Lies of P: Complete Edition bundles the base game with the Overture DLC for Nintendo Switch 2. It marks the first time the RPG has been released on a Nintendo platform, and the result is impressive. Visually, it holds up well, and while the performance is not perfect, it is strong overall, making this one of the better ways to experience the game on a handheld system.
The story is loosely inspired by Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio. Set in the fictional Belle Époque-inspired city of Krat, players control a puppet named P, who is designed to resemble a human. The story focuses on a world where puppets were once commonplace, but after a catastrophic event, they lost control and took over the city, killing many of its human inhabitants. P must journey through the remains of Krat to uncover what went wrong while meeting familiar characters from the world of Pinocchio, including Geppetto.
The story in Lies of P follows the traditional soulslike approach, placing more emphasis on lore and environmental storytelling than a straightforward narrative, and that is not necessarily a bad thing. NPCs are frequently found in the main hub, Hotel Krat, where they provide more context about the events through dialogue, with some conversations offering player choices. The Overture DLC becomes available after progressing further into the game and tells a self-contained story, so it does not require players to have completed the base game.
One aspect that Lies of P excels at is its world-building. The game gave me strong Bloodborne vibes with its haunting vision of the city. I also enjoyed its take on the cast of Pinocchio, with familiar characters given unique personalities while still retaining elements of what made them memorable in the original story. While the story and its premise start off strong, they begin to lose some momentum as the ending approaches. Even so, it remains one of the better-structured games in the genre.
Like most soulslikes, Lies of P uses a checkpoint-based system along with a resource called Ergo, which players use to upgrade their character. Combat focuses on positioning, dodging enemy attacks, and timing parries to deal the most damage. In addition to the standard dodge and roll mechanics, players also have access to special abilities. While most enemies are well balanced for the game’s difficulty, the boss fights place a much greater emphasis on mastering the parry and stagger systems, encouraging players to improve their combat skills.
I also really loved the level design in Lies of P. As players gradually explore the city of Krat, they unlock new shortcuts, and the world feels interconnected in a way that rewards exploration. The game never forces players to stray from the main path, but those who do are usually rewarded for their curiosity. The boss fights are among the best in the soulslike genre, especially when paired with the game’s combat system. They also feature multiple phases, each with its own health bar.
The weapon system felt very unique to me thanks to its blade and handle mechanic. Weapon customisation is fun, with different weapon types and combinations offering a wide range of playstyles. Fable Arts can be performed based on the chosen weapon combination, creating plenty of possibilities in combat. While weapons have durability that needs to be managed, they can be repaired using a grindstone. I also liked how the game rewards players with unique weapons for defeating certain bosses.
As a port, I feel that Lies of P succeeds at its main goal, which is delivering acceptable performance on the Switch 2. The game offers both Quality and Performance modes, with the latter targeting 60 FPS and generally achieving it after the day-one patch. I would not recommend the Quality mode, as it drops the frame rate to 30 FPS. While it is still playable, the game simply does not feel as smooth, which is especially important for an action RPG that relies on well-timed parries and dodges.
I was also surprised by how well the game holds up in docked mode. It looks great, and while it is not as sharp or clean as the PS5 version, it still delivers good image quality. The art direction and environments remain impressive despite the lower resolution in Performance mode, and the extra fluidity is essential to getting the best experience out of the game.
Overall, Lies of P: Complete Edition is a highly competent Switch 2 port. It is not only a great game but also one of the best soulslike action RPG experiences available on Nintendo’s platform. It comes highly recommended for fans of the genre, as well as anyone looking for a polished and rewarding action RPG experience.
Lies of P: Complete Edition Game Information
- Price: $69.99
- Publisher: NEOWIZ
- Developer: Round8 Studio
- Platform: Switch 2 (Reviewed)
- Disclaimer: A review code was given by the publisher
