Summary
Lies of Pmade its name as a Soulslike in pre-release marketing due to two underlying premises: it looked remarkably similar toBloodborne, which was highly in its favor, and it wasn’t a wholly original world since it was a reimagined adaptation ofThe Adventures of Pinocchio. The fact thatLies of Pcould compare to an established fairy tale IP in the public domain and twist it intosomething horrific as a dark fantasy Soulslikewas fascinating, and the game did not disappoint when it finally got into players’ hands with a lengthy demo preceding its launch.
Lies of Pis brilliant because it works well if players are fond of the fairy tale it’s based on but it doesn’t hinge on that lore being critical to its success or understanding. Like any good Soulslike,Lies of Ppermits a foundation of world-building that doesn’t require players to already knowPinocchiolore and can stand on its own as a Soulslike with notable references and Easter eggs instead. The next Soulslike endeavor in this universe will now adaptThe Wizard of Ozand it’ll be phenomenal to see how that reimagining looks, butRoald Dahl’sCharlie and the Chocolate Factorywould make a sensational next entry if possible.
Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory Would Make a Whimsical Soulslike Setting
Lies of P’s Soulslike Exploration of a Popular Fairy Tale was Emergent
Lies of Pobviouslyisn’t a one-to-one adaptation ofThe Adventures of Pinocchio, but it’s in Neowiz’s grim reimagining where it finds its Soulslike legs. Soulslikes are inherently unpleasant and intimidating in their lore and atmosphere, presenting a world that is awfully gruesome or nightmarish, andLies of Paptly represents that through its dark portrayal of thePinocchioIP.
Indeed,Pinocchiostill seems like an odd choice amid many possible options, and how the IP could have turned out as a Soulslike was anyone’s guess when it was first announced. However,Lies of Phas gone on to be one of the most popular Soulslikes from a studio that isn’t FromSoftware with an argument to be made that it’s earned the crown outright in that regard.
The beauty of itsPinocchioreimagining allows it to lean on established themes, motifs, and characters from the fairy tale, all while being largely inventive in howLies of Pdecided to repurpose them for its Soulslike action-RPG.Lies of Pis now slated to feature a DLC expansion at some point, as well asanother DLC or fully fledged sequel adaptingThe Wizard of Ozas a Soulslike, but seeing how Neowiz might reimagineCharlie and the Chocolate Factorycould be its sweetest-tasting confection yet.
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’s Story is Ripe with Soulslike Potential
Charlie and the Chocolate Factorycould follow the original story’s progression with Charlie exploring Wonka’s factory. Charlie would bea great default protagonist avatar likeLies of P’s P, especially since he’s a rather blank canvas of a character anyhow. The other children who managed to procure golden ticket admission to the eponymous factory could either be NPCs players interact with or bosses for different regions in the factory, such as Violet Beauregarde taking on the form of an engorged blueberry monstrosity, perhaps even as a predicted twist in a second phase of her boss fight.
LikeLies of P’s Geppetto main antagonist, Wonka could be this Soulslike’s main antagonist depending on how Neowiz wanted to depict the chocolatier in the reimagining. Between Oompa-Loompas, Vermicious Knids, snozzwangers, hornswogglers, and whangdoodles, there would be a diverse wealth of enemy types, and creative candies like Everlasting Gobstoppers, Hover Choc, three-course dinner gum, and edible flower teacups could make for immersively impactful consumables.
Lies of P
WHERE TO PLAY
Lies of P is a thrilling soulslike that takes the story of Pinocchio, turns it on its head, and sets it against the darkly elegant backdrop of the Belle Epoque era.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. In our soulslike, you must adapt yourself and your weapons to face untold horrors, untangle the unfathomable secrets of the city’s elites and choose whether to confront predicaments with the truth or weave lies to overcome them on the journey to find yourself.
