Lies of P

The puppets in Lies of P would keep me staring at the screen instead of checking whether I’m still jogging, which is useful for focus and not ideal for an easy stride. I’d start on a bike, or keep the treadmill slow.

Gameplay

Lies of P takes Pinocchio and puts him in a Belle Epoque city full of dangerous puppets, and I think that setup works because it gives the game a particular look without making the story feel like a familiar fairy tale with a darker coat of paint. The streets feel tense, and I’d expect to spend most of my attention watching what’s in front of me rather than letting the scenery carry the whole experience. There’s a lot to look at, but the enemies usually want your attention first.

The combat is the part that would keep me engaged during a workout, because deciding whether to dodge or try to land a perfect guard makes even a simple fight feel like I should probably pay attention. You can’t just waggle the controller and hope the puppet gets tired. I do like that it asks you to learn an enemy’s timing, though I’d expect to spend some time getting knocked around before I felt clever about it.

The Parade Master is an early example of the sort of fight that makes you watch for an opening instead of simply attacking whenever you feel like it, and that’s a good kind of distraction for someone who wants to stay mentally busy. Boss fights can take a few attempts, though, and I don’t know how much I’d enjoy repeating one while trying to keep an even pace. That might be a lot of stopping and starting.

Between fights, you’ll be exploring, finding useful items, and returning to Hotel Krat, so the game isn’t one long string of combat. I think those quieter stretches help the pacing, but they also mean you might be standing still in your head while the treadmill keeps going. The story has its share of conversations and scenes, and I’d be more interested in them when I wasn’t trying to remember whether I had changed my walking speed.

The weapon system lets you combine parts, which is a fun reason to try different approaches, but I’d probably spend more time thinking about what to bring than I would in a simpler action game. There’s also weapon durability to keep an eye on. I can see the appeal of all those little decisions, and I can also see myself reaching a safe spot and needing a minute to remember what I was doing.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Treadmill and Bike Compatibility

The fighting asks for timing, and that’s the part I’d take seriously before picking a pace. Full controller support is a clear plus, but a perfect guard is less forgiving than holding one direction and enjoying the scenery, and quick reactions are a bigger ask when your hands are moving with your steps. I’d keep the treadmill slow enough that I could react without turning each boss fight into a balancing exercise.

A bike seems easier to pair with the combat, especially at a comfortable resistance, because your hands aren’t bouncing around as much while you’re trying to read an enemy. I still wouldn’t assume that makes the perfect guard easy. When a boss starts chaining attacks, I’d expect my attention to go straight to the screen and stay there.

For the treadmill, I’d use a low pace for exploring and take it down another notch when I reached a boss or a tougher enemy. I’d also be willing to skip a workout session with the game if I was tired, because trying to be precise when your focus is already slipping sounds like a good way to get annoyed at a puppet. I’d rather make the workout easier than prove anything to the Parade Master.

The quieter parts could work well if you’re riding at a steady pace, since you can look around and follow the story without needing quick inputs every few seconds. But then the next fight can arrive and ask for careful timing, so I wouldn’t count on an entire session feeling relaxed. It’s a game that can hold your attention, which is great, and sometimes that attention is exactly what your workout was supposed to get.

Category Score: 2 out of 3

Computer Requirements

The minimum requirements point to an older dedicated graphics card, rather than a machine that can rely on basic integrated graphics. I’d check your graphics card first, and make sure you have room for the 50 GB install. It doesn’t look like you need a top of the line gaming computer.

Category Score: 3 out of 3

Conclusion and Score

This makes sense for you if you want a demanding action game to focus on while cycling or walking at a controlled pace. I’d skip it for a fast treadmill run, but the combat and strange puppet filled world give you plenty to pay attention to.

Overall Score: 2.33 out of 3