Enter a fairytale world as a wolf-turned-princess guides a blind prince through a dangerous forest.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
Nippon Ichi Software
Price: $19.99
Platforms: Nintendo Switch (reviewed), PS4
MonsterVine was provided with a Switch code for review.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince presents itself as a fairytale, and this concept is evident throughout the game from the narrated storybook-style cutscenes to the gorgeous hand-drawn art style. Even the music contributes to the feeling that you’ve stepped into a fairytale world.
Set in a kingdom where dangerous monsters filled the forest, it follows the story of a wolf with a beautiful singing voice who finds an unexpected audience in the kingdom’s kind-hearted prince. When the prince attempts to get close enough to see the singer, she tries to push him away and accidentally blinds him. Determined to undo the damage, the wolf visits a witch who grants her the ability to transform into a princess. Using her new form to hide the fact that she was the one who blinded him, she leads the prince into the forest so the witch can heal his eyes.
The gameplay largely revolves around getting the prince safely past obstacles and using the two characters together to solve puzzles. You can switch freely between wolf and princess forms, using the wolf to fight enemies and jump to greater heights and the princess to pull levers and guide the prince. While the prince starts out without any skills, you eventually gain the ability to tell him to walk or pick up an item.
Most of the puzzles involve stepping on switches and operating platforms, although a handful involve riddles. Each level also includes a number of collectibles. Collecting gold flower petals unlocks concept art, while bringing flowers to the prince rewards you with details about the witch’s backstory. Collectibles are automatically saved, so you don’t have to get them again if you die. The gameplay can be a little clunky at times, but overall it’s a pretty easy game. In fact, if you spend more than 10 minutes in a given level, you can simply skip it if you choose.
Although much of your 4-5 hours will be spent with this puzzle-platformer gameplay, The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince really focuses on its storytelling. After a lengthy opening cutscene, additional scenes come every few levels as the two characters continue their journey and grow closer to one another. The story is its greatest strength. While the fairytale premise might feel familiar, it has a compelling hook: the prince is terrified of the monster that blinded him, and therefore the princess feels she must hide her true nature from him. Their bond and the growing tension due to the princess’s lies kept me invested in the story and hoping things would work out. The gameplay wasn’t particularly enthralling, but the story compelled me to keep playing to see what would happen next.
The Final Word
While its gameplay isn’t its strongest point, Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a short yet sweet story-driven puzzle-platformer perfect for anyone who wants a fairytale about forbidden love.
The Final Word
While its gameplay isn’t its strongest point, Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is a short yet sweet story-driven puzzle-platformer perfect for anyone who wants a fairytale about forbidden love.
MonsterVine Rating: 4 out of 5 – Good
