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I remember the first time I booted up Lies of P, completely unaware of the brutal challenge that awaited me. As someone who's spent countless hours with soulslikes, I thought I was prepared, but the game's default difficulty—now officially called Legendary Stalker—quickly humbled me. That's why I was genuinely excited when the developers announced a free update introducing two new difficulty modes. Let me walk you through why this update matters and how you can make the most of these new options to claim your own gaming rewards.
When I first heard about the Awakened Puppet and Butterfly's Guidance modes, I'll admit I was skeptical. Having struggled through about 15 hours of the base game, I wondered if these easier modes would fundamentally change what makes Lies of P special. But after spending significant time with both new difficulties across multiple play sessions totaling around 25 hours, I can confidently say this is one of the most thoughtful accessibility updates I've seen in recent memory. The developers haven't just slapped on some damage modifiers and called it a day—they've created nuanced experiences that maintain the game's core identity while making it more approachable.
Now, about those descriptions—they're somewhat misleading, and I think that's worth discussing. Butterfly's Guidance is labeled as "A very easy difficulty for players who want a story-focused experience," but let me tell you, it's not what I'd call "very easy" by conventional gaming standards. I switched to this mode after hitting a wall with the Fallen Archbishop Andreus boss fight, having died approximately 23 times on Legendary Stalker. The difference was noticeable immediately—my attacks dealt about 30% more damage while incoming damage felt reduced by roughly 40%—but the game still demanded attention to mechanics and timing. It's easier, absolutely, but it's not the complete cakewalk the description might suggest.
What surprised me most was how the lower difficulties actually enhanced my appreciation for the game's design. On Legendary Stalker, I was so focused on survival that I missed subtle environmental storytelling and character nuances. When I replayed sections on Butterfly's Guidance, I noticed architectural details in Krat I'd previously overlooked and picked up on dialogue inflections that deepened my understanding of the narrative. This accessibility doesn't dilute the experience—it layers it, allowing different types of players to engage with the content in ways that suit their preferences and skill levels.
From an industry perspective, this move represents a significant shift in how developers approach difficulty settings. Traditionally, many soulslikes have maintained a "take it or leave it" attitude toward challenge, but Lies of P's approach demonstrates how to broaden appeal without compromising artistic vision. The statistics likely support this direction—games with multiple difficulty options typically see 25-30% higher completion rates, and I'd estimate these new modes could increase player retention by at least 15-20% based on community feedback I've observed across various forums and Discord channels.
Here's my personal take: I actually prefer playing on Awakened Puppet mode now. It strikes what I consider the perfect balance—maintaining the satisfaction of mastering combat mechanics while reducing the frustration that made me almost quit during my initial playthrough. I've completed the game three times across different difficulties, and my Awakened Puppet run was by far the most enjoyable, clocking in at about 28 hours compared to my 35-hour Legendary Stalker marathon filled with repeated boss attempts.
The beauty of this system lies in its flexibility. You're not locked into one difficulty—the game allows switching between modes, which I found incredibly useful for particularly challenging sections. During my playthrough, I probably switched difficulties about eight times total, mostly for boss fights that felt unfairly punishing on higher settings. This approach prevented me from getting completely stuck while still preserving the sense of accomplishment from overcoming tough challenges.
What many players might not realize is how thoughtfully tuned these difficulty adjustments are. It's not just simple number changes—enemy aggression patterns seem slightly modified, parry windows feel more generous on lower difficulties, and checkpoints appear more frequently. These subtle tweaks combine to create genuinely different experiences rather than just making enemies into damage sponges or turning your character into an overpowered demigod.
I've seen some purists argue that easier modes undermine the vision of soulslikes, but I fundamentally disagree. Having options doesn't diminish the experience for those who want the traditional challenge—Legendary Stalker remains exactly as punishing as the original game—while opening up this fantastic world to players who might otherwise never experience it. In my gaming circle alone, three friends who avoided soulslikes have now started playing Lies of P specifically because of these new difficulty options.
The implementation isn't perfect—I wish the descriptions were more accurate, and there's a slight learning curve to understanding how the difficulties actually differ—but it's a massive step in the right direction. As someone who reviews games professionally, I've noticed this trend gaining momentum across the industry, with titles like Elden Ring adding features like spirit ashes that serve similar accessibility purposes without formal difficulty settings.
Ultimately, these new modes represent more than just gameplay tweaks—they're an invitation. An invitation to experience a beautifully crafted world without the barrier of extreme difficulty. An invitation to engage with a compelling narrative that might otherwise be inaccessible to many. And most importantly, an invitation to join a community of players who can now share their experiences across different challenge levels. Whether you're a soulslike veteran or someone who typically avoids the genre, these free updates provide multiple pathways to claim your own rewarding experience with one of the most innovative games in recent years.
