Princess Maker 5 for the PSP review – I am one shitty father
I was in Osu yesterday and looking at some of the more recent releases. Noticed that Princess Maker 5 was just released Thursday so I decided to buy it since I am severely lacking in games where I actually do something other than read text. If you don`t know what Princess Maker is it is basically a raising simulation game by Gainax where you raise a girl in whatever fashion you want. I am a sucker for these kinds of games because they`re interesting and kind of like a tamagotchi but with a cute loli instead.
I have never really played the other games in the series but 2 and I really didn`t like it mostly due to not understanding how to play and running out of money fast. So, one thing I like about 5 is I know what I am doing on a small scale and you get money every month but you can actually set when you want to get money to every month, 2 months, weekly and one other option. I am sure the amount you get varies in those spans as well.
The various options is really neat and in depth to like how late you want her to be out, how to address people, what she wears, who she talks to, what kinds of hobbies she can get into to. You can even make her an otaku. Yes, there is an otaku stat that goes up the more anime stuff you make her get into to. So, I think the range of possiblities with this game is pretty damn broad. For my first playthrough I am just being real hardcore and a bastard of a father. Having her study, study, study, do ballet, and piano. She gets top scores but I always respond that she isn`t doing good enough. Course her stress is through the roof because I never take her any where or anything.
Graphic wise I am so glad the artstyle is back to that water color like design from the older games. I believe Princess Maker 4 has a more anime art design to it which kinda looks too plain to me. The music is fine and there are voice acting for most scenes and what not.
Some of my complaints so far is basically sometimes it gets really boring just cycling through the daily routines hoping something new happens, but this could mostly be my fault for not taking her outside often because there are shops and events you can go to that help boost stats or get money and what not. You can buy outfits, items and food in the stores as well.
If you are one of those people that likes odd games especially simulation stuff like The Sims you might want to try this game out. This was totally a blind buy for me and I don`t regret it. I knew it was a simulation game but I really didn`t know how it was gameplay wise. I am really a huge fan of sim games like Tokimemo, the Civ series, Maxis games, all that stuff. Anything where I get to be some kind of all controlling god over something or build stats for some kind of goal.
Speaking of blind buys, buying a PSP was pretty much that for me, and the more and more I find out the shit you can actually do with a PSP by hacking it, the more I really do not regret buying it at all. Only downside is its shitty battery life imo. I was browsing some magazines at the book store in Irinaka today and it was all about how to hack your PSP. I am honestly amazed. I cannot wait till winter break when I am back home to try some of this stuff out like getting PS1 games on my PSP. Whoa.
