Lies of P: Overture preview — Welcome back to Krat

Lies of P: Overture DLC emerges as an ambitious expansion, blurring the line between what is traditionally considered downloadable content and a full-fledged sequel. At its core, Overture is a substantial offering, with the director Jiwon Choi noting that its length rivals that of many full games, clocking in at 15 to 20 hours for experienced players and potentially longer for those who savor exploration and challenge. We at GamingTrend had the privilege and opportunity to attend a hands-on preview of this upcoming expansion, and boy are we excited for the full release!

Narratively, Overture is positioned as a prequel, transporting you back to the origins of the puppet massacre that devastated Krat. The story fills in narrative gaps left by the base game, offering a more complete vision of the Lies of P universe as originally conceived by its creators. 

On the gameplay front, Overture continues the series’ tradition of challenging, methodical combat, introducing a wealth of new bosses, weapons, and areas. I was first introduced to a new status ailment known as Freeze, which does what you probably think it does. My main new weapon of choice is the Maniacs Pinwheel Blade, which is made up of 2 spinning wheels that fit the circus animal theme extremely well. Other new weapons include the Deaths Talon Claws and Royal Horn Bow (yup, there’s a ranged main weapon now). The Pale Knight Gunblade. Overture also introduces brand new Legion Arms: The Cataclysm, which acts like a shotgun; and Icarus, which launches a blade that returns.

The story preview took me through the various snowy areas of Krat Zoo, where I went face to face with a ton of new enemy types. Since it’s a zoo, it’s only fitting for all of the new ghouls to be animals. Demented monkeys, gorillas, wolves, and kangaroos stand between you and your next objective. The first boss I encountered was a giant alligator, which proved no threat to me as I dawned the Maniacs Pinwheel Blade. After beating the giant beast, I then entered a greenhouse area that turned out to be the lair of the Master of Puppets, with tons of new kicking-oriented puppet enemies.

The second part of the event allowed us to try our hands at some of the new bosses, 3 to be exact, not including the alligator: Markiona Puppeteer of Death, Two Faced Overseer, and the Anguished Guardian of the Ruins. I’ll only spoil the names for you and leave the rest for you to enjoy yourself. All of them are no joke and a challenge to defeat!

Playing the DLC on the PC provided by Neowiz, the entire experience was flawless on the technical front. No frame drops, bugs, or any stutters. This is no surprise, as the base game was extremely polished already. I know we can expect this for the full launch as well.

Visually, Overture maintains the dark, atmospheric aesthetic that defined Lies of P, with new environments that evoke both the grandeur and the decay of Krat’s golden age. The art direction remains a highlight, with intricate enemy designs and evocative settings that reinforce the game’s somber tone. This time I visited Krat Zoo, with different enemy types representing the animal nature of the environment. I got to see a safari savanna, a greenhouse, along with the zoo itself, encased in freezing white snow.

The audio experience is similarly impressive, with sound effects and voice work that continue to immerse you in the world of Krat. I’ll leave the wonders of music for you to discover on your own, but during the preview event, they brought out Elliott Yamin to sing a cover of Feels! What a treat that was.

Along with the release of the paid DLC, there will be a free patch in the main game that introduces new difficulty selections: Butterfly’s Guidance and Awakened Puppet. The default setting is now called Legendary Stalker. You heard that right! Round8 takes player feedback very seriously and wants to make Lies of P more inclusive to folks who want a more narrative-focused experience. This update also includes two boss challenge modes, another highly requested feature. The first one, called Battle Memories, allows you to take on any previously defeated boss at different tiers of difficulty. There are 5 difficulties per boss, starting with 1, 2, and 3 and then 4, 5 which you have to unlock. The other is called Death March, where you select at least three bosses in a back to back boss rush mode.

Overture is shaping up to be an absolute delight for fans of the base game. It is a DLC that feels essential rather than ancillary, offering both narrative closure and mechanical innovation. Its greatest strengths lie in its narrative ambition, expanded gameplay systems, and sheer volume of content. The Lies of P expansion is slated to launch summer 2025 and will be set at a price of $29.99. In case you missed out, our editor Richard Allen gave the base game a grand 95. Check out his review here! Stay tuned to GamingTrend for all your gaming, tech, and entertainment news!