I love it when a game has a wonderful story to tell. But the problem is when developers try to lean too much on story and forget to incorporate that more into the gameplay. That was something I experienced from NIS America’s The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince. This side-scrolling adventure originally debuted on consoles and PS Vita in 2018, with mixed results. But now that it’s come out on Steam/PC/Steam Deck, I decided to give it a shot, just to see what unfolded.
In the game, you portray a wolf who makes a deal with a witch to become a human princess, in an effort to win the heart of a prince. Problem is, well, she blinded him while in beast form, so their journey involves a great deal of redemption. It’s actually a story that grows on you, a tale of love and loss that’s elegantly told.
Alas, the problem lies in its gameplay. There are some cool segments here, but puzzle solving can be a bit tedious. On top of that, the combat is lopsided, and you take a bit too much damage when it comes to falling off platforms. Those problems continue to exist in the Steam version, sadly, making this a tough pill to swallow.
For those that enjoy a challenging journey, you will get mileage out of The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince. Its story speaks volumes, and its art style and audio are fantastic. However, with the lacking gameplay elements, only a brave few will see it to the very end. That’s a shame.
Venturing Through The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince
The journey begins when a wolf makes a deal with a witch to transform into human mode, after falling madly in love with a Prince. But there are problems. She lies about who she is to begin with; and she accidentally blinded him in wolf form, which means he can’t see who she really is. What’s worse, the two have to make a long journey to the forest to reach the witch, who could possibly restore his eyesight.
Gameplay-wise, there are some interesting elements here. The fact that you guide the Prince through different segments is very cool, reminding me of the classic Ico in a way. There are also segments where you have to protect him, transforming near seamlessly between wolf (which looks bad-ass) and princess.
Ah, but here’s where the problem lies. The game is a bit too basic for its own good. Because of this, the combat never really gets beyond being a slog. Worse yet, the puzzles within the game are a chore to solve, especially by the third level. And sometimes saving the prince is more of a hassle than you might expect. As a result, you’ll have one sad wolf on your hands. Also, the fall damage you take is too severe for its own good.
Plus, on top of that, the game’s length is rather short. You can get through the whole thing in seven hours, provided you have the patience to do so. The story, however, is very much worth it, a beautiful, haunting tale about love you’d never expect. My heart was broken by the finale of the game, even after being worn out by its faults.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince would’ve benefitted from some gameplay improvements, most notably with some of the interactions and challenges. As it stands, I feel that it’s best left for those that want to work for their story. Fortunately, there are a great few of you out there, but, honestly, I think a few tweaks would’ve made a difference here. Then more people would’ve gotten to enjoy the tale.
At Least The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince’s Presentation is Great
Where the game lacks in precise controls, it makes up for with its vivid presentation.
The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince has an absolutely robust art style, going with a beautiful tinge on colors that really stands out. It’s almost like its own period of manga, complete with a lovely wolf design (both eyes on the side of its head) and lovely level layouts. Again, some of the structure is flawed when it comes to puzzles, but the overall storybook look really shines on the Steam Deck. (Or PC, if you prefer.)
As for the audio, it’s beautiful. Haunting, sweet little melodies play throughout the game, and the Japanese voice acting is top notch. I also liked some of the sound effects as well. This one definitely calls for a pair of headphones.
The Problematic Journey To an Emotional Destination
I really wanted to give The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince a much higher score. Its presentation is undeniably one of NIS’ best to date; and the compelling story is sure to draw many in. However, the unbalanced gameplay and unfair “high stakes” situations continue to linger with this release, so I can only recommend it for a certain few.
Those who take the journey with The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince are likely to be rewarded, but just remember. Like love itself, it isn’t easy.
GAMERHUB RATING: 3 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Many thanks to NIS America for providing us with a review code! The Liar Princess and the Blind Prince is available for PC/Steam/Steam Deck on March 11th, and is on consoles now!
Need more gaming adventure? Check out our review of Pipistrello and the Cursed Yoyo!
