The Princess' Heart
- July 29, 2015
- RosePortal Games
- 8h median play time
Get on Steam"The Princess' Heart" is a visual novel game where players assume the role of a knight tasked with protecting a princess. The game features a non-linear story with multiple endings based on player choices. Players will interact with various characters, uncover secrets, and possibly win the princess' heart.
PC
Windows
Reviews
- The game features beautiful old-school graphics reminiscent of SNES, which many players appreciate.
- The story has a unique premise involving a princess and her struggles, with some humorous and emotional dialogue.
- The combat system allows for strategic party member swapping during battles, adding depth to the gameplay.
- Gameplay can be tedious and repetitive, with a lack of clear direction leading to frustration.
- The main character is often seen as unlikable and selfish, which detracts from player engagement with the story.
- There are significant design flaws, including a lack of maps and confusing dungeon layouts, making navigation difficult.
- story21 mentions
- 14 % positive mentions
- 71 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The story is characterized by a mix of emotional and humorous dialogue, but it struggles with character development and depth, often presenting a self-centered princess whose actions make her unlikable. While the narrative attempts to explore themes of personal demons and self-discovery, it frequently relies on telling rather than showing, leading to a bland and unengaging experience. Overall, the unique premise is overshadowed by one-dimensional characters and a lack of meaningful storytelling.
“Nice emotional and humorous dialogue and storyline.”
“But all of this is a tale written by a girl who is fighting her own demons in this way (through the story she is writing).”
“The basic story is about a princess who has to break a curse she set on herself because she made an agreement with a demon to make the prince love her.”
“It's more like the story of a selfish and self-centered princess who gives no regard for anyone else and just messes around with the prince of another country.”
“The princess' heart is a story written from the perspective of an adolescent girl, and like everyone's early work, this is just awful.”
“Bland plot points, one-dimensional characters, and just poor mapping.”
- graphics7 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 29 % negative mentions
The graphics are described as charmingly retro, reminiscent of SNES-era visuals, with well-executed designs and enjoyable character animations. While many appreciate the nostalgic aesthetic and the thoughtful visual details, some users report technical issues like screen flashing and skipping during gameplay. Overall, the graphics contribute positively to the game's old-school appeal, though they may not meet everyone's expectations.
“Super cool old school graphics.”
“On the bright side - the designers put lots of nice touches into the visuals and the UI.”
“This is an old style RPG, with graphics similar to SNES.”
“This is an old-style RPG, with graphics similar to SNES.”
“- Graphical issues: the screen flashes and skips often when walking.”
- gameplay6 mentions
- 33 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The gameplay is described as solid and enjoyable, featuring well-designed boss fights and amusing characters with unique abilities, though it suffers from standard RPG mechanics that can become repetitive. Players appreciate the ability to swap party members during battles, but some feel the mechanics lack depth and fail to enhance the narrative experience. Overall, while the gameplay has its fun moments, it could benefit from more innovative mechanics that align with the game's premise.
“My memories are that it's solid and fun both writing-wise and gameplay-wise if you can get past the default graphics, with well-designed boss fights, amusing characters with fun abilities, and the ability to swap out as much of your party as you want once per battle to try and turn things around, or keep a rally going.”
“*This review covers the first 8 hours of gameplay.”
“The RPG mechanics, while they bring back fond memories of FFII and FFIII, are pretty standard and quickly get old.”
“With the bland RPG battle mechanics, the game made it clear that this fantasy demon was just a bunch of stats - no different from a snake, bird, goblin, or manticore.”
“There was no nifty mechanic, pithy punchline, or change-of-heart epiphany.”
- grinding5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding in the game to be initially tedious and repetitive, particularly in battles and dungeon mechanics. However, the overall experience is relatively easy, with a short playtime of around 15 hours and minimal grinding required for leveling or loot, as side-quests are brief and manageable without extensive travel or farming.
“At the start, it's a repetitive, tedious grind.”
“Moreover, battles are tedious and boring.”
“Some boring design choices and grinding: so far I have been going from dungeon to dungeon, moving two levers to unlock a boss room, and then killing a boss.”
- music5 mentions
- 60 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 40 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally pleasant and reminiscent of classic SNES titles, though it doesn't stand out significantly. While the soundtrack is enjoyable and contributes to a relaxing atmosphere, it may not be memorable for all players. The deluxe edition, which includes the original soundtrack, is recommended during discounts for those who appreciate the music and seek additional gameplay guidance.
“The graphics and soundtracks are great; it would have been nice if the game allowed the screenshot button on Steam to work.”
“The deluxe edition is recommended when on discount as it includes the OST and the strategy guide, which is needed to finish certain side quests that require traveling to a specific area.”
“The deluxe edition is recommended when at a discount as it includes the OST and the strategy guide, which is needed to finish certain side quests that require traveling to a specific area.”
“I relaxed for 5 minutes listening to this music, long enough to realize that I would be okay.”
- humor3 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of emotional and humorous dialogue, contributing to an engaging storyline. Players appreciate the humor, noting several funny moments and side quests that enhance the experience, while the quick combat keeps the pace lively.
“Nice emotional and humorous dialogue and storyline.”
“Great game, really funny.”
“There are a few randomly funny moments, and while there are side quests, there are no random enemy encounters; the combat is quick.”
- emotional1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game features a blend of emotional and humorous dialogue, contributing to a compelling storyline that resonates with players.
“The emotional and humorous dialogue creates a captivating storyline.”
“The game masterfully blends humor with deep emotional moments.”
“I was genuinely moved by the emotional depth of the characters and their stories.”
