Director Clarifies Difficulty Adjustment: Aiming for Broader Game Accessibility

Lies of P, the acclaimed "Soulslike" game, is set to release its upcoming DLC, Overture, which will introduce difficulty options for the first time. Known for its punishing difficulty, Lies of P's dark narrative and setting have drawn in players, yet the initial absence of difficulty settings was a deliberate choice. Director Jiwon Choi had previously stated that the team believed Soulslike games should not include such options. However, after listening to player feedback, Neowiz has decided to make a change to cater to a broader audience.

“We wanted to make sure a wider audience of players could play the game,” Choi explained to VGC. "We have received a lot of feedback from customers and our developers. By making these development adjustments and introducing difficulty options, we can offer the experience to different types of players, thereby broadening our player base."

The community is abuzz with discussions on this shift in approach. Some players appreciate the move, with one saying: "I would imagine it's a lot easier to say that you don't want to change the difficulty than to be inundated with negative reviews over it and have it constantly be brought up during discussions of your game and not have any urge to change it so a broader audience can enjoy what you made."

Another player shared their personal experience: "I got into gaming around the age of 24. I'm using the easier difficulty settings because, as much as I love Lies of P, I have a major skill issue, and that's okay. I just thought it would be nice hearing why someone would reasonably want the difficulty settings. I never got to own any systems when I was a kid, so now I can as a working adult who doesn't have 10+ years of skills."

Some players, however, are critical of the change. "Souls elitists don't want difficulty because they like bragging about their video game achievements. I'm glad Lies of P is not servicing them," one player remarked.

Not everyone is on board with the new direction. On Steam discussion forums and social media, some expressed disappointment. "Was interested in playing, but after all the nerfs and adding difficulty levels, I lost interest. Game devs, please stop catering to babies," wrote one player, though the majority of responses in that thread supported Neowiz's decision.

Another user lamented, "You had a masterpiece on your hands Neowitz, and you turned it into laughing stock. For shame." A thread titled "Difficulty settings = Not playing" contrasted sharply with another where a player found the original difficulty "just ridiculous."

Lies of P: Overture Screenshots

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Lies of P offers a unique, darker twist on the classic Pinocchio tale, blending challenging action with a dynamic "lie" system that influences gameplay. The new Overture DLC will expand the game with new locations, enemies, bosses, characters, and weapons. It also introduces Death March, a mode that allows players to face off against the game's bosses once more. The DLC is expected to take experienced players approximately 15-20 hours to complete, unlocking after a “certain” chapter of the game. Neowiz has already announced a sequel to Lies of P.

We enjoyed our time with Lies of P, awarding it an 8/10, and noted: "Lies of P might not branch out particularly far from its soulslike inspiration, but it plays the part extremely well."