Review: Prinny Can I Really Be The Hero? (PSP)

When I first laid eyes on Prinny: Can I Really be the Hero? for PSP, I was intrigued. I'm a huge fan of the Disgaea series, so this game, based on a minor side character (an exploding penguin with peg legs that acts as comedy relief), caught my interest. Upon closer inspection, I found that it is a platforming action game, as opposed to a strategy role-playing game like the series the namesake character comes from.

As I started to play it, I was pleasantly surprised. There was more depth to the gameplay than I had originally expected, and it was insanely difficult.... Anything you touch causes you to explode, and between the difficult platforming and the waves of enemies coming at you, you end up exploding a lot. Fortunately, you are given 1000 lives to use at the beginning of the game, and if you are anything like me, you'll need them all. I think after about the first three levels I had already used well over 200 lives. Beyond just the insane difficulty, however, there is an actual solidly-built game here. The controls are simple enough for casual gamers, with only 'jump', 'attack' and a 'ground pound' move being truly useful. While there are a few other moves at your disposal, you will probably end up not using them that much.

The 'jump' move, however, sometimes adds to the difficulty level. I'm used to being able to fiddle about with a jump's trajectory mid-air in most action games, course-correcting if I feel I'm about to fall into some bottomless pit. I suppose Prinnies suffer from being peg-leg penguins, as once you start a jump, you are commited to it. There is no flitting about, uselessly trying to save your jump from disaster. However, as frustrating as this was, especially in addition to the already staggering difficulty level, I admit that there was a part of me that really, really loved it. This gameplay is a kickback to the brutal gameplay in the late 80s and 90s that so many hard-core gamers remember fondly, and the game definitely feels retro in how it plays. There has been a growing trend in gaming recently that makes games too easy, in my opinion. I sometimes feel like I'm watching the game play itself instead of having any useful input as to what's going on. This game was truly a challenge, and I appreciate that I actually had to work hard to experience it.

That is not to say that I enjoyed everything about this game, however. The story, for one, is bland and boring, especially when compared to the rich and interesting narrative that the Disgaea series usually has. Prinny's story is basically about making the ultimate dessert for Etna the Demon Queen.... and....that's it. To be fair, however, action games are usually just that: action games. No one usually expects them to be shining examples of literary brilliance. Despite my minor gripes, I thoroughly enjoyed the game, and as the sequel has just come out, I expect I'll pick that up too and blow up 1000 morepenguins.

Submitted By: Tom Ferko (Employee)