How Lies of P turned a rhythm game’s hip hop and electronica songs into a gothic, melancholic soundtrack

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When I first heard the music in the game Lies of P, I was surprised to recognize many of the songs. It didn’t make sense – the game had just been released! It turns out the reason these songs sounded familiar is because they’re rearranged versions of tracks from one of my favorite PC rhythm games. It’s a much more interesting reason than the game simply licensing popular music.

Neowiz, the company behind the popular DJMax series, initially released the game as an online PC title only in Asia. It later became available on PlayStation for several years before making a comeback to PCs with 2020’s DJMax Respect V. The game boasts a huge and diverse soundtrack, featuring original music and collaborations with titles like League of Legends and Tekken. You’ll find everything from K-pop and metal to hip-hop – DJMax likely has a composer for almost any genre you can imagine.

It’s not what you’d expect from a dark, gothic reimagining of Pinocchio, but that’s part of what makes Lies of P’s soundtrack so interesting. The game cleverly transforms popular songs from DJMax into something both recognizable and refreshingly new. Some even joke that soulslike games are basically rhythm games anyway, so maybe this combination is a perfect fit.

The director of Lies of P, Jiwon Choi, recently told Game Rant that the decision to include remixed songs from the rhythm game DJMax came down to a simple desire to create something enjoyable. Choi explained that the team wanted music and instrumentation that matched the game’s art style and world, and since their company, Neowiz, already runs DJMax Respect V, they thought it would be a fun challenge to reimagine those songs in the style of Lies of P. They’re pleased with how the remakes turned out.

I’m glad to hear that everyone is enjoying the changes – they really are excellent. One track that especially fits the atmosphere of Lies of P is “Why” by Korean composer Nauts. It’s a more recent addition, having been included in the 2020 release, Respect V.

The song already features a strong, melodic piano sound, and just a slight change could shift its feel from adventurous fantasy to something more sad and reflective. Even the more energetic section, originally hopeful in DJMax, now has a darker, more subdued quality. Although the two versions are very alike, they create completely different emotional experiences.

I especially love tracks that have changed a lot over time. DJ Mocha’s “Feel” remains a favorite in DJMax, even though it’s one of the original songs. First appearing in 2004’s DJMax Online, it has a classic electronic disco sound with a strong bassline and catchy synth melodies.

Unlike the original, Lies of P reimagines the song with a slow, atmospheric sound. It replaces the energetic beat with gentle chords, delicate guitar work, subtle distortion, and the warm crackle of vinyl, creating a melancholic, rainy-day vibe. It feels like something you’d hear from a jazz singer in a dimly lit bar, giving it a strong noir atmosphere. While I still love the original, this version is a truly exceptional and one of my favorite rearrangements of all time.

This isn’t the only surprising musical shift. “Memory of Beach,” a cheerful electronic song by M2U (one of my favorite rhythm game composers!), first appeared in the 2006 game Portable 1. This new version doesn’t use the original lyrics, instead reimagining the melody as a soft piano piece with subtle vocal harmonies. It took me listening for a while to even recognize it *was* “Memory of Beach,” but once I caught the tune, I could clearly hear echoes of the original song.

As a big fan, I have to say creating original music is seriously hard these days, especially when everything feels like it’s been done before. But what really blew me away is how Neowiz took existing tracks and completely reimagined them for games like Lies of P and DJMax! It’s an incredible talent, and I honestly think you should check out both versions of these songs – it’s amazing how they took something familiar and made it feel totally fresh and fantastic all over again. They really knocked it out of the park!

  • Feel (DJMax) | Feel (Lies of P)
  • Divine Service (DJMax) | Divine Service (Lies of P)
  • Someday (DJ Max) | Someday (Lies of P)
  • Quixotic (DJMax) | Quixotic (Lies of P)
  • Why (DJMax) | Why (Lies of P)
  • Misty Er’A (DJMax) | Misty Er’A (Lies of P)
  • Proposal, Flower, Wolf Part 1 (DJMax) | Proposal, Flower, Wolf Part (Lies of P)
  • Far East Princess (DJMax) | Far East Princess (Lies of P)
  • Memory of Beach (DJMax) | Memory of Beach (Lies of P)
  • Shadow Flower (DJMax) | Shadow Flower (Lies of P)

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2025-09-14 15:33