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If I had a nickel for every time in the last year that a Korean developer released an action game that emphasises precise melee combat and parrying and features an emotionless, puppet-like main character, I’d have two nickels, which isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it happened twice, right?
I am of course talking about Stellar Blade and Lies of P.
I’m being facetious, but despite the many differences that these games may have, it’s hard to ignore the similarities that bind the core of these games together. Fast-paced and satisfying melee combat that places as much importance on parries and strong defence as it does on dishing out damage. In our Stellar Blade review, as with many others, combat was the game’s high point, and might even be a cut above Lies of P in many ways.
However, if you’ve stepped foot in the firestorm that is social media over the last few weeks, then you’ve likely borne witness to many of the complaints about Stellar Blade. Complaints that only seem to have been exacerbated with the release of the game’s reviews.
As flashy as it is, both in its looks and gameplay, Stellar Blade just seems to lack a certain something. Great combat and visuals are reason enough to play and love the game, but they alone do not a great game make, and it seems as if Stellar Blade doesn’t have the substance underpinning those aspects to take it to the next level.
But do you know what does? Ding ding ding, if you said Lies of P then you’re absolutely right, and if you didn’t, I’m not sure what you’ve been reading up until this point. Not to beat around the bush any longer, but Lies of P does what Stellar Blade don’t.
Take the game’s setting. The world of Stellar Blade goes for a fairly standard futuristic, crumbling city vibe. And there’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not exactly anything we haven’t seen before. Lies of P on the other hand? How about a grim and gritty world combining the gloomy Victorian elements of Bloodborne with the Art Deco stylings of BioShock. Throw in some evil steampunk puppets who are trying to kill you, and you can’t tell me that’s not a game with some character.
And things only get better when it comes to story and characters. Throughout the game, you come across a frankly bizarre cast of characters, each with their own tales to tell. Whether that’s a cowardly inventor who did kind of cause this whole mess to begin with, or a well-meaning puppet who falls in love with his master, almost every character you meet is bursting with life and charm, making up for the fact that Pinocchio is still effectively just an emotionless shell.
In your first playthrough, puppets all speak in this illegible cypher so at no point do you know what any of them are saying. Stick at it long enough to play through new game plus, and it’s all translated for you. Remember that puppet you savagely killed last time around? Turns out he has a deeply tragic backstory and was trying to stop you from fighting – doesn’t feel so good anymore, does it?
This is unabashed Lies of P propaganda. I’m shamelessly wading into the festering swamp that is Stellar Blade discourse to spread the good word of Neowiz and get you playing this weird little puppet-based soulslike ASAP. And with a DLC on the way, there’s never been a better time to get cracking. Grab your massive saw-sword-axe hybrid, put on a silly, tattered old donkey mask and bomb around Krat eviscerating some puppets.
Despite the inflammatory title, this isn’t meant to be a Stellar Blade hit piece. If you’re planning to play Stellar Blade, have fun! There’s clearly plenty to enjoy about it, and I truly hope that you do. Hell, buy two or more copies as some people seem to be doing for some reason. Knock yourself out buddy, I’m not here to stop you.
All I’m saying is that if you find yourself wishing there was a little more oomph to the game, whether that’s story, characters, setting, or more, just remember that there’s another Korean-developed action game that emphasises precise melee combat and parrying and features an emotionless, puppet-like main character out there for you.
