Summary
It’s arguably never been a better time to be a Soulslike fan. The originalDark Soulstrilogy is loved for its challenging action roleplaying gameplay and has served as a blueprint for many different games. Somesuccessful Soulslikeexamples includeNioh, Wo Long: Fallen Dynasty, Mortal Shell,andLords of the Fallen.
DeveloperNeowizrecently launched a new title calledLies of Pthat is loosely based on the story ofPinocchio, the fictional character created by Carlo Collodi in 1883 that is probably best known from various film adaptions. As it turns out, the fairytale-based setting combined with Soulslike gameplay is a hit with fans.Neowizmight have struck gold withLies of P,cornering an entirely new market of fairytale-inspired action roleplaying games.
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Lies of P Has Created A World Of Possibilities
Fairytales are often based on folklore and contain fantasy elements such as magic, wondrous creatures, powerful heroes, and various other elements that have captured humanity’s imagination since time immemorial. With the release ofLies of P, many fans have started to imagine similar games based on other folk and fairytales. For example,a follow-up toLies of Pcould potentially be based onThe Wizard of Oz,the children’s story written by L. Frank Baum in 1900. The post-credits scene inLies of Pconfirms that such an adaption is in the works, but it is likely DLC forLies of Prather than a sequel.
Another popular story that might make a good setting for a Soulslike game is Lewis Carroll’sAlice in Wonderland.There have already been games based on this story likeAlice: Madness Returnswhichwas supposed to get a sequel calledAlice: Asylumbefore EA shut it down, much to the disappointment of fans.
A Soulslike game based onAlice in Wonderlandcouldpay homage toMadness Returnsbut would probably have to do so carefully since EA owns the rights to the franchise. While EA has shown absolutely no interest in continuing theAliceseries, the company could very well reboot the franchise and incorporate some of the familiar Soulslike mechanics that millions of gamers around the world have grown to love. Doing so may alienate fans of the original games, but it is an interesting (if unlikely) possibility to think about.
Other Developers May Be Taking Notes
There areother well-regarded Soulslike developersthat could emulate Neowiz and create fairytale-inspired games. Team Ninja is one such developer; it has released several popular Soulslike games such asNiohandWo Long: Fallen Dynasty.Team Ninja also collaborated with Square Enix to createStranger of Paradise: Final Fantasy Origin.At the moment, Team Ninja is occupied with developing the upcoming PlayStation 5 exclusiveRise of the Roninwhich is set in 19th century Edo, but there is nothing stopping it from creating its own take on a fairytale as its next project.
If Team Ninja were to develop a fairytale-based game, it would very likely adapt a Japanese folktale.Momotaro,the story of a hero that was born from a peach is a good candidate. It is probably one of the best-known Japanese folktales that dates all the way back to the 1600s and has been retold and adapted countless times, with English translations appearing in the late 1800s. Another popular Japanese fairytale isUrashima Taroin which the titular hero saves a turtle who happens to be dragon god Ryujin’s daughter and is whisked away to a palace at the bottom of the sea.
It’s fun to speculate aboutwhich fairytales would make great Soulslike games, it seems that the two go together like peas and carrots. Another interesting candidate could beLittle Red Riding Hood, With the success ofLies of P,Neowizis uniquely positioned to capitalize on this combination and make a name for itself as the premier developer of Soulslike fairytales.
MORE:Lies of P Can Achieve Something Bloodborne Fans Have Wanted for Nearly a Decade
