Vanguard Princess

67%
Game Brain Score Based on 1,582 reviews
  • story
  • gameplay
  • graphics
Vanguard Princess Game Cover
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"Vanguard Princess" is a 2D fighting game featuring an all-female cast. Players can choose from various characters with unique abilities and fighting styles. The game includes a story mode, arcade mode, and online multiplayer for players to test their skills against others. However, some characters and content are locked behind paywalls.

  • Mac OS
  • PC
  • Windows
  • Linux
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

67%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,582 reviews
gameplay78 positive mentions
story30 negative mentions
  • The game features beautiful 2D graphics and animations, showcasing impressive sprite work.
  • The combat mechanics are fun and fast-paced, making it enjoyable for fans of fighting games.
  • The character designs are diverse and appealing, with a unique assist system that adds depth to gameplay.
  • The game lacks essential features such as online multiplayer, training mode, and a proper options menu.
  • Controller support is poor, with many users experiencing issues getting their gamepads to work correctly.
  • The final boss is notoriously difficult, leading to frustration for players, even on easy mode.
  • story275 mentions

    The game's story mode is widely criticized for being virtually non-existent, often described as a mere arcade mode with minimal dialogue and a lack of coherent plot. Players report that the AI opponents rely on repetitive attack patterns, making the experience frustrating rather than engaging. Overall, the narrative elements are seen as clichéd and poorly executed, leaving little investment in the characters or storyline.

    • “The 'story' mode (basically an arcade mode) scales in difficulty nicely, and the final boss, while I beat it on my first try, definitely had me going for a little bit.”
    • “Each of the all-girl cast (common anime trope) has her own story, set of moves, and combos.”
    • “There's an attempt at a story, though I didn't really care too much about it; cutscenes used here and there, and the endings were a bit odd, but all nice to look at (animated victory screens, etc.).”
    • “The story is completely unoriginal; a creative 10-year-old could create such a story in a matter of minutes.”
    • “The 'story mode' is, save for a few random injections of dialogue, virtually devoid of a story at all; what little there is consists of a brief paragraph before reaching the main menu, and is not built on or developed even remotely.”
    • “Story mode isn't even really a story, and most of the AIs only spam attacks, which in this game can get very, very annoying.”
  • gameplay225 mentions

    The gameplay of this fighting game has received mixed reviews, with some praising its unique mechanics and smooth animations, while others criticize the clunky controls and lack of depth. Many players find the assist character system interesting but feel that the overall combat is minimalistic and requires improvement for a more satisfying experience. Despite its potential and appealing visuals, the game struggles with technical issues and a steep learning curve, making it challenging for newcomers to fully enjoy.

    • “The gameplay itself is fantastic - simple yet satisfying, with good character diversity and a neat little assist system with unique, non-playable, assister characters.”
    • “The game has fun solid mechanics and impressive sprite work, despite the limited animation it looks really good in motion.”
    • “An excellent fighting game with an extremely interesting 2 character gameplay mechanic that's very unique from similar games.”
    • “The only gripe I really have with the game is the lack of actual attacks, ability to chain attacks more effectively, and the somewhat clunky controls with a controller. While the gameplay does make sense in a way, the fact that this gameplay is meant to be fast-paced and satisfying to commit to combos, the controls felt unresponsive at first. Even after learning about the specific gameplay, just trying to pull off one or two of the 'special attacks' was hard, as they seemed to require a minuscule time-frame shorter than the average fighting game with really accurate precision, meaning I was only able to pull off the moves about 15-30% of the time.”
    • “Unfortunately, the gameplay is where it falls flat. There's not much information like tutorials and combos in practice mode, and practice mode is hidden as well. Little to no information on moves, no training mode, limited gameplay options, and no online play.”
    • “I do believe that this game has a lot of potential with the animations and ideas behind it, but the gameplay currently is way too minimalistic and requires more fluid combat and combo gameplay for each character to feel more fun and satisfying to play.”
  • graphics209 mentions

    The graphics of the game are a mixed bag, with many praising the beautiful anime art style and smooth animations, while others criticize the low resolution and lack of graphical options. Some players appreciate the nostalgic pixelated visuals reminiscent of older games, but note that the overall execution can feel inconsistent, with some backgrounds and character designs appearing basic or repetitive. Despite these flaws, fans of the aesthetic may find the visuals enjoyable, especially given the game's low price point.

    • “A very good unique 2D fighter with beautiful anime style graphics.”
    • “It has stunning visuals and smooth gameplay.”
    • “Great visuals; animations are smooth and have great impact.”
    • “The graphics are poorly executed; there is too much going on.”
    • “There are no real settings to speak of, so even if the game would have an okay art style, the resolution is crap.”
    • “The lack of an in-game menu for options is another grievous flaw, making it impossible to adjust graphics, sound, or anything else if the game is put in full screen.”
  • music104 mentions

    The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising its catchy and enjoyable soundtrack, particularly highlighting specific tracks like the shrine music and the final boss theme. However, some players criticize the repetitiveness and lack of depth in the music, with a few expressing frustration over the inability to adjust volume settings. Overall, while the soundtrack is often seen as a standout feature, opinions vary on its overall quality and fit within the game.

