genuinely one of the best souls-likes, even when compared to From's catalogue. Lies of P's core gameplay and themes are a razor-sharp refinement of everything that's come before, while also maintaining so much of its own identity that it truly stands on its own.

Only two things stand out as negatives to me. the exploration could leave some feeling unsatisfied, but the combat was so engrossing that I honestly prefer the game's sharp focus on it. secondly, one specific fight stands out as a weak point. if you've played the game, I'm referring to a certain rematch - a fight that suffers from the issues typical of these bosses. Neither of these issues were enough to hurt my enjoyment of the game, though; and even pinnacles of the genre suffer from worse problems.

the weapons, the areas, the enemies, and the bosses are all linked through the intricate gameplay systems - all of which build to create a combat system more interactive and more engaging than any souls-like I can think of, with the possible exception of Sekiro. I loved this game so much, and I really really can't wait to play more.