Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir

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Princess Isabella: The Rise Of An Heir is a hidden object puzzle adventure game from the creators of Enigmatis and Grim Legends

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

Reviews

53%

Audience ScoreBased on 106 reviews

graphics8 positive mentions

story10 negative mentions

The game features unique mechanics that stand out in the hidden object genre, providing a nostalgic experience for fans of earlier titles.
The graphics and visuals, especially in certain locations, are well done and enhance the overall atmosphere of the game.
The game offers a decent variety of puzzles and mini-games, making it enjoyable for casual players looking for a light-hearted experience.

The story is weak and often feels rushed, with many plot holes and a lack of character development.
Gameplay can be repetitive and overly simplistic, with many puzzles lacking challenge and requiring little thought.
There are numerous technical issues, including glitches, poor voice acting, and translation errors that detract from the overall experience.

story
92 mentions
7 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
11 % negative mentions
The story in this game has received mixed to negative feedback, with many reviewers describing it as weak, rushed, and lacking depth. Common criticisms include its straightforward and clichéd fairy tale elements, as well as a lack of motivation and coherence in the plot. While some players found it enjoyable in a campy way, others felt it was poorly executed and detracted from the overall experience.
- “Moral of the story: you never know what life has in store for you, and if I had given up when all odds were against me, I wouldn't be where I am today.”
- “Play this game to have fun ~ it's campy, it's a little (sometimes a lot) on the easy side, and the plot is pure Disney.”
- “The story is good and the achievements are easy but.”
- “There is also not much story nor motivation... I mean... you just go and fight an evil witch.”
- “The story-line was complete tripe, utterly banal and hackneyed even by HOG standards, and while some of the mechanics were interesting, for the most part gameplay was just excruciating.”
- “The story is weak and rushed, the puzzles are way too easy and short.”
gameplay
40 mentions
8 % positive mentions
83 % neutral mentions
10 % negative mentions
The gameplay has received mixed reviews, with many players noting a reliance on recycled mechanics and simplistic hidden object puzzles that lack innovation. While some unique elements, such as using animals and specific abilities, were appreciated, the overall experience was often described as tedious and uninspired, particularly in comparison to earlier entries in the series. Additionally, issues with clarity in objectives and slow animations detracted from the enjoyment, leading to a consensus that this installment is the weakest in terms of gameplay dynamics and puzzle variety.
- “Having played all 3 games, I highly recommend this series mainly because it contains game mechanics that are unique to the HOG genre.”
- “I loved the previous two games because some gameplay mechanics felt original and worked well with the story.”
- “Okay, the instructions on the color wheel puzzle are completely useless, and it does have a few 'what the hell just happened?' moments, but other than that I'm finding it to be a decent HOPA, with mechanics I've not yet seen in a HOPA (e.g. the wand's abilities) and a nice atmosphere.”
- “You really need a talent to make something as horrible, because this game failed in all possible aspects: story, visuals, gameplay, and even technical condition.”
- “Tldr: casualized minigames and hidden object gameplay with recycled mechanics and an uninspired finale to a poor quality series.”
- “[i]Princess Isabella: The Rise of an Heir[/i] is the last game in the titular series, and probably the weakest game in terms of gameplay dynamics, puzzle choices, and story elaboration to begin with.”
graphics
40 mentions
20 % positive mentions
73 % neutral mentions
8 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game receive mixed reviews, with some praising the visuals as beautiful and relaxing, while others criticize them as dated or sub-par compared to modern standards. Many users noted inconsistencies in visual quality, with some artwork being well done and others appearing poorly executed or grainy. Overall, while there are moments of graphical appeal, significant flaws detract from the overall experience.
- “But the visuals are gorgeous, and it's very relaxing.”
- “The graphics are beautiful, the strategy guide gave help where I needed it, and I like great sound quality.”
- “I want to mention that the visuals in the game are well done.”
- “You really need a talent to make something as horrible, because this game failed in all possible aspects: story, visuals, gameplay, and even technical condition.”
- “The graphics are even worse than in the screenshots displayed.”
- “The graphics quality is slightly sub-par for modern HOPAs, and the video cutscene quality is notably sub-par.”
music
20 mentions
20 % positive mentions
65 % neutral mentions
15 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally well-received, described as relaxing and suitable for casual gamers, though some find it repetitive. Players appreciate the quality of the soundtrack and voiceovers, despite occasional issues with overlapping music during cutscenes. Overall, the music enhances the gaming experience, with options to adjust or turn it off if desired.
- “The music is nice, but does get repetitive - you can turn it off if you want to (I just turned it down).”
- “Not particularly, but it's colorful, has relaxing music, and is suitable for casual gamers.”
- “When in a cutscene, sometimes the normal music keeps playing.”
- “The cutscene music plays as well.”
- “The graphics quality is slightly sub-par for modern HOPAs (but better than the time-whatever series), and the video cutscene quality is notably sub-par, but the voiceovers and music are well done.”
stability
6 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its stability, with users reporting numerous glitches and bugs that hinder the gameplay experience. Many found the overall performance to be slow and tedious, detracting from the enjoyment of the story.
- “It was buggy, the story was lamer than usual, and it was just plain tedious to play.”
- “The gameplay is very slow and quite buggy.”
- “There were also quite a few glitches.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is derived from its over-the-top portrayal of themes like "catholic evil" and exaggerated villainy, which some players find amusing despite the lack of originality. The combination of a wickedly laughing antagonist and a persistent curse adds a layer of dark comedy to the otherwise serious setting. Overall, the humor is appreciated for its campy and nostalgic qualities reminiscent of earlier titles in the series.
- “I find it kind of funny how early Artifex Mundi games had lots of those humorous elements.”
- “The setting is filled with the concept of Catholic evil, which is amusing in its own right - with a wickedly laughing villain and an eye of Sauron-like presence watching over, it creates a hilariously sticky curse that takes three games to clean thoroughly.”
atmosphere
4 mentions
50 % positive mentions
25 % neutral mentions
25 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is generally appreciated, with some unique mechanics enhancing the experience; however, certain design choices are seen as detracting from the original setting, which may lessen the overall immersion for some players. Despite a few confusing moments, the game maintains a decent ambiance that contributes positively to the gameplay.
- “Okay, the instructions on the color wheel puzzle are completely useless, and it does have a few 'what the hell just happened?' moments, but other than that I'm finding it to be a decent HOPA, with mechanics I've not yet seen in a HOPA (e.g. the wand's abilities) and a nice atmosphere.”
- “As a personal choice, I found that a bit of an unnecessary contrast with the original setting, lessening the atmosphere.”
grinding
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
Players found the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, compounded by bugs and a lackluster story that detracted from the overall experience.
- “It was buggy, the story was lamer than usual, and it was just plain tedious to play.”
replayability
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The game has low replayability, with multiple users indicating that there is little incentive to play it again after the initial experience.
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
- “The replay value for the game is low.”
emotional
2 mentions
0 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
100 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is negatively impacted by the bonus chapter, which is criticized for its boring story and gameplay, leading to a lack of engagement and emotional connection.