Code of Princess Review

Publisher: Atlus

System: 3DS

3.5 out of 5 stars

The beat ‘em up has seen little love in the past few years. Outside of surprise hits like Castle Crashers, developers have had little interest in making new entries in the genre. Fortunately, the 3DS has received Code of Princess, a new beat ‘em up that proves there’s still plenty to enjoy in one of gaming’s oldest genres.

Code of Princess follows the story of Solange, a princess whose homeland is invaded by monsters. After discovering that the attack was engineered by another kingdom, Solange takes to the road to find out what has happened and restore her family’s honor. Along the way, she discovers a plot that may threaten the entire world.

If any of this sounds familiar, it’s because the narrative in Code of Princess has been seen in just about every other fantasy story ever made. However, what saves the game is the colorful cast of characters. From the deadpan thief Ali Baba to the electric guitar-wielding elf Allegro, every character in Code of Princess adds to the quirky sense of humor.

What really matters in a game like this, though, is how it plays, and Code of Princess is an absolute marvel in this regard. The main story offers four different playable characters, all of whom play radically differently.

Solange uses her giant sword for slow, but powerful combos, while Ali Baba mixes fast dash attacks with explosives. Meanwhile, the necromancer, Zozo, plays better from a distance, with numerous magic attacks and projectiles. Finally, Allegro’s guitar allows him to launch large attacks that can hit every enemy for decent damage.

Each of the four main characters is a blast to play as. Though the game gets off to a slow start, as characters level up and upgrade their stats, players are allowed to tailor the experience to fit their play style.

Further expanding the game’s variety is the Free Play mode. Here, every other character and enemy in Code of Princess is playable. This means there are over 50 characters to try out and level up, including giant wasps, zombies and living trees.

Once you’ve found your favorite character, the huge number of levels and side missions offers plenty to do, especially as the difficulty ramps up. Also, as most levels can be beaten in around five minutes, the game fits the 3DS perfectly, offering a great experience for between classes or on the bus.

Code of Princess is a great addition to the 3DS library, offering plenty of depth and variety for players to explore. With a simple but funny story, solid gameplay mechanics and dozens of levels, Code of Princess offers a unique beat ‘em up experience on the go.