June 22, 2025: Lies of P

While I've longed to replay Lies of P, the Overture DLC presented itself to me at the perfect time. From what I recalled Lies of P was a near perfect game, perhaps one of the best non FromSoftware souls-like we've ever seen, and on second play I still think that's true.

A game like this only comes a long once every decade or so. How can the human mind create something so unique. Based on the story of Pinocchio (obviously), Studio8 takes a rather well known story and creates their own world out of the source material. Puppets, life force (ergo), lying, being human...All these themes are here in the game, just represented in a way I never really thought possible.

At a glace, its a bloodborne-type Victoria era France setting with difficult bosses and a rewarding gameplay loop. The game takes the already proven formula, and adds new twists in the means of story beats, weapon mechanics, and hidden background story drivers that most other souls games lack.

Switch weapons around, changing handles and blades to suit your playstyle. For me, I like faster attacks this go round, but liked the CC of wide sweeping attacks. Put a dagger blade on a great sword hilt and BAM - a fast low distance sword that has great control for multiple enemies. This experimenting compliments the story, as you get to learn about yourself and make choices in the shoes of a puppet who is becoming more and more human. Experiment with lying. Lying to make yourself sound better. Lying to save others from the harsh truth. And finally, this compliments the background mechanics of the story. Lying has consequences, but ultimately makes you more human - which isn't that the entire goal of the game? I've not had a game make me want to replay as much as this one has, even if its just to get another ending.

Overall, I'm ready to begin the Overture DLC. I'm ready to keep singing this games praises. Most importantly, I'm extremely satisfied with the game as a whole. Was is flawless, no, no game ever is. But despite is minimal flaws, so minimal I don't even bother to write them now, Lies of P is an experience worth having, regardless of if you like souls-like games. Lies of P is one of the games that I would love to experience for the first time again.

A+

June 8, 2025: Turok

Turok for me was somewhat of an unexpected play. I found myself really bored on the steamdeck playing the same roguelikes I always play. Turok was just sitting there and I've had it in my library for a while now. I'm still in a boomer shooter mood having just got off the heels of Duke Nukem 3D, and this fit the bill for the moment. Previous console release, easy controller play for couch gaming, and something not too terribly long.

I had read/watched some reviews of Turok prior saying it doesnt really age very well. While it does have some outdated mechanics not really welcome in shooters anymore (platforming, collectables, all those 90's tropes) I feel like it fits right in for the time period when the game came out...which was the 90's.

The platforming was a bit rough at times, and there was a moment on the last level where I was up shits creek without a paddle down to my last life, scourging the levels again for Turok Coins (idk what those are actually called), just to get another life for the end game level. On the positive side of that, you do get the sweet "I AM TUROK" when you get 100 coins so that was nice.

That was pretty much my only negative interaction with the game. The movement was smooth, the guns were fun, the levels were cool and sprawling, and it was just a generally good time, despite its quirks. I remember playing this at a friends house way back in the day and thinking "man, I wish my parents would let me play M rated games", and now that I'm an adult and I can do what I want, finally able to play this 90's classic.

I'm most likely going to continue the series as a shooter I can play on the steam deck, and I'm happy that I spent my time on it.

B+