REVIEW – DLC has been added to the game, and many find it tough (complaining about that is questionable). The developers have caved and are making it easier—essentially sacrificing their vision for the sake of the mainstream. Round 8 Studio has bowed to the masses, even though the DLC itself is very good.

Lies of P: Overture (LoPO for short) serves as a prequel to the base game and brings plenty of positives, even if not everything hits the mark.

 Get prepared or get bent

Our hero and his companion, Gemini, go back in time to before the disease spread and the puppets rebelled. Characters that were only mentioned in the base game are now more fleshed out, and there are new locations to explore. For fans of backstory, there’s plenty to dive into. The environments are striking, evident right from the Krat Zoo. In a few spots—especially underground—it can feel a bit repetitive, and what’s particularly irritating (and, honestly, what keeps LoPO from getting a higher score) is the placement of certain enemies. This isn’t a complaint about the DLC’s difficulty, but some areas are cramped because of enemies with massive shields. That said, the level design is not poor overall. The bosses are especially well done—one of the DLC’s biggest strengths. You can even re-fight them in Battle Memories, with five difficulty levels and dozens of hours of gameplay for the €30 (about $32) price tag.

Also, you can’t just jump into the new content from the main menu—you have to complete chapter 9 of the main story, get an item, and follow on-screen directions. FromSoftware could take notes. LoPO is loaded with new weapons, consumables, side quests, costumes, and even two new Legion Arms for your left arm—one works like a rifle, and the other fires circular blades, reminiscent of Unreal Tournament 99’s disc weapon. This doesn’t impact the rating, but do not stop playing the DLC: the ending is perhaps the best part—adrenaline, emotion, and a truly massive final boss. You can also earn weapons from bosses and chests. Fable Arts (special attacks) return, and you can create a wide variety of builds—if you want to go all-in on dexterity (called “Technique” here), you can. The best part is that new weapons fit perfectly in the base game, especially for New Game+ runs (which are recommended!).

 Is knowledge of the base game required?

Since this is a DLC, it’s a fair question. The answer is a clear yes: you should definitely play the base game first and only then dive into the DLC to get the full picture. (This doesn’t affect the rating.) There aren’t a huge number of brand-new bosses, but the ones present are the toughest fights Round 8 Studio and Neowiz have designed. On to the difficulty debate: yes, the DLC is hard. No, it’s not unfairly hard. Yes, it’s a problem that they’re going to make it easier. You won’t find absurdly long combos here (unlike in Elden Ring).

Just recognize the attack patterns, perfect your parries, and dodge the rest. Bosses are fast, so timing your attacks is more important than ever. Also worth noting: a free update adds two more difficulty levels and new colorblind options (protanopia, deuteranopia, tritanopia), all adjustable via a slider. But Soulslikes are not for everyone—this will always limit the audience, even though this is arguably the best Soulslike of 2023. If you’re not into the genre, you probably won’t get far in the DLC (or may not even unlock it).

 Oh, Verily Edible, Recommended, Tasty, Unless Raging Easily

Lies of P: Overture scores an 8.5/10. If enemy placement had been a bit better, it would have landed a 9/10. Sometimes it feels a little slow, but the overall pace is right. New weapons, gear, and prequel story all build on the base game—it’s fantastic. If you liked the main game, this DLC is a must-buy. If you like Soulslikes, now’s the time to pick up the base game, too. More DLC should be like this—not just short, overpriced filler. In fact, Lies of P: Overture might deserve to be called DLC of the year—applause and curtain.

-V-

Developer: Round 8 Studio
Publisher: Neowiz
Genre: Souls Clone
Release Date: June 8, 2025