Thoughts from a long time Souls-Like Enthusiast

[Makooze]

Wanted to make a little post here to list some things I like and somethings that I wasn't as much a fan of for the game after spending some time in the demo. I also am interested to see if others share my opinions or disagree with me or my observations.

I will mention I've been playing souls games, starting with dark souls, and many other souls-like outside of Fromsoft for about 10 years now

Visuals/Graphics
The game has nice graphics and holds up to expectations for new releases in 2023 when it comes to lighting, shadows, reflections and textures

The art style in level design so far has been nice, (the stargazers and the hotel lobby sort of give me Final Fantasy vibes, probably just blue crystal shenanigans)

The enemies I've fought so far (all puppets, not sure if that changes), are an interesting take for an primary enemy type. But, I do wonder if focusing on only mechanical "puppet" enemies will be a hindrance on variety rather than a boon.

The mouth movements are not synced to the dialogue, and this was immediately noticeable soon as you were talking to npc's in the hotel lobby. This is poor design and unusual to see.


Game World/Logic
Not losing all your "insert x souls-like currency" after dying on your way to retrieve them from your place of death and instead losing an amount each time you die on the way to them is... different. That's about it, this doesn't enrich or degrade the experience, it's just a choice.

The terminology for stats seems unnecessary (ie. Why make the stat that increases you Phys Defense called "Advance"? Which, you wouldn't be blamed for thinking that has something to do with movement. When you could simply call it endurance, that's just creating another "sigh time to look this up in-game or online" moment for the player.

After unlocking the hotel, this becomes from what I've seen, the only place to level up. Why do this if it was established you didn't need a certain npc to do it for you prior? You've just implemented arbitrary loading screens.

The protagonist (at least from how far I've gotten) is silent. This usually gets a pass in games where you create a custom character. But when we are playing as a SPECIFIC character, it breaks immersion when they do not voice their opinion on anything or even make a sound when hit swinging a weapon. Why? Clearly "P" must have a voice if he can communicate with NPC's and such. Imagine if when you played Witcher 3, Geralt didn't say anything, at all, ever. There's a reason he's such a liked and memorable character, even though we determined the actions and dialogue, his personality came out through those choices.

The "cricket" without any given reason goes from sounding like a busted intercom one second to a fully eloquent speaking belt lantern after transitioning into the second level. What?

Why present us with a door that looks as if will be a dramatic choice that affects our character in someway, between telling the truth and lying, when you have to lie to proceed. It just kind of... feels stupid, you make a big deal about "truth or lie" in trailers and marketing and then the first time you present the player with this choice to make, there isn't actually a choice to make.


Combat

It's apparent this is the area most people have found lacking for the game, which deservedly deserves the most scrutiny. Combat is the focus of these types of games. No one bought Elden Ring for its "super fun and robust crafting system"

In short it's clunky as a whole so far, but I'll elaborate a little

I really don't have anything specifically positive noteworthy to say about the combat. It clearly takes some inspiration from sekiro and souls games. The changes it makes on them don't make the combat any better or even uniquely different from the inspiration material. While the things the game didn't put it's own spin on and just took directly from souls, (Having to hold sprint and then press the joystick to jump) were the things people didn't like about those games and rejoiced when they were changed (jumping in Elden Ring)

The dodging isn't great, apparently it gets better later on, but why impede the players skill initially in the first place? Backstepping doesn't get you out of range of enemy swings and so on. It was only about 15 minutes into the demo I realized I was having much better odds at not getting hit by unlocking camera from enemies so I could freely roll.

Blocking, it felt bad to try and get perfect blocks, the mechanic and the parry with sword hilt really don't work smoothly at all. There are weird delays all over the place from parry animation playing out to the windup on attacks. Everyone that played through Elden Ring knows all about enemy swing delays, but those followed a motion that could be visually observed and learned easier. In Lies of P enemy attacks kind of just "look like they are going to happen" and then "already happened" this isn't too bad on the one off swings, but the stun lock combos are not great.

Hitboxes, I've seen a lot of people talk about inconsistent hitboxes. To my understanding, the hitboxes aren't changing as you play. So, when you get hit without physically getting hit, or on the other hand swings just go right through you or the enemy... The hitboxes must just be bad

1st boss fight, the design is neat, the moveset is pretty limited and easy to recognize what it's going to do. The problem being, even knowing exactly what it's going to do and timing the dodge you will still inexplicable get hit by a back-swing or the air near the boss' weapon. I tried to fight the boss as a dexterous character, dodging and lunging in and out with the rapier, but ultimately just kept getting smacked around by the boss' sheer imagination that it hit me. So instead of playing smart and safe, I just tried to unga bunga. Lo and behold there was no need to time dodges or circle the boss. Just shove P's face in the boss' crotch and start stabbing, throw in a dodge here or there on the ground pounds and half of the other attacks will simply phase right through you, and you've won. Neat...


Story

It may seem a bit silly to talk about story when it comes to Souls-Like games. But this isn't a Fromsoft game. Not having a story is not a staple of the genre, unlike the mandatory need for bonfires or bonfire equivalent mechanics.

Playing as a puppet, "P" who clearly to everyone not in this game is simply victorian Timothee Chalamet with a clockwork arm. Could be an interesting character if it actually delves into whether or not there is a humanity within P or if he is simply a machine that says what it needs to to achieve it's goals.

