Platforms: PC, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation
Review code provided by publisher.
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration revitalises a beloved retro classic to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the game’s original release in 1993. The Princess Maker series, developed by Studio Gainax, has been a leading example in the “raising sim” subgenre of simulation games, where player choices shape the character’s growth and development throughout the game.
In Princess Maker 2: Regeneration, you play as a hero who has saved a kingdom from the brink of destruction at the hands of the demon lord Lucifon. The hero, now retired, finds himself entrusted with the care of a heavenly daughter from the stars. The fate of this young girl lies in your hands as you raise her from the age of ten to eighteen. The decisions you make will shape her story and determine her ultimate destiny.
The Regeneration version draws from both the original Princess Maker 2 (released in 1993) and its remake Princess Maker 2 Refine (first launched in 2004 and released in English in 2016). This updated version features a more polished translation, a new opening movie by Yonago Gainax, and newly redrawn illustrations by series director Takami Akai.
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration retains the same basic gameplay as its 1993 predecessor. At the start of each month, you will assign your daughter’s schedule. She can take on a variety of lessons, work at several part time jobs, take time off and even go adventuring in a few different locales. You’ll also need to balance her stress and finances along the way, creating a bit of challenge for the player. Education isn’t free, but part time work can stunt your daughter’s growth.
Most activities require and develop different stats, though these developments aren’t always intuitive (for example, working at the Salon requires high artistic skill). Since the game doesn’t offer much help, players must navigate through trial and error during the early stages of the game. However, once you understand how the game works and how your choices impact your daughter’s development, you’ll find it easier to steer her toward the desired outcome.
A single playthrough is relatively short, depending on how you play. On my first run through, I avoided adventuring entirely and raised a well rounded child. However, she wound up without any particular specialties and ultimately decided to become a humble housewife. As her patron deity judged my work, she came to the same conclusion that I did: that this was a fine but underwhelming fate for such a special child.
Luckily, there’s a ton of endings to unlock – the game boasts at least 60 unique endings, with a number of small variations based on how well you did. Each of the endings rewards a unique illustration, redrawn in high definition for the Regeneration version. Your daughter’s story can reach many conclusions – she can become a heroic fighter, pursue a profession as an artist or bondage queen, or even usurp the demon lord once thwarted by her father.
Several of these endings are notoriously tricky to achieve, requiring players to thoroughly understand the game and how to navigate their daughter’s growth properly. Choosing to pursue specific endings or playing differently to discover new outcomes adds a lot to the game’s replay value. After completing my first attempt, I quickly plunged back in, steering my second daughter toward a life filled with adventure and battles. Learning the game’s mechanics and becoming engrossed in your daughter’s development creates a very engaging experience.
Yet, preserving the gameplay of the original 1993 version has understandably resulted in certain design elements feeling outdated. Much of the game’s playtime is spent waiting for the monthly schedule to resolve, and the adventuring aspect is quite rudimentary. There are only four small maps to explore and the turn based combat is incredibly basic. Most characters only have a few unique lines of dialogue, despite how often you’ll see them. At some point it’s bound to feel like you’re going through the motions.
Visually, Princess Maker 2 Regeneration is hit and miss. The early 90s art style has a retro charm, but the game looks a bit dated in places. While the game features many new and stunning illustrations from Takami Akai, it does seem that most of the other graphics are taken from the 2004 Refine version. They work well enough and preserve the retro aesthetic, but start to look iffy at higher resolutions.
At this point it’s worth noting that the game features some censorship not found in the original 1993 version. This mostly affects the illustrations for more salacious endings, several of which featured mild nudity (although these were censored in the Refine version anyway). More significantly, the PlayStation releases have had two endings removed (the ‘Marriage with Father’ and ‘Marriage with Butler’ endings), though they remain present in other releases.
While the games may seem mild by most standards, it is noteworthy that certain elements of the Princess Maker series may be controversial. For example, the idea of sending your teenage daughter to work in a cabaret club or a sleazy bar might raise eyebrows and some of the illustrations might be off-putting to some. Still, the game does try to steer you away from raising your daughter inappropriately, and rewards wholesome endings with much higher scores. You are, after all, intended to raise her well.
Ultimately, Princess Maker 2 Regeneration offers an ideal introduction for newcomers to a classic and cherished series. Princess Maker 2 is arguably the most beloved instalment of the series, and although it may seem outdated next to modern simulation games, it still offers an engaging and highly playable experience. Retro enthusiasts and fans of the series are likely to appreciate the game’s faithfulness to the original version.
However, the price of entry may be a bit steep at launch. Regeneration primarily offers cosmetic improvements, including new illustrations, voice acting and an improved translation. Otherwise, the bulk of the game remains the same as it was in 1993. If you’re a casual player intending to see the game through only once or twice, then it may be difficult to recommend at full price.
Still, I do think Princess Maker 2 Regeneration is a game worth playing. It may sound odd, but I became quite invested in the outcomes of my daughters’ lives. It’s hard not to feel a bit emotional when their eighteenth birthday arrives and reveals the culmination of your efforts. The experience offered by a game like this can be very unique and – needless to say – a lot less stressful than raising a real child. It’s worth trying at least once.
Final Score
Summary
Princess Maker 2 Regeneration offers the best way to experience a Japanese retro classic. Raising your daughter is an engrossing experience with a steep and satisfying learning curve, and the game offers a massive 60 endings to pursue. Players are encouraged to play the game many times in order to achieve better endings.
Still, the game does show its age in several aspects of its gameplay and graphical design. At launch price, it may be a tough sell to those who aren’t enthusiastic about retro games or raising sims. However, fans of the series will likely appreciate the new illustrations and the game’s overall faithfulness to the original 1993 version.
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