Introduction

Imagine if Pinocchio decided to ditch the whole 'becoming a real boy' schtick and instead opted for a bloody career as a puppet-slaying warrior. Welcome to 'Lies of P', the action RPG that blends the delightful childhood tales of Carlo Collodi with dark fantasy and hardcore gameplay reminiscent of the Souls series, because apparently every object animated with a bit of magic now has to be mutilated with melee weapons. Released on Xbox Series X/S, this title offers a grim twist on a classic narrative and makes decisions that might have your conscience writhing as much as your character during combat.

Gameplay

You control 'P', the wooden puppet hero, as he navigates through the fabled city of Krat, unraveling conspiracy and fighting off a plague of hostile puppets that wouldn't look out of place at a horror convention. The gameplay is typical of the Soulslike genre—difficult, methodical, and punishingly fun. You'll pick one of three combat styles at the beginning, which dictates your stats and how your weapon applesauce squishing will play out. Want to swing a heavy club and crush puppet dreams? Go for 'Striker'. Prefer quick, nimble combat, dodging and weaving like a pro? The 'Duelist' path is your jam. The arsenal includes melee weapons that you can customize by mixing and matching parts. It's basically like LEGO but with more blood and less marketable branding. And then there's the unique Legion Arms, which give you special tools like a grappling hook to swing into action like Spider-Man but with less grace and more mortality rates. As you engage in combat, you'll discover 'Fable Arts', an ability that drops when your weapon builds up that special guacamole sauce of energy, allowing for some, dare I say, cooler flashy moves. Like any good RPG, there's a currency—'Ergo'—earned by vanquishing foes, which is also used for leveling up your character and acquiring new skills. The level design encourages exploration and often puts riddles to test in exchange for extra goodies. Now, rake your mind through that dialogue tree and face the moral dilemmas that P encounters. Remember, lying and truth-telling will affect the outcome of the narrative—don’t let Pinocchio's nose lead you down the wrong path!

Graphics

Breathtaking might just be an understatement for the visual appeal of Lies of P. Using Unreal Engine 4, the game pulls you into a richly detailed world, where the dreary gothic streets of Krat feel alive (even if they're mostly populated by malevolent puppets). The lighting, especially, deserves a massive shoutout, painting the harrowing atmosphere that transforms sinister places into hauntingly beautiful scenes. Puppets seem to dance from a twisted ballet of horror while shadows flicker across the walls like they’re part of some unwell theatrical production. The animations are generally smooth, although you might catch a few moments when your character looks like it’s auditioning for a puppet show.

Conclusion

In short, Lies of P offers a unique blend of whimsical lore and ruthless gameplay that caters well to fans of the genre. Yes, it pulls at the nostalgia strings for the childhood classic, but it doesn’t shy away from making you sweat profusely from the fear of puppet-based demise. With a gripping storyline, engaging combat mechanics, and a beautiful yet gloomy world, it's due to catch the attention of ARPG enthusiasts and might even be a surprise hit on Game Pass for those looking to dive into something fresh amidst a deluge of Soulslike titles. If only we could occasionally tell Pinocchio to quit lying in the most metal of ways. Still, who knew the wooden boy had so much firepower? Grab your controller and let's slice some strings!

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