Princess Crown / Odin Sphere

[Discoalucard]

I've been working on this for a few months - practically since Odin Sphere came out - and it's finally done.

www.hardcoregaming101.net/odinsphere/princesscrown.htm

I know the intro is pretty long and doesn't even address the subject matter for a few paragraphs, but it's trying to set up the dichotomy between action and role playing games, and why that balance is so important. This is because understanding this balance is pretty much required if you want to enjoy either game - if you play either as straight fighting games or brawlers, you'll get killed quickly, and it's rare that simply grinding will solve the problem. Odin Sphere works much better than Princess Crown in this respect, in addition to have a much more fluid, enjoyable combat system. But they're both still interesting (and gorgeous) games.

And yeah, it's definitely long winded, but there's a lot to cover, especially in comparing the two games, and how Odin greatly improves on its predecessor.

[Haz]

I wonder if Princess Crown is emulated in SSF, etc. 'cause I'm broke as hell, and that's the only way I'll get to play it.

Good job on the article though.

[Ashilyn]

hazumu said:

I wonder if Princess Crown is emulated in SSF, etc. 'cause I'm broke as hell, and that's the only way I'll get to play it.

Good job on the article though.

It is, flawlessly. That's how I'm playing it.

[Shellshock]

I have a question. Is Princess Crown out for PSP in English? The article doesn't say.

[Discoalucard]

Oops. Nope. It's Japan only.

[Shellshock]

admin said:

Oops. Nope. It's Japan only.

So I guess my only alternative is a Saturn emulator, right? Except for the real thing of course.
Thanks

[Discoalucard]

Yup. I have issues running the Saturn emulator on my computer (slow as crap + crashing) but I ran it on my parent's back home and I didn't have any problems with it at all.

It's not too hard to play without any Japanese fluency, because the menus are item based, and any important locations are highlighted, indicating that you've opened up a new route. There's also thorough walkthroughs at GameFAQs.

[Blake Casimir]

Hmm, guess I should feel lucky for owning a copy of the original! Not to mention a modded Saturn.

I have to say, much as I LOVE (and I do really adore) the art in Odin Sphere... its level repetition irritates the hell out of me.

Princess Crown is a long, involving adventure by comparison. I also much prefer the slower (but still real-time) combat. So yes, great article. Definitely needed adding to the pantheon. Don't agree WRT the combat though. It felt moderately slow, but completely satisfying, and the controls are very tight.

Edit: I must admit that I stopped playing Princess Crown some way through it. Oh, I adore the game, it's pretty much everything I'm looking for in a 2D action game... but I reached a segment where you have to scale a tower and fight a boss right at the top. Some red female, if I recall. And she was too hard.

[Discoalucard]

chischis said:

Edit: I must admit that I stopped playing Princess Crown some way through it. Oh, I adore the game, it's pretty much everything I'm looking for in a 2D action game... but I reached a segment where you have to scale a tower and fight a boss right at the top. Some red female, if I recall. And she was too hard.

Yes, I agree. That's where the "lack of save points" issue really bugged me, because I got killed at her and just got furious that I needed to scale the whole thing again.

[Blake Casimir]

Well, I guess I don't need to feel so bad about leaving the game unfinished!

[hashin]

No love for Grim Grimoire?

[Haz]

hashin said:

No love for Grim Grimoire?

That game is a Tactical RPG.

Princess Crown and Odin Sphere are Action RPGs.

[hashin]

But it was made by Vanillaware. Did Vanillaware made any other games?

[Protodude]

Nope, just those three. I think Grim Grimoire should be added to the article so it could just be a complete Vanillaware article.

[The bag of sand]

I really wish I had a PS2 right now. Odin Sphere looks so awesome.