Lies of P: Overturehas finally been revealed after a long spell and has instantly dashed expectations. BecauseLies of Pitself is a macabre yet whimsical spin onThe Adventures of Pinocchio, it made sense to assign some new fairytale inspiration to vague concept art previously shared from the then-untitled DLC. For instance, a large ship in one of the concept art pieces gave rise to the idea that the DLC might be adaptingPeter Pan.Lies of P: Overtureis instead an expansion on the lore established in the base game’s modern-day setting, but it wasn’t necessarily absurd to imagine the DLC could dip its toes into other popular public domain territories.
The only reason why anyone would have assumed that the DLC could touch on other fantastical IPs is becauseLies of P’s post-credits scene foreshadowsThe Wizard of Oz. The revelation thatLies of Pcould then be a connected universe of public domain entities—albeit with a splash of dark, gruesome fantasy—is phenomenal for the game as its shelf life has extended tenfold with the possibility of what future games may behold. Now, unlessWizard of Ozcontent is sprinkled into Overture somehow, it seems quite apparent thatLies of P’s cliffhanger post-credits cutscene is intended to tease the sequel’s fairytale subject matter.
Lies of P: Overture is a Narrative Bookend
Rather than diving intoWizard of Oz,Lies of P: Overtureis a continuation of the base game’s story. This makes sense as a DLC or expansion focused on an entirely separate property could’ve felt undercut, andLies of Pitself is brimming with mysteries that Overture will now hopefully address as a prequel. Indeed,Jiwon Choi, director ofLies of P, has since issued a director’s letter that divulges quite plainly what players can expect fromLies of P: Overture:
Why Lies of P’s Sequel Likely Won’t Be a ‘Lies of P’ Game
The finality of Overture is simultaneously surprising and unsurprising. On the one hand, theWizard of Oztease made it unlikely thatP andThe Adventures of Pinocchiowould be the sole focal points of Neowiz’s Soulslike endeavors. But, on the other hand, knowing that Neowiz may move on wholly from Krat afterLies of P: Overtureis alarming. As stated in Choi’s director’s letter:
“Through Lies of P: Overture, we aimed to fully refine, forge and complete the story as we originally envisioned it.” - Jiwon Choi, director ofLies of P
The story being “complete” with Overture would deduce that, naturally,aWizard of Ozsequelwill stand on its own legs and put the title ofLies of Pto bed. The overall continuity ofLies of P’s world is undoubtedly strange, though, as it appears as ifThe Wizard of Oz’s Alice is in Krat and that she may eventually cross paths with Geppetto’s puppet.
This may be no more than a tease itself with no relation to what could occur in a sequel, but the premise of a shared public domain universe embedded inLies of Pis ripe with potential. Regardless of what direction a sequel takes,Lies of Pis easily one of the most fascinating titles in the last little while, and how Overture concludes may be illuminating in terms of what to expect from a full-blown sequel.
It’s currently unknown ifLies of P: Overturewill provide brand-new endings or simply be a time-traveling journey players can embark on to learn more about thePuppet Frenzy massacre and lore leading into the events ofLies of P.
Lies of P: Overture
WHERE TO PLAY
Lies of P: Overture is a dramatic prequel to the acclaimed soulslike action RPG, Lies of P. It transports you to the city of Krat in its final days of haunting, late-19th-century Belle Époque beauty. On the brink of the Puppet Frenzy massacre, you follow a legendary Stalker—a mysterious guide—through untold stories and chilling secrets. As Geppetto’s deadly puppet, you’ll journey through Krat and its surroundings, uncover hidden backstories, and face epic battles that shape the past and future of Lies of P.
