Lies of P : Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery

 

Once upon a time, a genius by the name of Miyazaki Hidetaka made the Souls series of games starting from Demons Souls to Dark Souls 1~3. They started out not being mainstream popular but had a hardcore fanbase. Watching videos, I did not understand why they were popular but the fact that they were difficult games peaked my curiosity. When I watched videos of gameplay, it just seemed like a slow action game with lots of rolling.

I bought Bloodborne and my life changed forever. I finally understood the appeal of Miyazaki and From Software's genius. The best thing about the games were that they had 1 difficulty and the game was designed around that difficulty. 

You had a fixed amount of healing items from one save point to the next and it was up to you to learn how to get there. It was about learning from your mistakes and not caring about losing your experience points when you die because learning how to overcome obstacles is more important than experience points. Soulsborne game are about telling the story through weapon descriptions and notes instead of spelling everything out for the audience. Actually without youtube, I would not be able to tell you the story of the Souls games except for Sekiro.

Bloodborne led me to Dark Souls which led to me the greatest action game of all time Sekiro to Demon's Souls and of course Elden Ring. Sidenote, I can play Sekiro every year because the game is just that good and not many games make you want to fight a boss again after dying 50 times because the boss fights are so fun. Soulsborne games became a genre in itself as everyone tried to copy From Software's formula of bonfires and collecting souls. I really wanted to like Nioh and gave it 2 chances but the randomly generated loot system was too annoying. 

Soulsborne games are the opposite of randomly generated loot. They are about items being placed at certain areas for certain reasons; usually as bait for traps but you are not overwhelmed with randomly generated loot. Rise of the Ronin aka Ancient Kyoto Simulator was ok but did not tempt me to try any more Koei Tecmo games.

Then I heard about this Pinocchio Soulsborne game made by an unknown Korean developer. I downloaded the demo, forgot about it until it went on sale recently and OMFG Lies of P is the perfect marriage of Bloodborne and Sekiro.

I would buy a system for Bloodborne 2 and Sekiro 2 just like I got a Wii U for Bayonetta 2. I also got a Switch for Bayonetta 3 and that turned out to be such a bad game. While Miyazaki is making some multiplayer Elden Ring game, some unknown company have made the spiritual sequel to his two masterpieces that everyone wants sequels to.

It is amazing how much Lies of P is a homage to all of Miyazaki's games. From the traps to weapons to bosses, this game is new but so familiar. It is a From Software greatest hits wrapped up in one beautiful package. I have not played much imitators but feel of the game from the weight of the weapons to the hitboxes just work. 

Lies of P is an amazing must play game. I am going through New Game + to solo all the bosses. Don't use the summons because they make the game too easy. Can't wait for the DLC to and the inevitable sequel. As a gamer, it is amazing when you get what you want, I just did not expect to get it from an imitation.

Japan trip 2024 day 20: Tokyo Game Show part 2 cosplay

IGN Japan had a store?! I listen to their podcast shaberisugi gamerall the time. Good listening practice to learn Japanese gaming terms.
 

Tokyo Stories game looks interesting because of the pixel art.

Long queues for konbinis and food has run out.

After buying everything I wanted, it was back to the main halls.

New Layton game. I have not played a Layton game yet.

I really wanted to get showbags but you have to queue to play the games to get them and a lot of the queues were closed by this time.

Crows were getting crazier. 

Fatal Fury cosplay event and by the gaming gods, it is Enako!!!!!! She is a very famous cosplayer doing Futaba from Garou MOTW.

They had a female cosplayer do Rock, lol.

Mai is the hardest character to do I think.

Terry did the best job with the fighting stance and doing Terry's moves.

Everyone did a great job and the Terry was good. definitely did not expect to see Enako in the flesh.

Hello, Samsung. 

Monster Hunter.

Playstation 30th anniversary wall.

Crowds are just too big. So difficult to move.

Stage event for Metaphor at the Sega stage.

Shiver me timbers. I think I want to be a pirate when I grow up.

From the MSI stage.

Went to the cosplay section.

I had to line up must be at least 20 minutes for these two. The old dudes with the crazy big cameras really take their time and want 20 different poses. Worth the wait because they are so good.

Hello nurse. 

2B or not 2B? That is the question.

This is quite a recent figure.

Juri.

You can see everyone lining up to take a picture in the back. There was a black dude sneakily taking zoom pictures on his phone without lining up. Sigh. Just line up like everyone.

