Lies of P's Demo Is Successfully Scratching That Bloodborne Itch

ign.com:

It’s been about eight years since From Software introduced us all to Bloodborne and its horrifying blood-soaked streets, and I don’t mind telling you I’ve spent every waking minute since then thinking about its world, and waiting for news of a sequel. While there have been many offerings by other developers of games that seek to capture the “Soulsborne” vibe in various ways, few manage to capture the entire package. After spending a few hours with the Lies of P demo, I came away with the realization that I may have finally found something to scratch that itch I’ve had for so long.

I’ll admit, having Pinocchio as the protagonist wouldn’t have been my first pick, but it’s also obvious that developer NeoWiz isn’t exactly taking many cues from the Disney animated adaptation. Geppetto seems to be responsible for inventing far more puppets than just Pinocchio, as the city of Krat is filled with automaton servants, police, dogs, and more. However, all the puppets seem to have gone crazy, turning the city into a nightmare where deranged puppets that once served the people now stalk the streets, and continue to pulverize the bloody corpses of its former residents.

So far, Krat has done a pretty good impression of Bloodborne's Yharnam — and even hints of Bioshock’s Rapture — as an unnerving (yet graphically impressive) depiction of a once-prosperous and decadent utopia fallen into ruin and slathered in gore. Bodies are piled everywhere, seemingly due to both the savagery of the puppet uprising as well as some mysterious plague that’s hinted at a few times. I enjoyed taking my time exploring the city’s various alleys, courtyards, and broken interiors that juxtaposed nicely with the still shining and spotless Hotel Krat, which serves