What Every Souls Fan Needs to Know About the Lies of P Demo

The Lies of P’s gameplay reveal at last year’s gamescom made fans of the Souls series sit upYou can also find out more about the following: take notice; despite the unexpected focus on Carlo Collodi’s Pinocchio, aspects of this upcoming action-RPG evoke the likes of Bloodborne and Dark SoulsIt is a very powerful tool. It’s now possible to try out the system yourself. The Lies of P’s new summer demo (download it here)! It’s a meaty serving – this will take you at least a few hours, even if you speed through it – enough for players to get a feel for the combat, story, and flow of the game ahead of its September 19 release.  

After spending five hours playing through every available corner of the city of Krat, slashing through the demo’s three major bosses and handful of mini-bosses, and hitting level 30 along the way, I’ve now got a good feel for what The Lies of PThis is what it’s going to be. As a SoulsThere are many familiar elements in the design: Stargazers act as bonfire-style save/regen point, currency and experience are identical, and there is a wide range of challenge, from huge bosses to small mobs. But enough notable things differ that it’s worth taking note: these are 8 things that The Lies of P The Changing Face of theSouls you’re used to.  

Armed and ready: in every clip released so far, it’s clear that P’s left arm isn’t just weaponized, it’s interchangeable. The This The Lies of P The demo lets you try out three of them: Left Arm of Steel is the first one you’ll use. It can deliver a powerful punch when pulled. You get 8 hits before you need to recharge it at a Stargazer. It was best to save it for moments where I could be sure I wouldn’t miss. Hammering the Left Arm of Steel dealt significant damage as the Parade Master changed phases. 

Arriving at Hotel Krat you’ll receive your next Legion Arm, the Puppet String. As its name implies, an accurate shot allows you to drag a puppet enemy towards you for a bashing – use the lock on! It is useful when you pull a puppet out of a group to avoid being overwhelmed. Puppet string can also be safely used outside bosses’ swiping distance to deliver a powerful blow. 

The demo’s final boss drops an item allowing creation of an electrified Legion Arm called the Fulminus, which discharges a short- range electric burst. The demo lets you explore the map once the Fulminus is received to give you a better feel of this amazing puppet.  

What Weapons? – All that metal-on-metal clanging can’t be good for a finely honed blade, and indeed, you’ll watch your weapons durability drop after several encounters. Fortunately, that won’t  send you scurrying back to a merchant for repairs –– unlike the Souls games you may have played before, you can restore your weapon’s strength at pretty much any time by swapping to the grinder and giving your blade a good sharpening. Be sure to keep the area clear. In the demonstration, you will also be able to find and purchase grinders. These special grinding tools imbue your weapons with an element that lasts for only a few seconds. If you feel you need a little extra spark before you face the Parade Master then try adding Shock with an Electric Grinder to your blade. 

Handles: A good grasp is essential: The Lies of P’s weapons are measured by more than just the business end of a blade. P is able to perform two Fable Arts special attacks using each weapon once the special meter in that weapon has been fully charged. By pressing Y on the weapon, the Blade Fable Art is activated. It is controlled by the blade, the club or the other object. 

You can attach the Enigma Assembly Tool to any weapon to change the look and feel of your Fable Art attack. 

The Different Types of StealthThe word “a” is used to describe a person. Souls player that prefers a sneakier approach, I had to get accustomed to the fact that there is no crouch walk-enabling “stealth button.” But that doesn’t mean you can’t play stealthily. There are many ways to play stealthily. The Lies of P’s puppets aren’t the most observant sort, and creeping up behind them at a slight canter will put you in position for a killing flurry. When you see red slash marks on their back, tap RB and you’ll unleash a combo that takes out most mobs in one flourish. This tactic also works on the demo’s second major boss, and is key to making short work of them.  

Even though the blades are booming, this action will likely make other players scramble your way. Although your opponents are metal monstrosities with a soft step, I found myself caught off-guard on several occasions. You’ll soon learn to be wary as you take on an opponent, swinging the camera around to ensure that this is, indeed, a solo encounter. It’s not always as easy as you think, with so many enemies lying dormant in the street. 