Yuna!

Lastly Kiryu-chan!

Very good cosplay.

Went to Oreshiki at Tokyo station for very late lunch/early dinner.

The teriyaki chasyu was good but the men and soup just not as good as it was 8 years ago. This used to be one of the best tonkotsu ramen places in Tokyo.

Mega Drive goods. This new jacket has made my old one obsolete. Oh well.

Metal Gear solid jacket. Favourite thing I got from TGS.

RGG studio shirt and Kasuga digsta figure. I think the dragons should have been at the back of shirt instead of front and the digsta figure is the same size as Popup Parade but details are better. If I could do it again I would not get these two things.

I like the Majima Acrylic stand. The Majima and Nishiki pins are too big to pin to a bag. Not too sure what to do with them.

10 street passes from TGS! I love Japan because I can still find 3DS carrying comrades!

Went to Ittou again for dinner. Ordered large which was a mistake because it was twice the volume of noodles. The soup/tsuke ran out in the middle and they gave me a new bowl.

Went to Gran Bleu. It was on of the girl's birthday celebrations that day so full house. Was talking to this girl Suzu who was from another store and was helping out. Turns out she's into music as well, goes to lives etc so had a lot to talk about. Then found out she was into vocaloids and we sang a Megurine Luka song. Then I asked do you know Lion from Macross? Got to duet that song after so many years. It is one of the most fun duet songs.

Japan trip 2024 day 20: Tokyo Game Show pt 1

It is never too early to go Makuhari Messe for TGS. It took forever to get out of the train station because of how packed it was.

Got this Falcom uchiwa fan outside the station! I could feel the excitement starting.

I see Ryu, Elden Ring, Shadow, Metaphor and 2B. 

Map of the halls. I just looked for the Sega booth and decided I was going straight there.

Microsoft spent some money on advertising. They should spend money on supporting exclusive games like back in the 360 days instead of just buying up companies.

No idea what this game is.

Had to queue for an hour to slowly get in.

Finally at the entrance and everyone was asked to raised their hand to show the green bracelet pass.

Finally in!

Majima ni-san! He has gone from head of Majima kensetsu to a pirate. Not sure if that is an upgrade.

Giant statue of Shadow.

Persona 5.

Metaphor cosplayer.

Giant Fatal Fury booth. At this time I was wondering where were the goods? I should have done my research and realised that the goods were at a different place in Halls 11+12.

Good on SNK for going all out. 

I am definitely going to support them.

On my way to where the merchandise was going sold. I wasted too much time at the main stages. 

Finally arrived at merch hall. Not happy to see Grapht because I don't like their Street Fighter stuff.

Finally lining up for the Sega merch!

Sega goods. You get a piece of paper which lists everything and then you tick what you want and give it to the people at the counter.

Nearly there!

OMG, Metal Gear Solid hoodie which I got. So happy with it!

Cospa store.

Fatal Fury shirts and is Shiki is the most marketable character from Samurai Spirits? So cool to see merch from old games.

I want everything!

That black Sonic shirt on the left is very nice.

I like the Yorha shirts because only people who played Nier Automata know what they mean and they don't look like gaming shirts.

Unicorn Overlord Elf t-shirt. I must be strong because I do not any t-shirts of beautiful elves.

Very cool King of Fighters shirt with Kusanagi Kyo's eclipse motif at the back. This TGS is overflowing with cool t-shirt designs.

This I adore. Kyokugen-ryu t-shirt aka the fighting style of Ryo from Art of Fighting.

They even have stuff for Fallout fans.

Cammy and Juri figures. What about Ryu, Ken and Guile?

Monster Hunter.

Capcom store. I already have some SF6 acrylic stands pre-ordered and funny enough they were not selling the ones I pre-ordered.

Walking by the Square Enix shop and they were playing the Final Fantasy IX music from the vinyl. I love that game so much.

WTF is this?

All the Sega goods.

Kojima Productions had their own shop.

Who wants their own Kojima Hideo figure?

Have not touched Death Stranding.

TorchTorch, makers of expensive t-shirts for games that I really love. They did not have the Sekiro gishu t-shirt which I regretted not buying last trip.

I will get this whenever it comes out.

Can't wait to see it painted.

Supposed to come out 2026 I think and will cost me an arm and a leg but it looks so beautiful.

Everyone's favourite witch Rani from Elden Ring.

I don't think I will be getting this.