Becoming human is central to Lies of P<\/em>, but I didn\u2019t expect puppet protagonist P to feel so lifeless. He is mute (contrary to other puppets) and does whatever\u2019s expected of him without question. While P can perhaps get away with being so wooden, the game\u2019s world and human characters feel as stiff as their marionette protector, and that\u2019s more of an issue.<\/p>
When you rescue Gepetto from an inevitable death at the start of Lies of P<\/em>, he\u2019s perfectly calm and happy to see you, rather than shaken from having been hunted down by a Mad Donkey. It\u2019s the same for the others you rescue. They all navigate the crumbling city of Krat like it\u2019s a walk in the park, emotionless and dull. Maybe they\u2019re all puppets, too.<\/p>
That\u2019s my biggest disappointment after playing over 30 hours of Neowiz\u2019s Soulslike game. I have yet to reach the end of the story, but each hour spent in the desperate streets of Krat dampens my hopes of finding some life in the world. Combat feels great; it\u2019s undoubtedly the strongest selling point of the title. But without a compelling story, interesting characters, or a deep world to explore, the fights seem pointless.<\/p>
