And why Neowiz is taking on FromSoftware.
WhenLies of Preleaseda demo back in June, many players found its dodge to be, well, dodgy.
Now that’s changed.
Dodging past those projectiles to close in for melee sword swipes felt far more satisfying than before.
Dodging was a far more viable strategy than before and felt more responsive than in the demo.
A further piece of feedback was on weapon durability, Choi told me.
After repeated use weapons become dull and must be sharpened, a mechanic that’s now been tweaked.
Indeed, I never needed to sharpen my weapon in the middle of a boss fight.
“We had some feedback that [durability] is hard to adapt to,” said Choi.
“We had to adjust it a little bit.
I asked how the studio has approached difficulty, considering Soulslike games are known for their challenge.
So why take on FromSoftware at its own game?
“That became motivation for us,” said Choi.
“We wanted a challenge and to make the best game of that genre.”
Standing apart from other games in the genre is also a challenge.
“There are so many Soulslike games and already masterpieces from FromSoftware,” admitted Choi.
“It was pressure and motivation at the same time.”
But each element of the game, from the setting to combat, has a unique twist.
“Soulslike games are known for sophisticated level design and combat systems.
We went through so many nights and discussions to make it possible.”
Neowiz is also playing on Pinocchio’s lies - it’s in the title after all.
There will also be multiple endings based on the number of lies told.
Finally, I asked if Choi had any tips for those looking to play the game.
“Don’t be too frustrated when you die,” he said.
“Prepare to be defeated happily.”
That’s certainly advice that applies to any Soulslike game.