On the other hand no memorable characters have been presented thus far. Couldn't tell you the name of the blue hair lady to save my life, or the workshop girl, or even the old lady in the chair. Making another Elden Ring/ Souls comparison here, (which as far as I'm concerned is fair game if you are going to model your game after them), we all remember meeting the crestfallen knight at firelink shrine, or when Melina gifted us Torrent, and I know damn well everyone knows Ranni considering even though her ending required many steps outside of just killing your way to the final boss, it was completed more than just the fastest and simplest ending.

It's too early for me to form any strong opinions on the story or lack thereof, but I do think there is potential in a narrative that might make up for the initial lackluster impressions with combat


Price

Priced at $60, from what I've played that's not what I would pay for this game. Especially, when there is indie GOLD out there (even in the same genre) for a 3rd of the price., or less. I imagine the majority of the player base will be coming from Game Pass. Right now, I'm not even particularly inclined to pick this up on sale. Still, I would love to be blown away by how great the game is once it's out and properly reviewed. I'm just not that optimistic.

So, there it is. My initial impressions, if you feel similarly or think I'm out of my gourd for uttering a single questionable opinion on the game which you will now make your new religion, drop a comment and let the discussions appear.

And remember kids, never pre-order. No excuses

[Villain]

I beg to differ. making the protagonist silent and leaving the character's personality to the player's imagination was the right choice for a fairy tale character like Pinocchio. all souls games do this.

[Revealingstorm]

a lot of weird nitpicks in this

[revolver-22]

You went too picky on this, the game isn't boring, combat is good, has good graphics, good exploration, it has no stuttering issues, voice acting feels superb to me. P doesn't talk, in Souls games your main character doesn't talk either, i think that leaves space for you to fit those gaps with your personality. I don't mind well done and previously written characters, but this aura of mistery is cool too and the game makes you feel as if YOU were the character, that's the idea.

The game needs to improve a bit on dodging and perfect block, that's all, the rest its fine.

[𝙷𝚘𝚘𝚗𝚝𝚊]

You, Sir are technically correct, the best kind of correct.

[MPN64]

About Lying: As you have not yet killed a human? I guess you have not neet the lady in the window?
I did not test what happens if we tell her the truth mite not even be noticable in the demo!

There is a lot of unknown when it comes to lying only thing whe know that he gets affected by it! (and some other stuff) with the your springs is reacting message

[2D Anime Girl]

Originally posted by MPN64:

About Lying: As you have not yet killed a human? I guess you have not neet the lady in the window?
I did not test what happens if we tell her the truth mite not even be noticable in the demo!

There is a lot of unknown when it comes to lying only thing whe know that he gets affected by it! (and some other stuff) with the your springs is reacting message

Telling her the truth only makes her think you're lying about the baby.

[csword.rain]

Is this coming to pc gamepass as well? You might want to play it there if you don't think it's worth $60.

I love a silent protagonist, too many annoying protagonists in gaming that wouldn't shut up.

[Daken40]

Originally posted by revolver-22:

You went too picky on this, the game isn't boring, combat is good, has good graphics, good exploration, it has no stuttering issues, voice acting feels superb to me. P doesn't talk, in Souls games your main character doesn't talk either, i think that leaves space for you to fit those gaps with your personality. I don't mind well done and previously written characters, but this aura of mistery is cool too and the game makes you feel as if YOU were, that's the idea.

The game needs to improve a bit on dodging and perfect block, that's all, the rest its fine.

I agree, dodge is kinda annoying, but the game is overall good. it just need a few improvements for a smoother combat.

[Theatergoing Dalt]

Advance is not only a stat increasing your defense, some weapons also scale with it. Nitpicking and getting it wrong lol

[b0nehead]

name sucks

[Makooze]

Originally posted by Villain:

I beg to differ. making the protagonist silent and leaving the character's personality to the player's imagination was the right choice for a fairy tale character like Pinocchio. all souls games do this.

Definitely not all souls-like. Sekiro? Nioh? Lords of the Fallen? (not super souls-y but, Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order), Stranger of Paradise?

Although this is the reason I wish there was a neutral option because silent protag doesn't add or detract from the game. It's only my opinion that it would have been a neat voiced protag. Cheers

[Makooze]

Originally posted by Theatergoing Dalt:

Advance is not only a stat increasing your defense, some weapons also scale with it. Nitpicking and getting it wrong lol

Didn't say it "only" increased defense, just that it did

[Makooze]

Originally posted by Revealingstorm:

a lot of weird nitpicks in this

Less nitpicking, more areas I hope to see potentially improve before launch. I'm sure you would agree that tightening up some of the complaints a large portion of the demo player base have made would only bring about a better game, right?

[Makooze]

Originally posted by MPN64:

About Lying: As you have not yet killed a human? I guess you have not neet the lady in the window?
I did not test what happens if we tell her the truth mite not even be noticable in the demo!

There is a lot of unknown when it comes to lying only thing whe know that he gets affected by it! (and some other stuff) with the your springs is reacting message

I'm going to try and play the demo to completion, if that's the case I hope to learn a little more about the mechanics/experience here firsthand!