Code of Princess

60%
Game Brain Score Based on 126 reviews
  • story
  • graphics
  • gameplay
Code of Princess Game Cover
Fast and thoroughly enjoyable throwback to classic side-scrolling RPGs, but too much content is hidden behind Multiplayer.
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In "Code of Princess," players control the princess Solange and her allies in a side-scrolling action RPG, fighting against numerous enemies and bosses in a quest to protect the kingdom of DeLuxia. The game features a variety of playable characters, each with unique abilities and weapons, and supports both single-player and multiplayer modes. With colorful graphics and a light-hearted story, "Code of Princess" offers a fast-paced and engaging experience.

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Reviews

60%
Audience ScoreBased on 126 reviews
story17 positive mentions
grinding15 negative mentions
  • The game features a large roster of playable characters, each with unique abilities, providing depth and variety to gameplay.
  • The character design and art style are vibrant and appealing, with a fun soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.
  • The combat system, while simple, allows for enjoyable button-mashing and combo chaining, making it accessible for casual players.
  • The port suffers from low-resolution graphics and pixelation issues, making it visually unappealing on larger screens.
  • Controls can feel clunky and unresponsive, leading to frustrating gameplay experiences, especially during intense combat sequences.
  • The localization is poorly executed, with mismatched dialogue and a lack of an English dub, detracting from the story's enjoyment.
  • story86 mentions

    The game's story is generally viewed as simplistic and often generic, with some humorous moments and memorable characters, but it lacks depth and originality. While the narrative can be entertaining in a light-hearted way, many players find it underwhelming, with issues in localization affecting the overall experience. Despite its shortcomings, the story provides a framework for gameplay, with multiple character perspectives and bonus quests adding some replay value.

    • “Though the story is short (took me about 4 hours), the characters are memorable, the sprite work is good, and some of the dialogue is pretty funny.”
    • “Interesting characters with a decently charming story that can be completed in a few sittings.”
    • “I really enjoy the storytelling, the mix of high-resolution backgrounds with low-resolution characters.”
    • “Take a game that is either boring or frustrating at any given moment, throw in a trite story and a bad localization, and it's an altogether unpleasant bundle of shortcomings.”
    • “Unfortunately, the story and the characters are entirely uninteresting shallow tropes.”
    • “The story isn't anything new or clever, nor is the dialogue which borders on incredibly lame, but is fortunately quite skippable.”
  • graphics40 mentions

    The graphics of "Code of Princess" have received mixed reviews, with many players noting the game's pixelated visuals and 3DS-quality assets as significant drawbacks. While some appreciate the colorful art style and character designs, others find the graphics outdated and unappealing, particularly in the context of modern gaming. Overall, the visuals are seen as a major factor that could deter potential players, especially those sensitive to lower-end graphics.

    • “Code of Princess gave me a fun time with its competent combat system, nice soundtrack, and colorful art style.”
    • “Graphics are beautiful, characters are well developed, and each is completely unique in combat and in their art styles!”
    • “Hand-drawn graphics, with the characters being done in detailed pixel art against a higher resolution but still 2D background looks nice; the animations, especially of the player, are smooth.”
    • “One warning I would give everyone is that if you cannot handle lower-end graphics, then you may find this title to be ugly.”
    • “Unfortunately, the graphics did not receive any treatment, and the character models are so pixelated they are downright ugly to look at.”
    • “Really, just why didn't they improve it for PC and on top of that the recent Switch port still has awful graphics; the story is generic anime fantasy, buy on sale, overpriced considering the quality.”
  • gameplay38 mentions

    The gameplay is characterized as a simple yet enjoyable beat-em-up with light RPG mechanics, featuring a wide array of distinct characters and a straightforward combo system. While many players appreciate the satisfying combat and nostalgic feel reminiscent of classic titles, criticisms include unresponsive controls, repetitive mechanics, and a steep difficulty curve in later stages. Overall, the game offers a fun experience for fans of the genre, though it may lack depth and polish compared to more modern titles.

    • “The 2D beat-em-up gameplay is quick to pick up, and chaining together combos on-the-fly to slice and dice the monsters to bits is quite satisfying.”
    • “Hack and slash with RPG elements thrown in to keep the gameplay interesting and fresh.”
    • “Nice gameplay, upbeat rhythm, nice set of characters... what's not to love?”
    • “Overall, the RPG-lite mechanics should have been scrapped for responsive controls, better enemy AI that isn't just a binary of a) punching bag or b) super fighting-move spammer, and more viable player characters.”
    • “The game is a mechanically shallow beat-em-up with a simple combo system and the option to cancel into a single special.”
    • “The difficulty curve takes a very steep turn in the final areas of the game, turning breezy and simple gameplay into a massacre very quickly as mobs surround you and stun-lock you to death.”
  • grinding15 mentions

    The reviews highlight that grinding is a significant and often tedious aspect of the game, requiring players to spend extensive hours leveling up characters to progress. While some players appreciate the RPG elements and the sense of achievement from character development, many find the grinding to be excessive and detracting from the overall enjoyment, especially given the short levels and lack of engaging action. The need to grind multiple characters to keep them viable adds to the frustration, making the experience feel more like a chore than a rewarding gameplay mechanic.

