Lies of P Complete Edition Switch 2 Review
Version Reviewed: Nintendo Switch 2
While I tend to enjoy Soulslike games, I also tend to make it about two-thirds of the way through before ultimately running into someone much bigger and uglier than me who refuses to let me pass. After 30 attempts at running back to reclaim my inventory, I usually give up and add the game to my ever-growing pile of shame. Despite this, to tell you the truth, I was excited to test out Lies of P: Complete Edition when it popped into my inbox. A Soulslike based on the classic Pinocchio fairy tale, mixed with a dark Victorian-era setting, certainly caught my attention, and despite still hurting from Elden Ring, I couldn’t wait to get back on the horse. What’s it Like? Pick you sword, fill your flask, and there’s no strings attached as we review Lies of P Complete Edition on Nintendo Switch 2.
Before we begin, there may be some minor spoilers relating to gameplay mechanics and boss fights mentioned throughout this review. They’re relatively light, but I thought it was worth mentioning.
Lies of P opens with you, P, waking aboard a train that has arrived in the city of Krat. It’s immediately clear something has gone terribly wrong, as the station is littered with the fallen while monstrous puppets hunt anything that moves. This prologue acts as both a tutorial and a fantastic introduction to the unsettling world of Lies of P. Throughout the game, there are plenty of references and nods to the classic Pinocchio fable, but everything has been given a fairly dark and twisted interpretation that creates an eerie and memorable atmosphere. Once I stepped out of the station and the doors opened to reveal my first glimpse of the fallen city of Krat, I knew I was in for one hell of an adventure.
Gameplay leans heavily on the Soulslike formula…. You battle your way through enemies, eventually reaching a Stargazer that acts much like a bonfire, allowing you to replenish your health and flasks before continuing your journey. Stamina management, dodging, blocking, and perfect parries all feel familiar, making my introduction to the game a little easier. Combat features the expected light and heavy attacks but builds upon them with stagger mechanics, the ability to break enemy weapons through well-timed parries, and powerful Fable Arts that unleash devastating combos capable of turning the tide of battle in an instant. Fallen enemies also drop Ergo, which can be used to level up your stats, and early on, you’ll choose between one of three combat paths: the Path of the Bastard, the Path of the Sweeper, or the Path of the Cricket. These determine your starting weapon and stats, letting you favour speed, raw strength, or a balanced approach before gradually shaping your own build as the game progresses.
Another unique mechanic is the freedom to experiment with your build. Legion Arms act as mechanical prosthetics that grant unique abilities, whether it’s launching enemies with a powerful blast, using grapple attacks, or providing additional utility in combat. On top of that, weapons can be dismantled into blades and handles, letting you mix and match them to create combinations that suit your preferred playstyle. It adds a lot of variety and encourages experimentation throughout the adventure. Where Lies of P really stands out, however, is its Lies system, which revolves around the central theme of humanity. I won’t spoil too much, but throughout the game you’re asked to make decisions that influence conversations and ultimately determine which ending you’ll receive. Initially, I felt the system was fairly straightforward, but the consequences of your actions gradually unfold as the story progresses, making your choices feel far more meaningful than they first appear.
Now, despite its Soulslike nature, I actually found Lies of P to be one of the more approachable games in the genre. While I enjoyed Dark Souls back in its heyday, my lack of skill (and yes, I’ll happily admit that’s 100% on me) usually meant I’d eventually hit a wall and lose interest. Lies of P certainly isn’t easy, but it feels just a little more forgiving while still making every victory feel earned. There were still plenty of moments, particularly during some of the boss fights, that tested my mettle, but instead of frustration, I was usually left with a huge sense of accomplishment after finally bringing a monstrous creation to its knees.
Speaking of creation, developer Round8 Studio has crafted an exceptionally intriguing world. It’s a combination of gothic horror and Victorian-era architecture, with enemies looking as though they’ve marched straight off a Napoleonic battlefield. The puppets are particularly unsettling, shambling towards you with an almost zombie-like menace as you plan out your next move. Bosses, on the other hand, offer plenty of variety, each somehow managing to look both gruesome and spectacular at the same time. Lies of P on the Switch 2 is a visual treat, with grand architecture, detailed environments, and a dark, twisted world that’s a joy to explore despite its horrors. The game also makes excellent use of lighting to establish the mood and build tension, with dimly lit streets and eerie interiors constantly keeping you on edge. There does appear to be some DLSS or upscaling at work, as finer details can occasionally look a little soft while in motion, but it’s a minor compromise that does very little to detract from the overall experience.
Performance-wise, Lies of P offers three visual modes in both handheld and docked play: Performance, Balanced, and Graphics. As someone who usually doesn’t mind playing at 30fps, I actually found it quite difficult to return to Graphics mode after spending time with both Balanced and Performance. Fortunately, the visual trade-off between the modes isn’t particularly dramatic. Throughout my playthrough, the game performed exceptionally well, consistently sticking close to its framerate targets. I only noticed a couple of hitches during gameplay, and even then, it was so brief that it never impacted my overall experience.
For my puppets looking into accessibility, Lies of P offers plenty of options to help make your journey through the city of Krat a little more approachable. These include colourblind modes, the ability to enable or disable guides, auto-lock-on during combat, fully remappable controls, options to isolate audio sources, and more. It’s fantastic to see such a robust accessibility suite in a Soulslike, a genre that has traditionally presented a challenge for many players. Kudos to Round8 Studio for including these thoughtful features and allowing more players to experience P’s journey.
At just under $100 AUD, Lies of P: Complete Edition is competitively priced compared to its console and PC counterparts. There’s plenty of content here, with a rushed playthrough likely taking around 30-40 hours, while those who want to explore every weapon combination, uncover every secret, and take on the game’s challenges will find even more value. The Complete Edition also includes Overture, a prequel expansion that takes place before the events of the main game and offers a glimpse at Krat before it fell into chaos. Rather than feeling like a simple extra chapter, Overture expands on the world, characters, and events that shaped the city, giving players a deeper look into the tragedy that unfolded before P’s journey began.
To tell you the truth, Lies of P Complete Edition is an outstanding port that manages to use its well-crafted world to immerse you in this gorgeous adventure. It’s an accessible approach to the souls-like genre that manages to delicately balance difficulty and accomplishment to create an engaging experience that had me hooked throughout. It takes heavy inspiration from those that came before it, but instead of puppeting the competition, it adds unique mechanics that help it stand tall in the genre without the strings. While the core themes of the game may make you question blind obedience, if you’re a fan of the souls-like genre, you simply have to play Lies of P Complete Edition on Nintendo Switch 2.
So, What’s it Like? Lies of P is like Dark Souls crossed with Pinocchio.
Lies of P Complete Edition is a What’s it Like Certified Exceptional game.
In the interest of full disclosure, a review copy was provided by the publisher, but this doesn’t influence my score.
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