One of the Decade’s Best Soulslikes Officially Coming to Switch 2

Just past its first anniversary, the Nintendo Switch 2 boasts a remarkably robust library of non-first-party titles. Between the surprisingly polished port of Cyberpunk 2077 at launch and Capcom’s steadfast support via recent heavy-hitters like Resident Evil Requiem and Pragmata, system owners have plenty of experiences to dive into.

For gamers eager to master precise parries on the move, an influx of action-RPGs inspired by FromSoftware is making its way to the platform. Hell Is Us arrives this coming October, closely followed by Elden Ring. However, anyone unwilling to wait can already experience one of the definitive action-RPG triumphs of the decade, as Lies of P launched on the console earlier this month. Even better, this portable edition bundles the exceptional downloadable expansion right out of the box.

Lies of P Stands Tall as the Premier Non-FromSoftware Action-RPG

While FromSoftware remains the undisputed architect of the sub-genre through landmarks like Demon’s Souls, the Dark Souls trilogy, Bloodborne, Sekiro, and Elden Ring, numerous challengers have attempted to capture that elusive magic. Few, however, match the sheer quality of Lies of P. Propelled by profound narrative framing, meticulously crafted boss encounters, and deeply satisfying combat mechanics, the developers at Round8 Studio (now Nough) and Neowiz have forged a masterpiece that stands shoulder-to-shoulder with the genre’s royalty.

Players step into the shoes of a strikingly aesthetic, youthful protagonist known simply as P, who awakens in the plague-stricken, puppet-infested Victorian metropolis of Krat. Far from harmless playthings, these mechanical horrors are human-sized or towering automata that have violently turned against their creators. As a unique creation immune to the widespread Puppet Frenzy, P retains his autonomy. By navigating various quests and choosing whether to embrace deception to comfort others, he gradually shifts closer to genuine humanity. Regardless of his ontological status, P is an absolute powerhouse in combat. The game matches the fluidity of genre mainstays, allowing P to wield an extensive arsenal of interchangeable weaponry alongside a versatile mechanical prosthetic arm capable of transforming into devastating attachments like a functional flamethrower or a heavy-hitting shotgun.

Critical reception for Lies of P was overwhelmingly positive, securing an impressive 88% Critics Recommend rating on OpenCritic. In Polygon’s 2023 review, Diego Nicolás Argüello noted, “The game surprised and engulfed me with its grim tale, in which greed and obsession for power turned a city against itself. Despite a clear obligation to pay homage to its pioneers, it carves its own reality — one in which you decide which illusions to believe in.”

The prequel expansion, Overture—which transports players back to witness the tragic collapse of Krat and the initial uprising of the mechanical threat—received similar critical acclaim, earning a pristine 100% Critics Recommend score on OpenCritic. Reviewing the content, the consensus was clear: “Overture’s storytelling enhances the base game and feels as close to essential as a prequel can be.”

For those intrigued by Lies of P but hesitant due to the notoriously demanding nature of the genre, there is good news. A substantial update introduced adjustable difficulty parameters, allowing users to tailor the challenge to their preferred proficiency level—an invaluable addition for overcoming some of the expansion’s most relentless adversaries.

Lies of P: Complete Edition is available now for the Nintendo Switch 2, alongside its existing availability on PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Windows PC, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.

And the new weapons aren’t too shabby either

Source: Polygon