin on the Soulslike format.

Soulslike fans will find most of Lies of P familiar, though. This is a game primarily about exploration and combat, with many challenging encounters to overcome. Fail to effectively block, dodge or parry enemy attacks here and you’ll be in for a world of hurt, though you can grow stronger by collecting Ergo and using it to level up at any Stargazer found on your travels where you can rest. You can upgrade your weapons to improve your chances of survival, too, and find other equippables that can increase your stats and provide valuable perks. For the most part it’s Soulslike 101, but with a neat Belle Epoque setting.

Arriving on Switch 2 some three years after its original release, this Complete Edition benefits from a wealth of post-launch support. It means it’s in a better state than ever, with most of its kinks ironed out. Even better, it comes with additional features, the most striking of which being difficulty options. Lies of P: Complete Edition doesn’t have to be an ultra-challenging experience if you don’t want it to be, with two easier settings available from the outset that make it accessible to all.

Also included in the Complete Edition is Overture, the prequel expansion for Lies of P that takes you back to the city of Krat before it was befallen by calamity. Woven into the main game, this expansion builds upon the game’s world, presenting you with powerful new enemies to face off against and, of course, a range of new weapons and mechanical arms. It’s a substantial addition, adding a considerable amount of content that’s not to be sniffed at.

All of this wouldn’t matter if the Switch 2 port of Lies of P wasn’t up to scratch, though, and so I’m happy to report that Neowiz has done a great job of bringing it to the format. Whether you play handheld or docked, both Performance and Quality modes are available, with the former being the way to go. While the visuals are a bit softer in Performance mode, as you’d expect, the visuals are still very impressive and the frame rate is solid. Perhaps the only nit-pick I’ll make is that Lies of P is quite a dark game on the whole, which makes playing it handheld a bit troublesome at times unless you crank up the brightness – which obviously affects the Switch 2’s already mediocre battery life.

If you’re into Soulslikes, Lies of P: Complete Edition is a must-have on Switch 2 if you haven’t already played it. And even if you have, it might be worth picking up again if you like the idea of being able to play it on the move.