    • “The art, gameplay, and music are masterfully crafted and blend together perfectly, creating a true masterpiece.”
    • “The soundtrack is awesome and the fighting is very reminiscent of the classic X-Men vs. Street Fighter.”
    • “Both the art and music are really good, with animations being fluent and eye-catching and music being crisp and memorable (love the guitar riffs).”
    • “The game looks and plays amazing, but it doesn't let me go to settings and turn down that loud music and doesn't let me leave the game.”
    • “And don't get me started about not being able to mute the awful soundtrack, holy shit.”
    • “The music is sadly very repetitive, but the plot is very deep and got me thinking [spoilers]jokes, there is no plot xd[/spoiler].”
  • character development28 mentions

    Character development in the game is highlighted by its visually appealing and creative character designs, which many players find engaging and full of personality. However, there is a notable lack of depth in the characters' backstories and movesets, leaving players wanting more context and connection. Additionally, issues with controller support hinder the ability to fully explore the combat system, detracting from the overall experience.

    • “Character design is amazing.”
    • “This game is a lot of fun, love the character design and soundtrack.”
    • “+ creative and interesting character designs, something the anime community is known for.”
    • “Character designs are generic, resolution is very small, controls are badly set up by default, interfaces are shoddy and irritating to navigate.”
    • “Beautiful style game (anime style) with sweet character designs, but the major problem with this game is the controller support.”
    • “Character design is very interesting, along with some movesets.”
  • replayability18 mentions

    The reviews present a mixed perspective on replayability, with some players noting high replay value, particularly in comparison to other fighting games, while others criticize the game for being short and lacking depth after completing the story mode. Several users mention that the game can be enjoyable despite its flaws, but many agree that it does not offer significant replay incentives. Overall, the consensus suggests that while some find it fun to revisit, the game's replayability is limited for others.

    • “Has a high replay value and I would love to see a follow-up or some additional content.”
    • “Has a high replay value like other fighting games out there and I'm having fun with this game, even with the flaws, and that's what matters in the end.”
    • “Plenty of replayability, but the story is a bit dry.”
    • “There is very little replayability.”
    • “Don't expect much replay value from this game after you've beaten story mode once or twice.”
    • “Recommend but not at its $4.99 price tag; it is way too short and not very replayable.”
  • humor16 mentions

    The game features a quirky anime humor that resonates well with players, often eliciting laughter through its one-liners and amusing character interactions. While the story is minimal, the humor shines during versus matches, particularly with grapplers like Shermie and Yashiro, who add a fun dynamic to gameplay. Overall, players appreciate the comedic elements, making the experience enjoyable despite some challenges in mastering the controls.

    • “Start a versus match and let the hilarity unfold.”
    • “Story is almost non-existent, but their little one-liners had me laughing out loud.”
    • “Beautiful cast of girls with a hilarious premise.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    Overall, the game's optimization has received significant criticism, with users reporting clunky controls and poor support for high-resolution screens. While some mention that it may be better suited for console controllers, many feel that the lack of fixes and support hampers the overall experience. Despite its fast-paced nature, the optimization issues make it frustrating to play for some users.

    • “It is crazy fast-paced and runs smoothly.”
    • “I heard it's optimized for a console controller though.”
    • “The controls are terrible, the optimization is poor, and there is no support or fixes ever provided.”
    • “Very clunky, with poor controller optimizations and a bad 'support character' system.”
    • “Until the optimization issue is fixed, this game is quite bothersome to handle.”
  • stability10 mentions

    The game is reported to be quite buggy, with issues such as freezing in fullscreen mode and compatibility problems with certain xinput controllers. Users recommend exploring older versions available from the original creator's site for a more stable experience, especially if troubleshooting is a concern. Overall, the stability of the game is a significant drawback for many players.

    • “The game seems to be pretty buggy.”
    • “Also, there's an error I'm experiencing that freezes the game when fullscreened.”
    • “Keep in mind that apparently the game has an issue with some XInput controllers, so if you have one, make sure to check out the forums for possible troubleshooting.”
  • grinding8 mentions

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be excessively tedious and challenging, particularly when facing difficult bosses. The game appeals primarily to fans of 90's fighting games and those who enjoy grinding and fan-service elements, but many recommend against it for those who do not share these interests. Overall, the grinding is seen as a significant barrier to enjoyment.

    • “The bosses are very annoying, grindy, and really hard to beat.”
    • “Unless you like 90's type fighting games, grinding, and fan-service type games, I really don't recommend the game.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
  • atmosphere2 mentions

    The atmosphere of the game is highly praised, with users noting that the music, voices, and sound effects effectively contribute to an immersive experience.

    • “The music, voices, and sounds are excellent and successfully create an immersive atmosphere.”
    • “The music, voices, and sounds are excellent and successfully create an immersive atmosphere.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

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Play time

4hMedian play time
5hAverage play time
4-10hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs

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