In 2023, Neowiz and Round 8 Studios unveiled Lies of P, a critically acclaimed Soulslike adaptation of Pinocchio’s story as a steampunk adventure. With so many cheap imitations of FromSoftware’s original formula, many gamers found the game refreshingly authentic. Not long after release, Neowiz confirmed the game had an upcoming DLC. While brief, the trailer revealed many exciting additions to the world of Krat, such as new maps and tools at P’s disposal. Here is a breakdown of why fans should be excited.

Lies of P: Overture DLC

During Sony’s State of Play event, they unveiled many upcoming games and DLC trailers. One of the most exciting was for Lies of P’s long-awaited DLC, finally given the title “Overture.” The trailer revealed the DLC would be a “prequel” set before the fall of Krat. At first, the trailer showcases P wandering through an idyllic winter wonderland to upbeat piano music before running into Carcasses and other beasts.

Additionally, a mysterious woman narrates the footage, recognizing P as a familiar face. Other interesting sights include a mass of crimson limbs akin to Bloodborne and cameos from NPCs such as Alidoro. P showcases several new abilities, such as an explosive Legion Arm, a bow and arrow, and visually stunning slash attacks.

As shown by Elden Ring’s DLC, Shadow of the Erdtree, veteran players expect a fair challenge for this new chapter. Most Soulslike DLCs usually have the game’s best challenges intended for the most seasoned, experienced players after several years. Because Lies of P’s difficulty was on par with its inspiration, players can expect just as much of a challenge. The DLC for the PlayStation 4 and 5 will arrive this summer.

The Director’s Cut

Along with its impressive trailer, PlayStation’s blog also included a statement from Neowiz’s director, Jiwon Choi. He explained how the DLC would explore the fateful moment when the Puppet Frenzy began and what the day was like. Given that the original Lies of P’s story was relatively linear and fairly “open-close,” a prequel makes more sense than a traditional side quest or follow-up to the main story.

Choi discussed how their team had many stories they wanted to tell but had to leave on the cutting room floor. Therefore, adding the Overture DLC to Lies of P will allow them to bring their original vision to life. As shown by games like Persona 5: Royal and Dark Souls 2: Scholar of the First Sin, many developers see the value of “director’s cuts” in their games. Finally, his team thanked the players who helped the game thrive.

The New Soulslike

Ever since Hidetaka Miyazaki and FromSoftware released their 2011 classic Dark Souls, an entire genre has been created based on cryptic descriptions of items, parrying, and corpse runs. However, there have been many pale imitations, such as Lords of the Fallen. Fortunately, Lies of P won over critics for its combat that combined the strategy and precise mechanics of the original series. Furthermore, many appreciated how the game adapted the original story of Pinocchio into a philosophical action game.

Additionally, Neowiz hinted that neither this game nor its DLC would be the end of the saga. The post-credit scene confirmed a sequel was planned to retell The Wizard of Oz, another famous public domain fable. While it’s too early to know when this sequel will arrive, there’s a good chance this DLC will give players a few looks at their next game.

Conclusion

Lies of P managed to pass all the trials for a good Soulslike, and this new DLC will further establish its place. The trailer alone showcased a surprising change of tone, a new world to explore, and powerful abilities to use. The original game was already an intriguing challenge, so Overture will have everything to prove. While Lies of P was never subtle about its influences, the game took full advantage of the formula to build from it. Hopefully, more developers will realize that a formula is just a template to build from, not something to copy entirely.