Take charge– Boss Battles The Lies of PThere are times of increased tension, awareness andSouls fans will rightfully be on the lookout for patterns and hints to project what’s coming next. But spare the occasional glance at an important tell from the game’s UI: when you see a white frame appear around the boss’ health bar, they’re vulnerable to a stagger. A charged attack (hold RT) sets them up and then a tap of RB knocks ‘em down with a critical hit that makes P seem as deadly as any boss. 

No health, no problem: No matter how many health flasks you have (you’ll finish the The Lies of PIn a boss fight, you may need one more Pulse Cell. Fortunately, in The Lies of P zero is not zero. If you continue to attack once you’ve drained your last Cell, it will gradually charge that 0 back into a 1, making risky behavior on low health a more viable strategy than pure risk aversion. On the demo’s final boss, I recharged the final Pulse Cell Two-foldIt was the biggest difference. 

You Live, Ergo, You Will DieAll this said, Death is part of Life in The Lies of P, but it doesn’t need to be intimidating. When P dies, he’ll drop Ergo (the combination currency + experience resource) on the spot as “Death Ergo,” tracked in the upper right corner of the screen. If you do die to a boss, you’ll get Death Ergo. Death Ergos will be dropped if you die against a boss (and you will!) *outside*As in, you can get it back if you suddenly find yourself with too much unused experience. In order to do this, you must first log in. Souls games, there’s a risk of dying before you reclaim that Death Ergo, but it’s not as punishing –  if you are killed before you can retrieve it, the amount you recover merely decreases, rather than resets to zero. 

Lie, or DieWhat can we tell you about Pinocchio’s tale? His lies have obvious results. The game was called “The Game of Lies” and we knew that lying would be a part. The Lies of P after all. Your game doesn’t have a “load” screen, it’s “Now Lying,” with the progress bar growing as P’s comically extended schnozz. After dispatching the demo’s first real test, the Parade Master boss, you encounter the Lying mechanic for the first time – it’s the simplest way to get into your destination, the Hotel Krat. Per the game’s lore, a puppet cannot lie… but you’re no ordinary puppet. I chose to lie a couple more times in the demo at key points, noting P’s nose remained unchanged. It will be interesting to see how these actions play out across the game’s full release. 

These tips will help you out. The Lies of P’s demo, likely in fewer hours than it took me. Enjoy your first experience with the demo. Lies of the P and hope it holds you over ’til September 19, when the full title comes to Game Pass for console and PC. The pre-installs and preorders have gone live. You can find out more about the pre-order bonus, which includes 72 hours early access, here. 

Demo: Lies about P

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The soulslike Lies of Pinocchio is an exciting tale that turns the classic story on its head and places it in the elegantly dark Belle Epoque period.

You are a puppet created by Geppetto who’s caught in a web of lies with unimaginable monsters and untrustworthy figures standing between you and the events that have befallen the world of Lies of P.

You are awakened by a mysterious voice that guides you through the plagued city of Krat – a once lively place that has been poisoned by madness and bloodlust. You must use your skills and weapons in order to survive the horrors of our city. Untangle the secrets that the elites have kept from you and decide whether or not to tell the truth to get through the predicaments.

・DARKLY ELGANT AND CRUEL A WORLD
Unearth the secrets of the city of Krat – a place soaked in the style of the Belle Epoque era which once thrived due to its puppet industry and now sees its streets covered in blood.

・Fight with Twisting Instruments
Create a combat style that is unique to you by combining dynamic weapons, using the Legion Arms and activating your new abilities.

・WHAT’S IN A LIE?
There will be times when you will be confronted with choices where you can give comfort to others in sorrow or despair by lying…or you can choose to tell the truth.

Create your own route.

・The Classic Reimagined
Lies of P. is a dark and grim retelling of the classic fairytale Pinocchio. Players can discover hidden symbols, secrets and clues within this world.