Pinocchio may have brought an abrupt end to Roberto Benigni’s otherwise splendid decade in world cinema, but Korean developer Neowiz looks to create history with their adaptation of the story in Lies of P. With its demo receiving positive reviews all around, it is worth exploring this game’s most unique feature – the Lies of P lie system.
Lies of P lie system: Everything we know so far
Those of you that have played the Lies of P demo would have immediately made the association with Soulsborne games. In fact, the game’s Belle Époque setting is eerily similar to that of Bloodborne. But, beyond the similarities, the first look at Lies of P reveals mechanics that are of a completely different breed.
The highlight of Lies of P is obviously the unique lying mechanic. Not much is known of the Lies of P lie system yet. But as revealed earlier, this game is based on Carlo Collido’s novel which has countless media adaptations. The protagonist’s story is quite similar to that of the novel’s titular character with a narrator describing the events as they unfold. Based on this context, we can only assume that the narrator is Geppetto, the puppet master who creates Pinocchio.
Also read: Lies of P preorder guide: Bonuses, editions, price, and more
The demo gameplay so far reveals that there could be multiple ways to finish each quest with appropriate consequences that could influence the story. In the demo, P comes across a lady locked inside a building because of the plague. Presented as a side quest, if you venture out and find her baby, you realize the baby is a puppet now. Upon returning after finding out about the baby’s whereabouts, you have the option to tell her the truth, or present to her a fabricated version of the event to make her feel better.
While this decision seemingly has no further consequences in the demo, the whole game can make use of multiple of these dialogue options to weave a branching storyline. This also means that Lies of P could have multiple endings, depending on the choices we make. While little else of the game’s lying mechanics has been revealed, it seems like a great prospect with some significant gameplay implications.
The gameplay trailer reveals a dark French steampunk (or Soulslike if you must) setting where Geppetto assembles Pinocchio using human and mechanical parts he finds near a dump. Unlike previous titles associated with similar gameplay, Lies of P relies heavily on storytelling and dialogue.
From what we’ve learnt so far, the premise of the game revolves around a world of automatons/puppets who despite their many powers are not allowed to lie. But the protagonist is distinguished by the fact that he is capable of lying. The progression of the story is purely determined by the way the protagonist responds to each situation with lying being a primary option.
Lies of P is scheduled to launch on September 19, 2023, for PS5, Ps4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and PC.
