Loren The Amazon Princess
- January 15, 2014
- Winter Wolves
"Loren the Amazon Princess" is a fantasy RPG where you play as a servant and defender to Princess Loren on her quest to find her lost mother. Experience a heroic tale with intricate turn-based battles, character development, and replayability as choices and character customization lead to different outcomes. This old-school RPG by the creators of Planet Stronghold keeps the genre alive with its rich storytelling and various customization options.
Reviews
- Engaging story with well-developed characters that evolve throughout the game.
- High replayability due to multiple endings and romance options for both male and female protagonists.
- Solid combat system that allows for strategic planning and character customization.
- Dialogue choices are vague, making it difficult to predict character responses.
- Combat can become repetitive and lacks depth, especially at higher levels.
- Some characters and plot elements feel clichéd and predictable, lacking originality.
- story422 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The story of "Loren: The Amazon Princess" is a blend of classic fantasy tropes, featuring a quest to save the world intertwined with character-driven narratives and romance options. While some players find the plot predictable and clichéd, many appreciate the depth of character development and the engaging writing that keeps them invested throughout the game. The choices made by players can influence character interactions and story outcomes, adding to the replayability, though some critiques highlight issues with pacing and a lack of significant plot twists.
“The story offers a few enjoyable twists and some decisions do change your party composition and the ending.”
“What starts off as a simple rescue mission grows into a tale of saving the world as the machinations of the demons as well as the tensions between the elves and the humans rise and our heroes are caught in the midst of it all because of a simple sword that is said to be forged by the gods... what could have been just a generic epic fantasy plot is really made into something special here with great characters as well as clever writing.”
“The game has well-developed characters with varied personalities and an engaging story.”
“The story isn't anything special.”
“The story itself is weak and jumps from point to point without any real sense of justification or getting you emotionally involved.”
“The writing has a lot of grammar and phrasing and usage errors, and the storyline sometimes suffers from plot inconsistency and obvious logic issues.”
- gameplay84 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 64 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of the game is characterized by its straightforward turn-based mechanics, which some players find enjoyable and engaging, while others criticize it for being simplistic and lacking depth. While the RPG elements and character interactions add some replayability and charm, many reviewers note that the battle mechanics can feel repetitive and uninspired, with limited variety in skills and items. Overall, the game is seen as a decent blend of visual novel and RPG, appealing more to those who prioritize story and character development over complex gameplay.
“The story, the characters, the battles, the RPG mechanics, and the progression were balanced just about right to keep me engaged for ~13 hours until I saw the ending on normal difficulty.”
“It's a fantastic mix of visual novel and RPG, and it has a deceptively deep amount of mechanics for the format.”
“The gameplay is solid, but I think most people who fall in love with this game like I have will do so more because of the roleplaying than the gameplay mechanics.”
“Battle mechanics are okay, but not great - some of the skill trees were totally uninteresting and many mage skills were similar with just a different element (water, air, fire, etc.). At times, I got bored during the battles. There's not much to see in terms of world lore as well.”
“If you’re more interested in gameplay, in this aspect, Loren is deeply flawed. It’s not bad enough to become a complete chore, but it’s not really satisfying either.”
“The gameplay is solid, but I think most people who fall in love with this game will do so more because of the roleplaying than the gameplay mechanics.”
- graphics55 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 56 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with many praising the beautiful hand-drawn art style and nostalgic old-school aesthetics, while others criticize the lack of animation and repetitive backgrounds. Some players find the character designs appealing, though others note that certain elements, like impractical armor and exaggerated features, may not resonate with everyone. Overall, the visuals are described as pleasant and fitting for the genre, but they may not meet the expectations of those seeking cutting-edge graphics.
“A cozy fantasy story with interesting characters and a cool art style.”
“Thoroughly enjoyable, beautiful hand-drawn graphics.”
“The artwork is top notch, the characters are well-developed, and the storyline, while somewhat generic, is well-told.”
“The second weakness is the art style.”
“The optimization of the game is so glitchy at times that I even get a prompt from the game saying that my graphic settings are not optimized when gaming with the latest graphic drivers and DirectX installed.”
“The graphics were well framed with the plot, but the backgrounds were heavily reused, and the game could definitely have benefited from having more of them.”
- music40 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the soundtrack as fantastic and atmospheric, particularly during combat, while others find it lacking in variety and memorability. Some players appreciate the incidental music and its ability to enhance the storytelling, though a few noted instances of abrupt transitions and occasional mismatches with the game's tone. Overall, while the soundtrack is generally well-received, it may not be consistently engaging for all players.
“The music is fantastic and adds to the world.”
“The soundtrack is also very well done, particularly the combat tracks.”
“I most certainly recommend this game, and its DLC, as it has a great storyline, simple, yet fun combat, decent character customization, a fantastic soundtrack, and sets you on a very fun epic journey.”
“The music, there actually isn't much of a soundtrack going on.”
“The music could use some more variation.”
“The music was only so-so.”