    • “Epic grinding the same level for hours on end just to deal with the above problems.”
    • “The battles are more about grinding than action.”
    • “It's grindy, incredibly slow, and not particularly exciting, beyond near every character's ability to smack a mook across the playing field.”
  • humor13 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by its witty dialogue, memorable characters, and a goofy sense of fun, contributing to an enjoyable experience despite a short story length. While some players noted the repetitive nature of in-game voice lines, the self-aware subtitles and unique character interactions provide a humorous touch. However, the lack of a proper English dub may hinder the comedic experience for those not fluent in Japanese.

    • “This is a fun little beat 'em up RPG, with an unusual art style (that is quite a bit of fun), a simple but easy to understand and break leveling/stat system, as well as a funny story.”
    • “Though the story is short (took me about 4 hours), the characters are memorable, the sprite work is good, and some of the dialogue is pretty funny.”
    • “The music and in-game voice lines of Code of Princess are a tad repetitive, as the characters make the same callouts every time they use even basic attacks, but the English subtitles are hilarious and very self-aware, and worth reading.”
  • music12 mentions

    The music in "Code of Princess" is generally well-received, with many praising its decent soundtrack and standout tracks like Ali's main theme and Empurrium. However, some players find the music and in-game voice lines repetitive, and while the overall quality is good, it can be considered unremarkable at times. Despite these critiques, the soundtrack contributes positively to the game's enjoyable experience.

    • “Code of Princess gave me a fun time with its competent combat system, nice soundtrack, and colorful art style.”
    • “The soundtrack's decent, and tracks like the Empurrium are unexpected gems.”
    • “The music is nice, really like Ali's main theme.”
    • “The music and in-game voice lines of Code of Princess are a tad repetitive, as the characters make the same callouts every time they use even basic attacks.”
    • “Music is alright, if unremarkable.”
    • “Music is forgettable; sound effects do their job.”
  • character development9 mentions

    Character development in the game is noted for its striking and creative character designs, primarily attributed to renowned artist Kinu Nishimura, which evoke a nostalgic 90s aesthetic. However, the narrative lacks depth and seriousness, leading to a disconnect between the impressive visual design and the overall gameplay experience, which many reviewers found lacking. Overall, while the character designs are celebrated, the development of the characters within the story is seen as superficial and not particularly engaging.

    • “Great character design by Zero Escape artist, Kinu Nishimura!”
    • “Fun character designs from Kinu Nishimura of Street Fighter fame.”
    • “The game really doesn't take itself seriously when it comes to story, so don't expect anything deep. Code of Princess feels like something straight out of the 90s PlayStation era.”
    • “If you can't get past the short length or the rather ridiculous character designs, you might want to pass this one up.”
    • “3/10 game with 11/10 character design.”
  • replayability6 mentions

    The game offers a decent level of replayability, with players able to invest significant hours through bonus quests and character leveling, including the option to unlock additional characters. While it may not match the replay value of some other titles, the variety of characters and the RPG elements contribute positively to the overall experience.

    • “I haven't gone that far, but there's a fair bit of replayability, maybe going into the triple-digit hours.”
    • “Now the game itself is a decent beat 'em up similar to Guardian Heroes, with a light RPG component and good replayability.”
    • “Sadly, it hasn't got much replay value like Dragon's Crown in online mode.”
    • “Replay value comes in the form of completing bonus quests and trying out every character, and if you're up to it, maxing them all out to level 99.”
    • “Replayability: 9, plus I didn't mention before there are four other characters to unlock to play with as well!”
  • optimization1 mentions

    The game is well-optimized, running smoothly at 60 fps with various graphic options and a flexible layout that allows for dual-screen display without performance issues. Additionally, it offers solid control options from the outset.

    • “It now runs at 60 fps, has some graphic options, and features a really nice layout choice that allows you to show two screens like on a 3DS. You can switch on the spot without any performance impact, and it offers good control options from the start.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

57% average critic score

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Play time

5hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
5-5hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 1 analyzed playthroughs

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