RSS
Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?
February 24, 2009 | 9:40 AM PST
by: Matt Furtado
Kombo's Review Policy: Our reviews are written for you. Our goal is to write honest, to-the-point reviews that don't waste your time. This is why we've split our reviews into four sections: What the Game's About, What's Hot, What's Not and Final Word, so that you can easily find the information you want from our reviews.
What the Game's About
NIS is known for their unique titles and the use of 2D animations in a world gone fully three dimensional. However, NIS is going a little further back in time when games were all about kicking your ass and not the other way around. Who better to kick your ass than the weakest of all the Disgaea characters: the Prinny.
The Prinny are the comic relief found in NIS' flagship title Disgaea and now they get a chance to shine in their own title for PSP. Unlike the rest of residents of the Netherworld, the Prinny were once humans. They were the murderous and sinister people found in our world. What better form of punishment than becoming a demonic penguin that explodes from the slightest tap. After losing Etna's dessert, she gets very mad and sends her Prinny Squad of 1,000 strong to recover the Ultra Dessert. Can a Prinny really be the hero? They sure can be.
What's Hot
There's a lot of positive aspects to Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?. For one, the game is challenging beyond belief. Starting the game with exactly 1,000 lives, you must journey through the Netherworld and recover the ingredients necessary to bake the Ultra Dessert and save yourself from the fury of Etna. The only way to recover the said ingredients is to jump, pound, and slash your way through a multitude of levels. Each level consists of platforming elements very reminiscent to Ghost N' Goblins. Actually, you could say that Prinny is a modern day take on Capcom's classic Ghost N' Goblins franchise. Even though you'll find yourself getting killed in the later levels, you'll be thankful to know that there are several save stations to be found throughout the level. These are very well placed and allows you to restart at the given station after you die. There's also a save station right before a boss battle.
You'll find yourself battling a variety of demons as they try to hinder your progress of gaining the ingredients. Luckily, you have several techniques at your disposal. You can either slash them with your knives, jump then pound on their heads to stun them, or leap into the air and unleash a barrage of powerful special slashing attack. Certain enemies, namely the bosses, can only be defeated once you stun them and then crave into them like a Thanksgiving turkey. But, you have to battle carefully. If playing on Standard Mode you can be hit 3 times before reaching your demise; however, Hell's Finest only allows you to be hit once. So choose carefully.
As challenging and fun the gameplay is, the graphics are superb. This is one of those titles that show 2D is still a solid way to go. The enemies and Prinny are sharp, crisp, and very clean cut. While the backgrounds can seem a bit dull compared to the characters, it's actually beneficial. With the backdrops lacking a noticeable flare, you can easily distinguish what can and will inflict damage onto you. Every little bit helps when you have to play a game this challenging.
What's Not
The main problem with the game comes from the high level of difficulty. Sure, you have 1,000 lives at your disposal and at first you'll be cruising through levels without losing any lives and you start to think you have this wrapped up. Next thing you know, you are fighting a boss and it took you 50 lives before defeating him. That's small fry stuff compared to some of the problems you'll encounter during level exploration. More often than not, you won't be killed by an enemy directly, but instead you'll be killed by the level design or an oddly placed enemy. If you get hit while jumping over an opening, you'll end up dead. You can't readjust yourself once in the air. It's a land it or die type of feeling. It's not a game breaking element, but you'll find yourself frustrated and ready to toss the PSP against the wall.
Final Word
Even with the high difficulty level, you'll find yourself picking the game up time and time again just to beat a level that previously beat you. This is a blast from the past and one of the PSP's finest titles. If you enjoy the old-school hardcore gaming elements of getting owned by the game, then you have to play this game. Even if you just want a good challenge, Prinny won't steer you wrong. With addictive and hard gameplay, you'll be very satisfied once you actually beat a level or the game for that matter. Prinny, can you really be the hero? The answer is an astounding yes.
What the Game's About
NIS is known for their unique titles and the use of 2D animations in a world gone fully three dimensional. However, NIS is going a little further back in time when games were all about kicking your ass and not the other way around. Who better to kick your ass than the weakest of all the Disgaea characters: the Prinny.
The Prinny are the comic relief found in NIS' flagship title Disgaea and now they get a chance to shine in their own title for PSP. Unlike the rest of residents of the Netherworld, the Prinny were once humans. They were the murderous and sinister people found in our world. What better form of punishment than becoming a demonic penguin that explodes from the slightest tap. After losing Etna's dessert, she gets very mad and sends her Prinny Squad of 1,000 strong to recover the Ultra Dessert. Can a Prinny really be the hero? They sure can be.
What's Hot
There's a lot of positive aspects to Prinny: Can I Really Be the Hero?. For one, the game is challenging beyond belief. Starting the game with exactly 1,000 lives, you must journey through the Netherworld and recover the ingredients necessary to bake the Ultra Dessert and save yourself from the fury of Etna. The only way to recover the said ingredients is to jump, pound, and slash your way through a multitude of levels. Each level consists of platforming elements very reminiscent to Ghost N' Goblins. Actually, you could say that Prinny is a modern day take on Capcom's classic Ghost N' Goblins franchise. Even though you'll find yourself getting killed in the later levels, you'll be thankful to know that there are several save stations to be found throughout the level. These are very well placed and allows you to restart at the given station after you die. There's also a save station right before a boss battle.
You'll find yourself battling a variety of demons as they try to hinder your progress of gaining the ingredients. Luckily, you have several techniques at your disposal. You can either slash them with your knives, jump then pound on their heads to stun them, or leap into the air and unleash a barrage of powerful special slashing attack. Certain enemies, namely the bosses, can only be defeated once you stun them and then crave into them like a Thanksgiving turkey. But, you have to battle carefully. If playing on Standard Mode you can be hit 3 times before reaching your demise; however, Hell's Finest only allows you to be hit once. So choose carefully.
As challenging and fun the gameplay is, the graphics are superb. This is one of those titles that show 2D is still a solid way to go. The enemies and Prinny are sharp, crisp, and very clean cut. While the backgrounds can seem a bit dull compared to the characters, it's actually beneficial. With the backdrops lacking a noticeable flare, you can easily distinguish what can and will inflict damage onto you. Every little bit helps when you have to play a game this challenging.
What's Not
The main problem with the game comes from the high level of difficulty. Sure, you have 1,000 lives at your disposal and at first you'll be cruising through levels without losing any lives and you start to think you have this wrapped up. Next thing you know, you are fighting a boss and it took you 50 lives before defeating him. That's small fry stuff compared to some of the problems you'll encounter during level exploration. More often than not, you won't be killed by an enemy directly, but instead you'll be killed by the level design or an oddly placed enemy. If you get hit while jumping over an opening, you'll end up dead. You can't readjust yourself once in the air. It's a land it or die type of feeling. It's not a game breaking element, but you'll find yourself frustrated and ready to toss the PSP against the wall.
Final Word
Even with the high difficulty level, you'll find yourself picking the game up time and time again just to beat a level that previously beat you. This is a blast from the past and one of the PSP's finest titles. If you enjoy the old-school hardcore gaming elements of getting owned by the game, then you have to play this game. Even if you just want a good challenge, Prinny won't steer you wrong. With addictive and hard gameplay, you'll be very satisfied once you actually beat a level or the game for that matter. Prinny, can you really be the hero? The answer is an astounding yes.
November 20, 2009
