Volcano Princess
- April 20, 2023
- 养蛋人 Egg Hatcher
- 11h median play time
"Volcano Princess" is a narrative-driven game where you raise your daughter in a medieval volcano kingdom, making choices that affect her life and happiness. Explore hobbies, jobs, and activities together while instilling the importance of family values. The game features a whimsical setting with soft sunlight and uplifting tunes, inviting you to enjoy a heartwarming story.
Reviews
- story826 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game's story is described as heartwarming and engaging, focusing on the relationship between a father and his daughter in a medieval setting, with multiple routes and endings that enhance replayability. However, many players find the narrative confusing at times, often due to translation issues and unclear mechanics, which can detract from the overall experience. Despite these challenges, the depth of the story and character development, along with beautiful artwork, make it a compelling choice for fans of narrative-driven games.
“The story has so much depth that I honestly wasn't expecting initially.”
“This game excels in storytelling, with a rich variety of choices that lead to multiple unique endings, making each playthrough distinct.”
“A breath-takingly beautiful daughter-raising sim that has a surprisingly deep and touching main storyline.”
“The translation to English is sketchy to the point where I have no idea what's going on in the true ending at all, and a lot of the story seems like I'm missing key details.”
“The story is a bit unclear and can completely go over your head the first few playthroughs unless you're looking for it or aiming to get the true ending.”
“The English translation is really bad, which just really took me out of this game since it's so dialogue- and story-focused.”
- gameplay474 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 62 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Volcano Princess" is characterized by its engaging and addictive mechanics, offering a blend of life simulation and RPG elements that allow players to manage their daughter's development through various activities and choices. While the core gameplay loop is simple and easy to grasp, some mechanics are poorly explained, and the translation issues can lead to confusion. Despite these drawbacks, the game provides a rich experience with multiple paths and endings, making it enjoyable for fans of the genre.
“What truly sets Volcano Princess apart for me is its addicting and relaxing gameplay.”
“If you’re looking for a game that blends relaxation with engaging gameplay and plenty of challenges, Volcano Princess is definitely worth your time!”
“The art is lovely, the story is interesting, the characters are compelling, and the gameplay is surprisingly in-depth.”
“The translation is bad, and the gameplay mechanics are not well explained.”
“The gameplay gets very stale very quickly because of its repetitive nature.”
“There are some horrible problems in tutorialization too; some game mechanics are explained differently than what they actually are, almost as if the dev changed how they worked but forgot to change the tutorial text.”
- emotional390 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of "Volcano Princess" is overwhelmingly positive, with players praising its heartwarming father-daughter relationship and the game's ability to evoke strong feelings, often leading to tears of joy. Many reviews highlight the game's wholesome narrative, charming art, and the emotional journey of watching the daughter grow, making it a deeply engaging experience that resonates with players on a personal level. Overall, it is celebrated as a touching and memorable journey in the life simulation genre.
“If you are looking for a cute, heartwarming, and beautiful story that will make you laugh and cry at the same time, go get this one!”
“Volcano Princess is such an extremely heartwarming game about a father (the player) raising their young daughter.”
“Seeing the daughter grow up and blossom into a proper adult has instilled a sense of pride that few other games ever have, and I do not regret saying that the ending cutscene, despite its happy nature, managed to turn me into an emotional, sobbing wreck.”
- graphics268 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 42 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Volcano Princess" are widely praised for their charming and beautiful art style, featuring colorful and expressive anime visuals that enhance the overall gameplay experience. Players appreciate the unique character designs and the engaging atmosphere, which contribute to the game's high replay value and immersive storytelling. Overall, the artwork is described as delightful, cute, and well-executed, making it a standout feature of the game.
“Volcano Princess is a charming game with beautiful artwork and character designs that keep your attention.”
“The artwork is beautiful, and the overall vibe is cute and engaging.”
“The visuals are charming and evoke a sense of wonder, with lush landscapes and delightful character designs that bring the kingdom to life.”
“The art and graphics are cute and I'm sure the story is cute too, but I frankly felt so stressed and lost during my first (and thus far only) playthrough that I couldn't pay much attention to it and had to quit.”
“Where you can talk, spend time with, duel in word play/actual battle, give gifts etc. there are certain activities like the 'dark alley' that seemed put in last minute, that don't offer much to you and seem to be completely left field with art style.”
“The translation isn't the best though and some of the steam achievements are also not well translated (in-game you'll see that they have different names and objectives), however for me this does not ruin the whole experience, since the artwork, music and ambience makes it up for it.”
- replayability236 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 57 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The game is widely praised for its high replayability, offering numerous paths, endings, and character development options that encourage multiple playthroughs. While some players note that the linearity of the story may limit replay value for certain individuals, many appreciate the dynamic content and the ability to enhance future runs through accumulated achievements. Overall, the combination of engaging gameplay, diverse choices, and charming aesthetics contributes to a strong replay incentive.
“Each run offers something new, with different paths to explore, adding a lot of replay value.”
“With diverse different endings and paths you can choose, each gameplay feels unique and adds lots of replayability to the game!”
“The prospect of exploring various paths and witnessing diverse conclusions makes the game inherently replayable.”
“Some cons: replayability is pretty bad since the story is pretty linear but that's up to preference.”
“This might discourage you from playing after your first or second playthroughs so the replayability factor is kinda low.”
“The English translation is still a bit rough, and it's too easy to see most of the content on your first life so it isn't as replayable as it could be.”
- music186 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The music in the game is generally praised for its charm and ability to enhance the overall ambiance, with many describing it as beautiful, relaxing, and fitting for various scenes. However, some players noted that the soundtrack can become repetitive over time, particularly during multiple playthroughs, and a few criticized the use of royalty-free music that detracts from the experience. Overall, while the music contributes positively to the game's atmosphere, its repetitiveness and occasional mismatches with the setting were common points of contention.
