Princess Crown
Encyclopedia
is an action role-playing game
(RPG) developed and published by Atlus
for the Sega Saturn
video game console
exclusively in Japan in 1997
. Some of the team members involved in the project would later form the game development company Vanillaware
.
The game is a side-scroller
with a medieval
setting, and features real-time combat. It is possible to learn certain moves or button combinations which perform special attacks. As with many RPGs, experience point
s, money, and various items are obtained by defeating enemies.
Princess Crown begins with a little girl and her grandmother. The girl picks up a book and her grandmother starts reading the story of thirteen-year-old Princess Gradriel Do Valendia. The player then takes on the role of Gradriel throughout her adventure as she travels her kingdom of Valendia wanting to resolve its many problems with her own hands. However, as common with such tales, Gradriel encounters more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
-esque Pirate who Gradriel first encounters when another pirate is committing unjust acts using Portgus' name. These three stories are substantially shorter than the first.
's handheld platform, the PlayStation Portable
in 2005
. The game is completely emulated, licensing an adapted version of Sega's Giri Giri Saturn emulator for the conversion. Neither Saturn nor PlayStation Portable versions were published outside of Japan
.
Odin Sphere
and Muramasa: The Demon Blade
, are considered a spiritual successors to Princess Crown, with the former evolving its scenario and the latter expanding on its gameplay system.
Action role-playing game
Action role-playing games form a loosely defined sub-genre of role-playing video games that incorporate elements of action or action-adventure games, emphasizing real-time action where the player has direct control over characters, instead of turn-based or menu-based combat...
(RPG) developed and published by Atlus
Atlus
is a Japanese computer and video game developer, publisher, and distributor based in Tokyo, Japan, best known for developing the console role-playing game franchise Megami Tensei. The first Megami Tensei was a Nintendo Entertainment System video game published by Namco based on a trilogy of...
for the Sega Saturn
Sega Saturn
The is a 32-bit fifth-generation video game console that was first released by Sega on November 22, 1994 in Japan, May 11, 1995 in North America, and July 8, 1995 in Europe...
video game console
Video game console
A video game console is an interactive entertainment computer or customized computer system that produces a video display signal which can be used with a display device to display a video game...
exclusively in Japan in 1997
1997 in video gaming
-Events:*October 4 — Gunpei Yokoi dies after a double car accident.*November – Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association launched.*3rd annual E3...
. Some of the team members involved in the project would later form the game development company Vanillaware
Vanillaware
is a Japanese video game company development studio. Previously, they were known as Puraguru from 2002 until 2004, when they renamed as Vanillaware. The studio's past projects have specialized in 2D, or sprite-based, game design. They have garnered positive attention from fans and game media alike...
.
The game is a side-scroller
Side-scrolling video game
A side-scrolling game or side-scroller is a video game in which the gameplay action is viewed from a side-view camera angle, and the onscreen characters generally move from the left side of the screen to the right. These games make use of scrolling computer display technology...
with a medieval
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
setting, and features real-time combat. It is possible to learn certain moves or button combinations which perform special attacks. As with many RPGs, experience point
Experience point
An experience point is a unit of measurement used in many role-playing games and role-playing video games to quantify a player character's progression through the game...
s, money, and various items are obtained by defeating enemies.
Princess Crown begins with a little girl and her grandmother. The girl picks up a book and her grandmother starts reading the story of thirteen-year-old Princess Gradriel Do Valendia. The player then takes on the role of Gradriel throughout her adventure as she travels her kingdom of Valendia wanting to resolve its many problems with her own hands. However, as common with such tales, Gradriel encounters more trouble than she could have ever imagined.
Other Characters and Stories
After completing the story of Princess Gradriel, more books become available thus allowing players to now take on the roles of three characters that Gradriel has met on her journey. Edward Glowstar is a chivalrous knight on a quest to avenge his father and becomes a valuable ally to the Princess. Proserpina is a mischievous young witch who the player must fight her several times throughout Gradriel's story. Portgus Chrisford is a friendly, Robin HoodRobin Hood
Robin Hood was a heroic outlaw in English folklore. A highly skilled archer and swordsman, he is known for "robbing from the rich and giving to the poor", assisted by a group of fellow outlaws known as his "Merry Men". Traditionally, Robin Hood and his men are depicted wearing Lincoln green clothes....
-esque Pirate who Gradriel first encounters when another pirate is committing unjust acts using Portgus' name. These three stories are substantially shorter than the first.
Legacy
Princess Crown was ported to SonySony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
's handheld platform, the PlayStation Portable
PlayStation Portable
The is a handheld game console manufactured and marketed by Sony Corporation Development of the console was announced during E3 2003, and it was unveiled on , 2004, at a Sony press conference before E3 2004...
in 2005
2005 in video gaming
-Events:*March 6 — The television show 60 Minutes tackles issues within video game controversy. This segment of 60 Minutes has been criticized by video game players for encouraging video game censorship....
. The game is completely emulated, licensing an adapted version of Sega's Giri Giri Saturn emulator for the conversion. Neither Saturn nor PlayStation Portable versions were published outside of Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Odin Sphere
Odin Sphere
is a 2D fantasy action RPG video game. Developed by Vanillaware and localized and published by Atlus for the PlayStation 2 in 2007, it tells the interlocking stories of five different protagonists. Odin Sphere is considered a spiritual successor to an Atlus game titled Princess Crown and takes some...
and Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Muramasa: The Demon Blade
Muramasa: The Demon Blade, known in Japan as is an action role playing game developed by Vanillaware and published by Marvelous Entertainment in Japan, Rising Star Games in Europe, and Ignition Entertainment in North America for the Wii...
, are considered a spiritual successors to Princess Crown, with the former evolving its scenario and the latter expanding on its gameplay system.