I knew I used to be going to be rusty after I sat down with Overture, the Lies of P prequel enlargement that shadowdropped on June 6. Over a 12 months had handed since I had crushed and final performed Lies of P, and I hadn’t dabbled with many Soulslikes within the interim. Nevertheless, moving into the footwear of Pinocchio as soon as once more for Overture felt pure, like time hadn’t handed in any respect, and I used to be immediately reminded why I like this sport a lot — due to its aggressive fight, difficult boss fights, and heartfelt storytelling. And naturally, a few of the first enemies in Overture kicked my butt. Such is the best way of a Soulslike.
Overture is the primary and presumably solely enlargement from Neowiz and Round8 Studio for Lies of P. It presents new perception into the historical past of Krat, some nice weapons, and enjoyable ranges to discover, however the most effective new addition is actually Lea, the Legendary Stalker. When P and Lea lastly meet, every thing Overture’s story arrange really coalesces.
By way of unexplained means, Overture sends P again in time to a Krat that’s on the verge of collapsing; the Puppet Frenzy hasn’t decimated its streets but, although you’ll encounter puppets making an attempt to kill you, after all. The primary points P and town’s residents must take care of are the monstrous carcasses created by the Alchemists in response to the Petrification Illness. Like within the base sport, you’ll come throughout people who’ve been became monsters, and a visit to the zoo will present how these human monsters are the least of your worries.
The enlargement begins with P exploring the Krat zoo, which is derelict within the current timeline however intact through the prequel. Nevertheless, it’s actually not open to guests — monstrous gorillas and kangaroos stalk its grounds, able to demolish P. Regardless that I had crushed the sport with a stage 94 Pinocchio and totally upgraded weapons, these rattling gorillas nonetheless bodied me one after the opposite. The corrupted elephant was additionally a gnarly and tough combat, and an early showcase of how tough the enlargement was going to be. If I had accessed the DLC any sooner — it turns into obtainable after you beat chapter 9 within the base sport — my ass would have gotten much more wrecked.
P’s exploration of the previous takes him via quite a lot of new areas in addition to the zoo: a circus (full with very rewarding non-obligatory challenges), shipwrecks, and the Monad Charity Home, all coated in a blanket of snow. The degrees had been fantastic when it comes to enjoyable issue (you trip a Ferris wheel!) and worldbuilding, exposing new sides of Krat with hints of how alive town was pre-devastation. I may simply think about what it could have been like for households to stroll via the zoo or circus earlier than they had been overrun with murderous kangaroos and puppets.
However a brand new enlargement can be nothing with out new weapons, and Overture delivers in spades. The bow provides a pleasant change of tempo to fight and presents an actual, bona fide ranged weapon (even when the vary isn’t that far). Once I may, I’d assault enemies from a distance like I used to be Hawkeye, after which change to the Wolverine-like claws after I wanted to get P’s fingers soiled. Regardless of the DLC providing 10 new weapons, I caught with the bow and claws for an excellent chunk of the enlargement as they aligned with my construct and had been simply an excessive amount of enjoyable to swap out.
Overture consists of weapons for each sort of construct, and the Maniac’s Pinwheel will certainly be a fan favourite. It’s a greatsword that’s much like Bloodborne’s pizza cutter (Whirligig Noticed) however has two spinning blades. The Puppet of the Future’s Welder is one other greatsword, although its regular assault is extra like a flamethrower, whereas the Arche’s Guardian’s heavy assault discharges electrical energy, making it a terrific possibility for battling puppet enemies. Most of Overture’s new weapons might be disassembled and mixed with different elements, persevering with to offer gamers freedom in crafting their very own distinctive devices of puppet devastation. Maybe the most effective weapon comes on the very finish of the DLC, although I gained’t spoil what it’s.
You’ll use these nice new weapons in a number of boss fights, which had been a blended bag — some provided a enjoyable, ingenious problem, whereas others felt obnoxiously tough in a method that merely didn’t really feel truthful or pleasurable. Dealing with the primary boss, the Tyrannical Predator, studying its assault patterns and perfecting my dodges totally shook off my rust. The frenzy of satisfaction after taking its janky, crocodile ass down by no means felt so good.
The Puppeteer of Dying combat was a standout as properly, with Markiona controlling a puppet on strings through the fray, making it one thing of a two-on-one conflict. She provided a problem that felt much like taking up the Black Rabbit Brotherhood within the base sport, in the best way you need to juggle a number of foes; studying when her puppet would assault from any angle when Markiona herself demanded your consideration was fairly thrilling.
The penultimate boss proved to be much less of an thrilling problem and extra of a irritating one, much like the Walker of Illusions combat within the base sport. I needed to flip the problem all the best way all the way down to take care of him and his obnoxious combos that wouldn’t give me time to breathe (not to mention heal). He’d continually tease alternatives for backstabs, then twist round and assault earlier than I had an opportunity to grab the opening. Impolite. He’d additionally heal partway via the combat, including insult to harm — I’m imagined to heal, not you!
The DLC additionally has a hidden non-obligatory combat, which takes one of many base sport’s most annoying bosses and makes it even extra annoying because it too heals through the combat. Nevertheless, Overture’s closing conflict is so good — and so difficult — that it makes up for the frustration present in a few of the different fights. It’s a two-phase combat, with the second part unleashing devastating combos that check your mastery of the sport’s defenses, identical to the bottom sport’s closing boss.
Bouncing between glorious and irritating bosses was value it for Overture’s story alone. A lot of it issues P making an attempt to meet up with Lea, the Legendary Stalker, as she searches for her apprentice, Romeo (ring any bells?). Lies of P informed a heartbreaking story with a terrific forged of characters, and Overture does the identical, fleshing out the character of P and providing perception into who he — or, extra precisely, Carlo — was earlier than the occasions of the bottom sport. In my favourite part, Lea and P march collectively to the Monad Charity Home, slicing down monsters left and proper. She’s a powerhouse, and why she earned her moniker is straight away clear. Lea may also be summoned for the ultimate fray, and I completely liked taking part in alongside the Legendary Stalker versus an unnamed Spectre.
Overture’s storytelling enhances the bottom sport and feels as near important as a prequel might be. Although I didn’t click on with all of the boss fights, I loved the brand new enemy varieties — particularly the monsterized zoo animals — and experimenting with Overture’s new weapons was a pleasure, even when I rapidly grew connected to my Wolverine claws and didn’t actually wish to commerce them out for the rest. By the point credit rolled, I used to be removed from rusty and had my Soulslike groove again after the 20 glorious hours I spent with Overture. The sequel to Lies of P doesn’t have a agency launch window but, however Overture — in addition to the separate boss rush mode, obtainable as a part of a free patch — will certainly assist ease the look forward to it.