“This game has absolutely beautiful art, character design, and music production.”
“The music complements the game like a fine wine pairing, enhancing the immersive feel of the volcanic world.”
“From the very first minutes, the game's beautiful music instantly drew me in, creating a captivating ambiance.”
“The soundtrack is fairly poor and the audio mixing is nonexistent.”
“Also, I found the music repetitive and annoying, and turned it off pretty quickly to play my own music in the background.”
“At worst, it's a very recognizable copyright-free OST that clearly stands out and does not fit the vibe of the area at all.”
- grinding84 mentions
- 5 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 81 % negative mentions
The game is widely regarded as grindy, requiring significant effort to achieve all endings and unlock various achievements, often leading to repetitive gameplay after multiple runs. While some players appreciate the depth and variety of activities available, such as farming, cooking, and battling, others find the grinding tedious and overly reliant on RNG. Overall, the experience can be enjoyable for those who embrace grinding, but it may deter players seeking a more streamlined or less repetitive experience.
“Fairly straightforward and not tedious.”
“The game loop is a fair length, about 7 hours per run (and longer for your first go of course), but it's somehow not tedious.”
“The game requires a lot, and I mean a lot of grinding in order to get all the achievements, alongside every ending.”
“Too grindy and repetitive after 2 runs (first is hard, second onwards is too easy) with too many endings to achieve.”
“However, it does get terribly repetitive and sometimes tedious after your first few playthroughs and the game is quite long if you're not just rushing through it.”
- stability48 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is reported to be quite buggy, with frequent crashes, especially when interacting with certain features like horse searching or receiving gifts, leading to potential game freezes. While the English translation has notable issues, players still find enjoyment in the game despite these stability concerns. Frequent saving is recommended due to the presence of glitches that may require reloading past saves.
“I'm going to start out and say that this game can be buggy as hell.”
“The game has two downsides though: it's kind of buggy (though some players have found fixes, so check the discussion forums) and it doesn't have the best translation (it's not a machine translation, since it's pretty good at some points, but it's still only serviceable at best... at this moment in time anyway).”
“When you receive letters and accept the gifts, it freezes my game so I have to avoid opening them now or I can't play.”
- humor32 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's humor is characterized by its cute and funny moments, often enhanced by awkward and poorly translated dialogue that players find amusing rather than off-putting. Many reviewers appreciate the comedic contradictions in the game's endings and the hilarity of certain gameplay elements, particularly in the new game plus mode. Overall, the humor is a significant draw, contributing to the game's charm and enjoyment despite its translation issues.
“Like a lot of child raising simulators, there are some funny moments where the romance and career endings seem to contradict each other, and while trying to hunt down some of the more basic endings, I discovered the romance options have hidden requirements to trigger their events.”
“The NG+ play-through is hilarious once you have the bonuses; your daughter is born OP.”
“I was expecting it to be some dumb poorly translated visual novel, and while it's still poorly translated (which only really makes it funnier, on top of a very funny game), what's mind-blowing is how much content there is and also how good it all is.”
- character development22 mentions
- 55 % positive mentions
- 32 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
Character development in "Volcano Princess" is praised for its depth and quality, with many reviewers noting that it enhances the overall narrative experience. While some find the romance elements reminiscent of a soap opera, the well-written story and engaging character arcs contribute to a captivating gameplay experience. The beautiful artwork and character designs further enrich the emotional connection players feel with the characters.
“The character development is very good.”
“In my opinion, this game has a well-written story and character development. I really love how this game represents its characters.”
“The romance and character development are straight out of a cheap soap opera for women.”
“The story, the writing, and character design aside.”
“The artwork, music, character development, and most importantly, game mechanics are all on point.”
- atmosphere18 mentions
- 56 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its comforting and charming qualities, enhanced by beautiful visuals, engaging character art, and a relaxing soundtrack that immerses players in a magical setting. Many reviewers highlight the overall sense of tranquility, although some note that the atmosphere can be disrupted during challenging combat moments. Overall, the combination of art style, music, and character depth creates a delightful and enchanting experience.
“There's something wonderfully comforting about the art style, the fleshed out characters, and the overall atmosphere.”
“The music, art, and atmosphere are sweet, beautiful, and relaxing.”
“The soundtrack complements the gameplay perfectly, immersing players in the magical atmosphere of the kingdom.”
- optimization8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Overall, the game is praised for its smooth performance and beautiful art, with users reporting minimal issues even on the Steam Deck, despite it not being specifically optimized for that platform. However, some challenges arise from the English translation, particularly during theatre performances.
“This game is so cute, the art is beautiful and it runs smoothly!”
“This game is so cute, the art is beautiful and it runs smoothly!”
“I was also able to play on the Steam Deck with very few issues, even though it's not technically optimized for it.”
“But also some challenging things due to the game's translation to English, especially during theatre performances when selecting the effect option.”
- monetization6 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 33 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a strong dissatisfaction with the monetization model, particularly criticizing the prevalence of microtransactions, freemium mechanics, and gacha systems commonly found in Chinese games. Players express a desire for a more nostalgic gaming experience reminiscent of their childhood, free from intrusive ads and monetization tactics.
“Really sad though, I was looking forward to playing something similar to the mobile games I played as a kid without the annoying microtransactions and ads included.”
“I'm one of those people who tend to look down on Chinese stuff because of all the microtransactions and freemium game mechanics / gacha type stuff.”
“Literally just blatantly advertising a lethal dose of serotonin, and I am all here for it.”