Developer/Publisher: Neowiz
Gameplay Stats: Completed, 27/42 achievements, "good" ending, 36 hours
Oh man! Bloodborne looking Souls-like set in a darker imagining of Pinocchio. I am in.
Aesthetics: This game looks and sounds beautiful. The visuals look like what Bloodborne would look like if it was set in France and made for modern consoles. The enemies go from creepy to grotesque in a way that is very cool. The style is more real-ish kinda like how Bloodborne warped its humans to fit their weird world. The music here is really good too. I feel like how I do in Souls games where I wish there was more of it. What is here is stellar though! I liked how some of the rewards you get for finishing particular characters quest lines are records with new music for you to listen to.
Plot: Wow this one is weird. You are Pinocchio although I'm not really sure if the game names you. It is HEAVILY implied. Anyway, you're an automaton/puppet during a puppet uprising. So naturally you should lie to get around the world and make your life easier. But you don't have to. In addition to the puppet uprising the city where the game is located is also beset by a plague of petrification disease. You are immune to this, but it is central to the human characters you meet and their experience in the city. There are many twists and turns including the presence of alchemists and I can honestly say I enjoyed the plot. It wasn't as subtle as in the Souls series and I think that made it way easier to enjoy.
Gameplay: Where the game really shines! The game is parry and dodge focused kinda like Sekiro meets Bloodborne. The normal weapons you find in the world can be disassembled and reassembled as you wish. Unfortunately the boss weapons can't, but I can see why. I don't think they necessarily did anything genre busting here but they did everything well. The combat, the encounter design, the maps, and the bosses are all excellent. It stays true to its inspirations while making small tweaks that definitely progress the genre. Among the most interesting tweaks to me is that weapon durability actually matters. Your weapons can run out of durability even mid boss fight and you will need to find an opening to repair them with your grinding wheel. A very nice refinement of a design decision that From Soft has moved away from.
I don't really know what to say overall here. If you liked the Souls games you owe it to yourself to pick this one up. Nothing mind blowing here but the execution is really great. With a plot that kept me guessing! And kept me entertained. Highly recommended from me.
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