- replayability32 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability, with multiple protagonists, branching storylines, and numerous romance options that encourage players to explore different paths and endings. While the main campaign is relatively short (10-20 hours), the engaging gameplay, character customization, and various choices significantly enhance its replay value. Overall, players appreciate the depth and variety that make returning to the game a rewarding experience.
“The replay value is high with two possible protagonists, each with their own narrative, and numerous romance options.”
“I really enjoyed the story, and just how many options there are for dramatically altering the storyline.”
“Despite its faults, however, this quickly became one of my favorite games due to both the nostalgic love of older-style games and high replay value, given the many different endings that can be unlocked both through character romance and different versions of the ending.”
“I really doubt it'll have the replay value advertised, and it doesn't seem very hardcore.”
“I would certainly recommend the game to those already initiated in text adventures and/or fans of JRPGs, and despite a certain replayability, the price tag for ten hours of gameplay might be a bit high, especially if you consider the grindy bits.”
“You can easily finish your first run through the game, doing everything it is possible to do (including DLC) in 15-20 hours, but it offers replay value through its multiple endings and romance routes.”
- grinding26 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 92 % negative mentions
Overall, players have mixed feelings about the grinding aspect of the game. While some find it unnecessary and tedious, especially in the context of a visual novel, others appreciate the option to grind for character development and skill unlocking. The combat can become repetitive, but it is generally considered enjoyable, with some players opting to grind for fun rather than necessity.
“The battles were fun and challenging, yet not tedious, making the grinding feel rewarding.”
“There was no pointless grinding unless you wanted to do so, which made the experience enjoyable.”
“On hard difficulty, the game can be grindy, but it's never truly challenging.”
“I'm left grinding doing super generic fights until my healer is strong enough to win somehow.”
“The only way to catch these characters up is the aforementioned grinding fights, which barely give decent experience.”
- character development19 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 16 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and engagement, with many players appreciating the nuanced growth of characters through interactions and optional quests. While some reviews highlight the presence of anime tropes and clichéd villains that detract from the overall experience, the diverse personalities and relationship dynamics among companions are often noted as strong points. Overall, the character designs are visually appealing, and the writing effectively supports the development arcs, making for a rich narrative experience.
“The game has a solid and engaging story with nuanced character development, polished art and animations, and fun turn-based combat.”
“I especially liked how each party member character has a lot of character development that can be encouraged by the player, through talking to them and completing optional quests.”
“Character development is pretty rich here, almost all (if not all) the characters grow from when you meet them and start with very different personalities.”
“The concept is cool, but good god, is it stupid. The character designs are downright terrible, the story is stupid, and the character you have to play as is downright boring.”
“Great moments of character development sadly follow anime tropes of irrational fits of anger from the cast, which don’t always seem to sit right considering the context.”
“What's worth mentioning is that, while the story attempts to show all these inner and social conflicts, the cliché bad guys reveal a daunting naivety in the character design.”
- emotional10 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a mix of humor and poignant moments, with players expressing a range of feelings from laughter to tears. While some found the story engaging and the character dilemmas touching, others criticized its weak narrative structure and emotional inconsistency. Overall, the game offers a blend of romantic choices and emotional depth that resonates with many players, despite some frustrations with its pacing.
“The story is great; I laughed, I cried, and I enjoyed the camp banter and jealousy scenes.”
“The plot presents interesting characters and dilemmas, particularly the story of the dark elves forced to live in isolation from the elves, which has some touching moments.”
“You get plenty of choices to keep you on your toes, and I'll admit, I cried a few times in some of the romance options.”
- humor6 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is a mixed bag, featuring some entertaining character interactions and witty dialogue that can elicit genuine laughs. While certain characters, like Draco Firestarter and Dora the Nicest Thief, provide memorable comedic moments, the overall humor can feel clichéd and inconsistent, sometimes leading to unexpected or awkward outcomes.
“Speaking of the other characters, I just want to point out how funny it is to see some familiar characters with some familiar names.”
“The dialogue can be funny at times, allowing for cheap laughs between character reactions.”
“Other characters are no less entertaining, as you meet characters like Draco Firestarter - a fire mage who likes to start fires (am I a major yet?) and manages to cause the rest of the party to burst out laughing every time he talks, or Dora the nicest thief in town - she teaches that the best way to make friends is to give them money.”
- atmosphere2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's atmosphere is significantly enhanced by its excellent music, which complements the overall experience and contributes to a cohesive ambiance.
“The music was great and added to the atmosphere the game was creating.”
“The atmosphere feels repetitive and lacks any real depth.”
“There's a distinct absence of immersion; the environment feels lifeless.”
“The overall ambiance is dull and uninspired, making it hard to stay engaged.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is frequently criticized for being glitchy, with players receiving prompts indicating that their graphic settings are not optimized, even when using the latest graphics drivers and DirectX.
“The optimization of the game is so glitchy at times that I even get a prompt from the game saying that my graphic settings are not optimized, even when using the latest graphic drivers and DirectX installed.”