Alice asked her father about the wine he was drinking. She wanted to know what it tasted like. Her father told her she would understand when she was older. Unsatisfied with his response, Alice left home to try a sip elsewhere. This is the outcome of a single decision in Magical Princess.
If I had told Alice the drink tasted bitter, she might not have felt like she was missing out. As a result, Alice’s morality score took a hit, albeit not a major one. Still, actions have consequences in Magical Princess. It’s the most compelling aspect of the game.
A New Princess Maker
Magical Princess follows a gameplay formula set by the Princess Maker games. Those who have played Umamusume: Pretty Derby will likely be the most familiar with this game’s structure and tempo. It’s a life simulation game that has the player raising Alice as her father.
Magical Princess largely focuses on time management, with the game being divided into months. Each month is presented as a single day in which Alice can choose to engage in several different activities. This includes, but is not limited to, chatting with friends, working part-time jobs, and going out on monster hunts.
These activities generally boost Alice’s stats, even if not always by large amounts. It’s up to the player to decide which activities to prioritize, similar to the calendar system from the Persona series. It’s a similar gameplay loop, but with less dungeon crawling.
As the player progresses, the options of activities throughout the month expand. The amount of choice can be overwhelming, in a good way. Players will need to focus on what exactly they want Alice to excel at to succeed.
Magical Princess‘ Hidden Depth
Don’t let the sugary exterior fool you, as Magical Princess contains much more depth than some may expect. Each mechanic may seem simple, but the game’s systems feed into each other. Players will need to consider how each small action affects the greater whole.
Is it worth working at the evil bakery to earn more money? Perhaps the morality that will be lost can eventually be recovered. The player will often find themself asking questions such as these. It’s a huge part of what makes Magical Princess so compelling to play.
Seeing Alice grow up and progress makes it easy to lose track of time. I often convinced myself to play through one more in-game month before ending my session, only to find five had passed. The brisk pace rewards the player enough while enticing them to stick around for more.
Additionally, the game offers superb replay value. There are so many choices to make that it’s almost impossible for repeat playthroughs to feel the same. There are different builds to aim for and friendships to prioritize. The game’s rather short length also makes a second playthrough more attractive.
Magical Princess Contains Plenty of Charm
Magical Princess‘ fantastical setting isn’t something that hasn’t been seen a thousand times already, but it still manages to provide some unique charm. The game almost seems to be poking fun at its black and white morality at points.
During the daytime, everything is bright and cheery. The people are friendly, and the world seems nearly perfect. Alice builds bonds with those around her and goes on dates to the fantasy mall.
However, when strolling through the town at night, everyone and everything suddenly and inexplicably becomes shady. Merchants turn into evil versions of themselves, and the player can eventually unlock sketchy back-alley activities to partake in. It’s comical, but the game seems aware of how ridiculous this all is.
All of this runs quite well with no noticeable technical issues. The game can easily be played with just a mouse, making it a great option for those who aren’t looking for a game that demands constant technical skill from the player.
Simple, Effective Combat
Perhaps the greatest surprise of Magical Princess is its battle system. While not the focus of the game, it’s shockingly competent in the delivery of tense fights. Good enemy variety ensures fights require different tactics to succeed. Not every battle can be won by expecting the same strategy to work.
The combat is designed around cooldown timers. Paying attention to the gauges of both party members and opponents is vital to victory. Deciding whether to defend or attack just before an enemy deals damage can have devastating or wonderful consequences.
This battle system ties in well with Magical Princess‘ overall philosophy. Just like the life-sim elements, player choice carries much weight in combat. One wrong move can turn an otherwise smooth situation into a dire state. By going into battle unprepared, players are sure to lose.
Magical Princess is Shockingly Good Fun
At first glance, it can be easy to mistake Magical Princess for an underwhelming visual novel. However, that’s not what it is at all. Instead, Magical Princess is a compelling life sim with deep role-playing elements.
Plenty of thought has gone into its systems and mechanics across the board. For the rather low asking price, it’s hard to ask more of the game. Magical Princess offers incredible value and charm on a budget.
For anyone who enjoys a good life simulation title, Magical Princess is an easy recommendation. While its characters and story didn’t necessarily resonate with me, I enjoyed playing the game far more than I expected. It’s easy to see why the game has sold over 100,000 copies on Steam.
Magical Princess is currently available now for PC via Steam.
Disclaimer: MAGI Inc. provided Final Weapon with a Steam copy of Magical Princess for review purposes.
