(Image credit: Neowiz)
Lies of P: Overture has captivated me with its unique lack of puppets, at least up to this point. My journey has taken me to the time just before the catastrophic Krat disaster occurred, a period when the streets were not yet overrun by corrupted puppets, and the stunning Belle Epoque world stood intact. The adversaries I’ve faced thus far include humans, aggressive and violent like Resident Evil 4‘s ganados, along with a few mutated beasts.
With the addition of a new type of weapon in the DLC, carving my path through Krat City Zoo has been a thrilling experience. Although the ominous presence of a certain ‘Puppeteer of Death’ still looms, I find myself engaged in battle with mutant elephants before tackling that challenge. Overture provides a refreshing pause from the puppet plague, arriving at just the right moment.
I’ve delved into many Soulslikes, but Lies of P stands out as my favorite—so much so that I’d love to see FromSoftware take inspiration. The tension reaches its peak as I unlock the DLC. Returning to Hotel Krat in Chapter 9 and discovering Gepetto’s abduction sets our puppet protagonist on a mission: defeat the formidable Simon Manus, rescue his father, and ultimately bring an end to the Alchemists.
I face a choice—advance to the boss battle or dive into the DLC by fixing and using the Hotel Krat stargazer. When the fast travel menu is opened, a prompt suggests I proceed to the Path of the Pilgrim stargazer in the Malum district, and off I go.
While some might question entering a prequel before finishing the main story, Overture offers players a chance to earn more ergo for the final showdown without re-clearing zones. Moreover, thanks to the difficulty levels introduction, I can opt for ‘Butterfly’s Guidance,’ the so-called ‘very easy’ difficulty mode, allowing me to re-familiarize myself with the game’s mechanics after a two-year hiatus. Even at this setting, it’s still a challenge.
The DLC begins as P awakens in a snow-covered field. Gemini, the cricket, expresses his surprise, remarking on how he hasn’t seen snow ‘since….’ The place strikes a chord of familiarity with Gemini. While I fend off large, wolf-like beasts emitting clouds of Freeze damage—a new status effect—and fend off frenzied humanoid foes, Gemini reminisces about Krat City Zoo in the distance. It’s a known fact that the zoo was destroyed before the current events, hinting that we’ve somehow ventured back in time.
The chaos of the main game seems miles away as Lies of P: Overture brings a sense of calm. Before absorbing the return to the past, I’m confronted with a mini-boss. This mutated entity, possibly once a wolf or primate, bears a resemblance to something out of an Umbrella Corporation experiment.
The DLC immediately tests my Lies of P combat abilities as the beast lunges at me. Although I have armed myself with fire-based throwables and forged a blazing new weapon for the DLC, adapting to a new moveset presents a fresh challenge. Fortunately, my lack of familiarity with puppet-slaying proves advantageous. Given the distinct movement patterns of these beasts compared to humanoid puppets, approach adjustment is necessary. But with my parry skills honed by Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, I achieve victory after multiple attempts and a considerable amount of thermite.
Upon reaching the zoo’s main building, I find it largely deserted. A grande staircase, partially destroyed, dominates the wooden-paneled walls, which are adorned with paintings in varied states of disrepair. Somewhere, a human voice groans in agony, and I arrive as Pinocchio to save the day.
As the ‘Puppeteer of Death’ ominously introduces herself over the crackling intercom, I scale the staircase quickly. More ganados-like foes await, roaming the landing before sprinting at me with piercing shrieks. In my haste to clear the building, I nearly overlook the source of the earlier moaning.
Beyond the stairs, a man slumps against the bannister, barely conscious. An interaction prompt indicates he’s still alive. He implores me to locate a woman at the Savanna Expedition Center—a stalker with red hair—describing his dying breath. I mentally record the clue and advance into the main building, where things become truly intriguing.
Lies of P: Overture adds a new dimension to gameplay by offering a bow, augmenting the limited ranged weaponry previously available. This inclusion feels essential, allowing me to progress with a new strategic choice. During a panic, I exploit a challenging situation involving a rampaging, poison-addled mutant elephant. Chasing me up narrow stairs, the creature becomes stuck, giving me valuable target practice. The bow’s damage stats are modest, yet it boasts an array of functionalities like any other weapon, including blocking and parrying.
Ultimately, I subdue the colossal beast. Despite being set to easy mode, defeating the elephant requires persistence and strategy. Most humanoid enemies succumb to two strikes from my saber-dancer sword combo, whereas counting the hits needed on this stodgy opponent proves difficult.
After securing an ergo boost back at the hotel, I realize the bow is a newfound staple in my journey. Neowiz has expertly transitioned from the game’s main chaos to the calm of Lies of P: Overture, creating satisfaction through mutant elephant combat and expanding the narrative to explore the unfolding mystery.
This DLC excels by initiating meaningful shifts, narrating a thrilling new chapter, and setting the stage for a grand return. Ensure you’re well-equipped with fire weaponry—plenty of it. Lies of P: Overture can be enjoyed on PC, PS5, Xbox Series X, and last-gen consoles. Explore all the other new games slated to follow in 2025 and beyond!